Wikimedia Foundation elections/FDC elections/2013

Info The election ended 22 June 2013. No more votes will be accepted.

The results were announced on 24 June 2013.

Help translate the election.

The 2013 elections to the Funds Dissemination Committee will be held from June 8st through June 22th 2013. Members of the Wikimedia community have the opportunity to elect two candidates to a two-year term which will expire in 2015. The purpose of the FDC process is to make allocations to FDC-eligible Wikimedia entities, based on an assessment of the extent to which requested funding will enable those entities to have an impact on realizing the mission goals of the Wikimedia movement.

The Election Committee will announce the results on or before June 22nd. Detailed results will be available.

Information for candidates

Roles and responsibilities of FDC members

From the FDC portal

FDC members will be expected to dedicate considerable time, focus, and effort, including:

  • In-person attendance at FDC meetings (two to three meetings expected per year);
  • Reading and evaluating proposals during the two proposal rounds per year (March and October);
  • Ongoing monitoring and participation in FDC discussions and activities within the community; and
  • Sporadically intense email and IRC communication with FDC staff and other FDC members.

To be eligible for the FDC, candidates:

  • Must be over 21 years old and over the age of majority in their home country;
  • Must be able to work effectively in English (although full fluency is not required);
  • Must present to WMF appropriate personal identification, a copy of which will be maintained by WMF for record-keeping;
  • Have sufficient time and dedication to commit to this process and availability to attend in-person meetings, as needed;
  • Have a track record of constructive engagement in community discussions and an orientation toward collaborative problem solving; and
  • Be able to set aside any conflicts of interest and work towards the mission goals of the Wikimedia movement without considering individual or organizational interests.

Staff / board members of entities requesting funds from the FDC may serve on the FDC; however, they must recuse themselves from deliberations pertaining to their entity's application.

Through careful selection of candidates through both the Board-appointment and community election processes, the FDC membership (as a whole) should have the following skills and attributes:

  • Experience directing or evaluating programs;
  • Grant-making expertise (either as a grantee or grantor of funds);
  • Exposure to, understanding of, and personal credibility in the Wikimedia movement (that is, experience in programs, chapters, or administrative roles within the Wikimedia movement); and
  • Gender, geographic and linguistic diversity.

FDC members will be expected to adhere to articulated conflict of interest provisions that will reduce their risk of being unduly influenced.

Prerequisites to candidacy

The eligibility requirements for candidates are the same as for voters (see voter requirements) with the following additional requirements:

  • You must not have been convicted of a serious crime or any crime involving dishonesty or deception; and
  • You must not have been removed from a position at a non-profit organization or other company because of mismanagement or misconduct; and
  • At the time of nomination or election, you may not be banned or blocked from any Wikimedia project for a period of 30 days or longer; and
  • You must be over 21 years old and over the age of majority in your home country; and
  • You must submit proof of your identity to the Wikimedia Foundation (see below).

How to submit your candidacy

If you are eligible, you can submit your candidacy by doing the following:

  1. Write a brief summary of no more than 1200 characters (excluding spaces) stating what you would do if you were elected to the Funds Dissemination Committee, your relevant opinions and experience, and anything else you think is relevant. You may not use your candidate summary to link to lists of endorsements or other platform pages, and may not run on a slate with other candidates.
  2. Submit your summary between 00:00, April 24th 2013 (UTC) and 23:59, May 17th 2013 (UTC). Your statement may only be changed in the 3 days after submission, or up to May 17th, whichever comes first, except for minor corrections (for instance, spelling correction) or translation. Any additions or changes to content submitted after this deadline will be time-stamped and presented separately from the original summary, and will only be presented to voters if they get translated into all of the same languages as the original summary. You should note that earlier submissions allow time for translation into more languages, and that submissions provided on the due date or just before may not be as widely translated. NOTE: As part of your submission, you must respond to standard questions. The responses to these questions will not count as characters for your summary. The standard questions are:
    1. What experiences of yours do you think will enhance the work and recommendation process of the FDC?
      1. Around directing and/or evaluating annual plans and programs?
      2. Around grantmaking?
    2. How does your history with Wikimedia make you suited for the FDC?
  3. Submit proof of your identity to the Wikimedia Foundation before 23:59, May 17th (UTC). You will be privately contacted by a member of the Election Committee with further information about meeting this requirement when you list yourself as a candidate.

Candidates who fail to comply with the above requirements and deadlines will be disqualified.

Submitting proof of identity to the Wikimedia Foundation

Candidates for this position must submit proof of identity and evidence of age of majority as a condition of candidacy. This proof may be provided in one of the following manners:

  • Copy or scan of driver's license.
  • Copy or scan of passport.
  • Copy or scan of other official documentation indicating real name and age.

This may be provided to the WMF in one of the following means:

  • via email to secure-info wikimedia.org
  • via facsimile to +1 (415) 882-0495
  • via post (snail mail) to:
Wikimedia Foundation Inc.
ATTN: PHILIPPE BEAUDETTE
149 New Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94106
USA
  • Note that post is not recommended. Exceptions will not be made if a candidate's documentation has not arrived at the WMF offices by the deadline of 23:59 UTC, 17 May 2013.

Organization

Time line

  • 24 April–17 May 2013: candidate submissions
  • 17 May 2013: deadline to send proof of identity (late or missing submissions will be disqualified)
  • 08–22 June 2013: elections
  • 23–25 June 2013: vote-checking
  • 25-28 June 2013: publication of results