Movement Charter/Supplementary Document/Movement Organization Membership Policy

These supplementary documents are provided by the Movement Charter Drafting Committee for information purposes, and to provide further context on the Wikimedia Movement Charter’s content. They are not part of the Charter, and therefore are not included in the ratification vote, but they have been developed during the course of the MCDC’s research and consultation process. They include several types of documents:

Information on topics related to the Charter.
Suggestions for policy or process development or consideration by the Global Council after the Charter is ratified.
Processes related to the Charter ratification vote.

Alongside the publication of the final Movement Charter version on June 10, 2024, these supplementary documents were updated on June 18, 2024.

Context: The Wikimedia Movement Organization Membership Policy below assumes the current landscape of affiliates.

The membership policy regulates specific aspects of the management of the Wikimedia Movement Organizations. It is a living document that is changed based on the identified needs of and development goals for Wikimedia member organizations. These changes are made by introducing motions at the Global Council (GC), with the Global Council Board overseeing the implementation of the policy.

Accreditation criteria

The accreditation (or acceptance) criteria for members are based on the type of membership an organized group would like to acquire or to which it would like to transition. All members must abide by the Principles of Decision-Making and the Care Responsibility, and need to demonstrate an understanding of and a commitment to a sustainable organization based on its scope and mission. For Chapters, Thematic Organizations, and Hubs, supporting documents include, but are not limited to, an organizational strategy, implementation plan, risk assessment, and sustainability analysis.

The Global Council sets the strategy and criteria for accreditation.^[1] The criteria for and evaluation of these documents are managed by a designated committee under the responsibility of the GC. The actual accreditation is done via a recommendation of this committee, and approved by the GC Board.

User Group requirements

User Groups must consist of at least three or more Wikimedia project contributors. User Groups must agree to follow the Universal Code of Conduct and all parts of the Movement Charter. A trademark agreement with the Wikimedia Foundation can be signed if required for the work of the User Group, and the User Group must fulfill the requirements outlined in that agreement.

Thematic Organization requirements

Thematic Organizations have a specific thematic focus area, are required to have a legally recognized structure, and need a clear definition of scope. They are then granted use of Wikimedia trademarks for their work, publicity, and revenue generation.

Chapter requirements

Wikimedia Chapters have a specific geographic focus area, use a name clearly linking them to Wikimedia, are required to have a legally recognized structure, and need a clear definition of scope. They are then granted use of Wikimedia trademarks for their work, publicity, and revenue generation. Chapters can serve as representative bodies for informal groups and other communities not represented on a regional or global level elsewhere.

Hub requirements

Hubs may be formed for a variety of purposes, which include but are not limited to, coordinating work, developing revenue streams, pooling and allocating resources, providing various services, and developing strategic frameworks. Hubs can be organized with a regional or thematic focus; language-focused hubs are considered thematic.

Criteria for pilot-hubs are outlined in the Hubs Guidelines. The concrete scope and functionality of the Hubs will be decided by the involved communities and organizations based on their contexts and needs. Hubs must have a clearly described purpose that does not duplicate the work of another Wikimedia Movement Organization.

Compliance and sanctions

Compliance with the policies and principles outlined in the Movement Organization Membership Policy is overseen by the designated committee of the Global Council. A compliance check is either part of the funding application or conducted as a separate review every two years.

When a Wikimedia Movement Organization is found to not be compliant, the Global Council will make any decisions about sanctions.

Wikimedia Movement Organizations have the right to appeal sanctions through the Independent Dispute Resolution mechanism, which needs to address the appeal within six months.

Examples of sanctions include:

Temporary/permanent reduction in funding.
Temporary mandatory oversight of operations by representatives of the Global Council (can be delegated to a hub if appropriate).
Limitation of international engagements and representative rights.
Withdrawal of right to use trademarks (in accordance with the trademark holder).
Suspension of membership.
Termination of membership.

Notes

↑ Part of the criteria for accreditation will be making sure that there are no existing Movement Organizations that already operate in the same region or topic.

[1] Part of the criteria for accreditation will be making sure that there are no existing Movement Organizations that already operate in the same region or topic.

[1]