The New DuraSpace Membership and Governance Models

Jonathan Markow, CSO May 20, 2014

Why Membership?

• Increase community participation in project work and decision-making

• Membership is a term more widely understood in our community and aligns better with our goals

Recent Planning

• Presented initial draft at DuraSpace Sponsor Summit

• Got feedback post-Sponsor Summit • Met with joint committee of Project

Steering reps and DuraSpace executive board

• Did three iterations • Final version approved by project

steering representatives and board

Goals

• Consistent models across projects with room for customization

• Keep administrative costs low • Roll out membership while governance

evolves • Easy transition for current sponsors • Appeal to new members with benefits

and opportunities for participation • Honor commitment, action, and merit!

Summary of Changes since Summit

• Four levels (eliminate Diamond) • Consider consortium membership • Big discount for developing nations • Members receive overall DuraSpace

benefits based on total contribution; project governance benefits based on allocation of fee

• Role in governance for Gold members

Membership Levels

Membership Level Annual Fee

Bronze $2,500

Silver $5,000

Gold $10,000

Platinum $20,000+

Membership Levels

• No more Diamond ($30k) Level, but some projects may seek additional annual funding for specific projects (e.g., Fedora)

• Developing nations: Bronze membership for $250 (Using UN lists)

Bronze

• Organizations will receive advanced news of project announcements and activities

• Project Member logo for member use • Institution name and link on the DuraSpace

and Project web sites • Eligible to vote on an at-large Member

representative to the DuraSpace board • Annual membership summit / strategic forum

for DuraSpace projects; presentations and networking with leaders from prominent institutions and community projects

Silver

All the above benefits, plus: • Institution name, link, and logo on the

DuraSpace and Project web sites • 10% discount to new members on first

year of either DSpaceDirect or DuraCloud for 1st year of Membership

• Discounted registration at project training events

Gold

All the above benefits, plus: • Preferred access (advance registration) to

DuraSpace professional development opportunities and annual DuraSpace Summit

• Two seats at the annual membership summit / strategic forum for DuraSpace projects

• Eligible to play a role in project governance, as defined by each project’s governance policy

Platinum

All the above benefits, plus: • Eligible for one seat on Project

Leadership Group

Two Levels of Benefits

• Institutions receive DuraSpace benefits associated with their membership level.

• If they choose to support a specific project with their membership fees, they also receive project-specific governance benefits appropriate to their level of commitment.

Ex. 1

• Institution A joins DuraSpace as a Gold Member @ $10,000 and allocates its fee to the VIVO project.

• Institution A will receive all DuraSpace Gold benefits and all VIVO- specific governance benefits at the $10,000 contribution level

Ex. 2

• Institution B joins DuraSpace as a Gold Member @ $10,000 and allocates half its fee to support VIVO ($5,000) and the other half to DSpace ($5,000)

• Institution B will receive all DuraSpace Gold benefits, VIVO-specific governance benefits tied to their level of investment in VIVO, and DSpace-specific governance benefits appropriate to their DSpace investment.

Ex. 3

• Institution C contributes 0.5 FTE developer to Fedora, without becoming a DuraSpace member

• Institution C is eligible for a seat on the Fedora Leadership Group in addition to having a significant technology impact on the project

• NOTE: FTE must work under direction of the project

Rule of Thumb

• Projects are encouraged to lean towards inclusiveness

Leadership Group

• The governance model for each project

will include a Leadership Group representing institutions that have made significant commitments to the project, including level of membership contribution and amount of in-kind developer support (Recommendation: > 0.5 FTE/yr).

Leadership Group

• The Leadership Group approves policy on key issues presented by Steering (e.g., changes to roadmap, annual budget allocations, etc.).

• Platinum level Members will be guaranteed a seat in the Leadership Group.

Steering Group

• A Project Steering Group will represent the leadership in the day-to-day oversight of the project, including budget and fund-raising goals, operations, deliverables, and roadmap

• Project Staff (e.g., Technical Lead, Project Director, Product Manager) will be managed by DuraSpace and will take direction from the Steering Group.

Working Groups

• Standing or temporary Working Groups may be formed at the discretion of the Steering Group. Projects will strive to be inclusive with respect to representation in these groups

DuraSpace Board

• Every member institution may participate in the nomination and election of one at-large DuraSpace Board member.

• The DuraSpace Board will make a Board seat available to each project. Each Project Steering Group may nominate representatives to serve on the Board.

Project Governance Policies

• VIVO – In process of drafting a charter for their Leadership Group to discuss; already follow a “leadership/steering/ working group” model

• Fedora – Have a current practice that includes Steering, Leadership (Advisors), working groups; is formalizing policies

Project Governance Benefits

• DSpace – Steering has recently adopted inclusive policies: –Steering is elected by Leadership;

any member can serve on Steering –Platinum and Gold members are

guaranteed a seat on Leadership –Six total Leadership reps will be

elected from Silver and Bronze too, one from UN group

It’s a Transition Year

• Best practices will evolve • Projects will determine which

governance practices are most effective • Policies will take effect over the course

of the year

Should you become a DuraSpace Member? “You Bet Your Life!”

Questions