Difference between revisions of "Movement accountability policy"

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==ARTICLE I - PURPOSE==
 
==ARTICLE I - PURPOSE==
1. <u>Purpose</u>. The purpose of this Movement Accountability Policy ("Policy") is to...
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1. <u>Purpose</u>. The purpose of this Movement Accountability Policy ("Policy") is to ensure that Wikimedia District of Columbia follows the generally accepted best practices for organizational accountability and governance which have been established for member entities within the Wikimedia movement.
   
2. <u>Intent</u>. In adopting this Policy, it is the intent of Wikimedia District of Columbia to comply with http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Resolution:Organizational_best_practices adopted on 2012-03-31.
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2. <u>Intent</u>. In adopting this Policy, it is the intent of Wikimedia District of Columbia to comply with the applicable provisions of the [http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Resolution:Organizational_best_practices Resolution Regarding Organizational Best Practices], as adopted by the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees on March 31, 2012.
   
 
==ARTICLE II - GENERAL PROVISIONS==
 
==ARTICLE II - GENERAL PROVISIONS==
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1. <u>Definitions</u>.
* Use volunteer time, donor funds, trademarks, reputation, and other movement resources to achieve the highest possible impact in the pursuit of our vision.
 
* Publicly share details about what you do so that others understand and can learn from your activities.
 
   
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2. <u>Legal Requirements</u>. No provision of this Policy shall be interpreted in a manner that conflicts with any applicable law or regulation. It is the policy of Wikimedia District of Columbia to comply with all applicable laws and regulations at all times.
==ARTICLE III - SPECIFIC PROVISIONS==
 
* Fulfill the basic legal and regulatory obligations of their jurisdiction (e.g. reporting, auditing, board structure, etc.).
 
* Sign the necessary legal agreements (e.g. chapter, grant, trademark) to receive movement recognition or use movement resources like the trademarks.
 
* Fulfill all commitments made to our movement (e.g., grants, chapters, fundraising, or trademark agreements).
 
* Develop annual plans that include goals and planned program activities. Best practice includes developing a high-level budget, planned sources of revenue, and an assessment of risks.
 
* For more developed organizations, develop and publish a multi-year strategic plan with goals for the organization's development, with focus on vision impact.
 
* For more developed organizations, adopt core governance policies including a code of conduct for Board and staff that requires at least disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest.
 
   
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3. <u>Legal Agreements</u>. Wikimedia District of Columbia shall sign the necessary legal agreements to receive movement recognition or use movement resources like the trademarks, and fulfill all commitments made to our movement.
* Fulfill the basic transparency and disclosure commitments of their jurisdiction and governing documents.
 
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* Publish activity reports frequently. Best practice is publishing reports at least once every 90 days (every 180 days minimum) and linking to reports from http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Reports.
 
 
4. <u>Governance Policies</u>. Wikimedia District of Columbia shall adopt core governance policies including a code of conduct for Board and staff that requires at least disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest.
* Publish annual plans. Best practice is publishing within 30 days of the beginning of the year and linking to this plan from http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Financial_reports.
 
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* Publish annual financial reports. Best practice is publishing within 120 days of the end of the fiscal year to and linking to reports from http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Financial_reports.
 
 
5. <u>Fundraising</u>. When soliciting funds, Wikimedia District of Columbia shall ensure that communications with potential donors accurately reflect the intended use of those funds.
* Publish minutes of Board meetings and summaries of other organizational activities promptly. Best practice is reporting no later than 30 days after the session.
 
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==ARTICLE III - ANNUAL AND STRATEGIC PLANS==
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1. <u>Annual Plans</u>. The Board of Directors shall develop and publish an annual plan, including specific goals and planned program activities, planned budgets and sources of revenue, and an assessment of risks, within 30 days of the beginning of the fiscal year. Best practice is publishing within 30 days of the beginning of the year and linking to this plan from http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Financial_reports
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2. <u>Strategic Plans</u>. The Board of Directors shall develop and publish a multi-year strategic plan with goals for the organization's development, with focus on vision impact.
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==ARTICLE IV - REPORTS==
 
1. <u>Activity Reports</u>. The Secretary shall publish activity reports frequently. Best practice is publishing reports at least once every 90 days (every 180 days minimum) and linking to reports from http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Reports.
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2. <u>Financial Reports</u>. The Treasurer shall publish annual financial reports. Best practice is publishing within 120 days of the end of the fiscal year to and linking to reports from http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Financial_reports.
 
* Publish information on any major donations at least annually.
 
* Publish information on any major donations at least annually.
 
* Regularly publish information on significant grants given, significant grants received, and performance against those grants.
 
* Regularly publish information on significant grants given, significant grants received, and performance against those grants.
* Publish information on any major partnership agreements at least annually.
 
* Movement organizations keep each other updated whenever appropriate on partnership discussions.
 
