[Foundation-l] Chapters

[Jimmy Wales]

On 8/9/11 10:27 AM, Kirill Lokshin wrote:
> A more typical arrangement would be that the WMF would give a chapter the
> right to use WMF trademarks, and in return a portion of the funds raised by
> the chapter would be funneled back to the WMF.  But what chapters seem to
> want is for the WMF to sign over the trademarks they need to do their own
> fundraising, and then simply hand over a portion of the WMF's own revenue on
> top of that.  It's a convenient arrangement for the chapters involved, to be
> sure, and apparently one that the WMF was not particularly unwilling to
> follow; but there's nothing particularly "normal" or "fair" about it.

Just to be clear, this is more or less the model that I personally 
advocate: that the WMF turn over a portion of its revenue to chapters 
every year, without question, based on a simple and non-controlling 
framework of accountability and responsibility.

Delphine has wise things to say about this.  It is healthy all around if 
the chapters have incentives to care about the fundraiser.  They can and 
will do a great deal of work as donor liaisons, local message 
customization, getting positive press coverage in local papers (which 
surely tends to positively affect donations), etc.

A model in which the Foundation simply makes grants solely based on 
programmatic needs would be flawed if it completely removes chapters 
interest in making sure that donors are well taken care of.  (And, of 
course, a model in which chapters are encouraged to care only about 
maximizing donations would also be not healthy!)


--Jimbo