   
 
3. <u>Minutes of Meetings</u>. The Secretary shall publish minutes of Board meetings and summaries of other organizational activities promptly. Best practice is reporting no later than 30 days after the session.
* Conduct regular reviews of impact. This may include self-assessment, peer review, and feedback from the relevant volunteer community (e.g. editors in the country of a geographic chapter). It may also include a review of annual plans for each organization and the performance against those annual plans. Best practice is completing the annual assessment cycle by May 30 each year, following calendar year reporting but prior to the October start of the annual fundraiser. While the primary goal of this assessment is to assist coaching and continuous improvement, best practices for such a process includes real consequences for continued failure to meet standards including the removal of recognition as part of the Wikimedia movement.
 
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* Support other movement organizations as they build capabilities to achieve program work and fulfill our movement's principles of accountability and transparency.
 
 
4. <u>Partnership Agreements</u>. The President shall publish information on any major partnership agreements at least annually.
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==ARTICLE V - REVIEWS==
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1. <u>Reviews of Impact</u>. The Board of Directors shall conduct regular reviews of impact. This may include self-assessment, peer review, and feedback from the relevant volunteer community (e.g. editors in the country of a geographic chapter).
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2. <u>Annual Reviews</u>. The Board of Directors shall conduct an annual review of the annual plans for each organization and the performance against those annual plans. Best practice is completing the annual assessment cycle by May 30 each year, following calendar year reporting but prior to the October start of the annual fundraiser.
   
 
==ARTICLE VI - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS==
* Any organization using our movement's name to fundraise should be scrupulous about ensuring that communications with potential donors accurately reflect the intended use of those funds.
 
 
1. <u>Support for Movement Organizations</u>. It shall be the policy of Wikimedia District of Columbia to support other movement organizations as they build capabilities to achieve program work and fulfill our movement's principles of accountability and transparency.
* Organizations that participate as payment processors in the annual fundraising campaign may be required to follow additional practices such as preparing detailed documentation of funds handling procedures and controls, following standards around donor privacy and security of donor data, documenting funds transfer expectations and legal assessment, submitting to the equivalent of a full grant review, and submitting to an annual on-site audit.
 

Revision as of 10:52, 23 May 2012

ARTICLE I - PURPOSE

1. Purpose. The purpose of this Movement Accountability Policy ("Policy") is to ensure that Wikimedia District of Columbia follows the generally accepted best practices for organizational accountability and governance which have been established for member entities within the Wikimedia movement.

2. Intent. In adopting this Policy, it is the intent of Wikimedia District of Columbia to comply with the applicable provisions of the Resolution Regarding Organizational Best Practices, as adopted by the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees on March 31, 2012.

ARTICLE II - GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. Definitions.

2. Legal Requirements. No provision of this Policy shall be interpreted in a manner that conflicts with any applicable law or regulation. It is the policy of Wikimedia District of Columbia to comply with all applicable laws and regulations at all times.

3. Legal Agreements. Wikimedia District of Columbia shall sign the necessary legal agreements to receive movement recognition or use movement resources like the trademarks, and fulfill all commitments made to our movement.

4. Governance Policies. Wikimedia District of Columbia shall adopt core governance policies including a code of conduct for Board and staff that requires at least disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest.

5. Fundraising. When soliciting funds, Wikimedia District of Columbia shall ensure that communications with potential donors accurately reflect the intended use of those funds.

ARTICLE III - ANNUAL AND STRATEGIC PLANS

1. Annual Plans. The Board of Directors shall develop and publish an annual plan, including specific goals and planned program activities, planned budgets and sources of revenue, and an assessment of risks, within 30 days of the beginning of the fiscal year. Best practice is publishing within 30 days of the beginning of the year and linking to this plan from http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Financial_reports

2. Strategic Plans. The Board of Directors shall develop and publish a multi-year strategic plan with goals for the organization's development, with focus on vision impact.

ARTICLE IV - REPORTS

1. Activity Reports. The Secretary shall publish activity reports frequently. Best practice is publishing reports at least once every 90 days (every 180 days minimum) and linking to reports from http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Reports.

2. Financial Reports. The Treasurer shall publish annual financial reports. Best practice is publishing within 120 days of the end of the fiscal year to and linking to reports from http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Financial_reports.

  • Publish information on any major donations at least annually.
  • Regularly publish information on significant grants given, significant grants received, and performance against those grants.

3. Minutes of Meetings. The Secretary shall publish minutes of Board meetings and summaries of other organizational activities promptly. Best practice is reporting no later than 30 days after the session.

4. Partnership Agreements. The President shall publish information on any major partnership agreements at least annually.

ARTICLE V - REVIEWS

1. Reviews of Impact. The Board of Directors shall conduct regular reviews of impact. This may include self-assessment, peer review, and feedback from the relevant volunteer community (e.g. editors in the country of a geographic chapter).

2. Annual Reviews. The Board of Directors shall conduct an annual review of the annual plans for each organization and the performance against those annual plans. Best practice is completing the annual assessment cycle by May 30 each year, following calendar year reporting but prior to the October start of the annual fundraiser.

ARTICLE VI - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

1. Support for Movement Organizations. It shall be the policy of Wikimedia District of Columbia to support other movement organizations as they build capabilities to achieve program work and fulfill our movement's principles of accountability and transparency.