I meant to ask earlier, since the fundraiser already started and this is being announced now.
Is this trust set-up to participate in the annual fundraiser? processing donations on-behalf of WMF internally? or would it seek to do so in future? I know you mention FCRA and external funding after approval but what about internal funding through the annual fundraiser. Theo On Fri, Nov 11, 2011 at 10:41 AM, Hisham <hmun...@wikimedia.org> wrote: > cross-posting to foundation-l & internal-l from India Community list; > apologies if you've read this already. > > hisham > > Begin forwarded message: > > > From: Hisham <hmun...@wikimedia.org> > > Subject: Wikimedia India Program Trust > > Date: November 11, 2011 9:55:00 AM GMT+05:30 > > To: Wikimedia India Community list <wikimediaindi...@lists.wikimedia.org > > > > > > Hi Folks, > > I'm writing to share an update with you on certain developments of > relevance to the Wikimedia movement in India. > > > > Announcement of Wikimedia India Program Trust > > For some time, efforts have gone into creating an organization that > would provide an appropriate structure to support Wikimedia program > activities in India. Aspects such as the current regulatory framework > (regarding funding, taxation, etc.) as well as the legal protection for the > India team have been considered to determine this structure. In this > context, a host of options (e.g. subsidiary, branch, Section 25) were > evaluated and a determination was made towards an independent non-profit > public trust. Legal advice has been taken at every stage in this decision. > > > > A new entity, the “Wikimedia India Program Trust”, has now been formed > and registered (in Delhi.) This will be the organization that will > eventually drive India programs and house the team in India. > > > > Why an Independent Public Trust? > > The Trust will provide an effective vehicle within India to marshal > resources to support programs and partner with local institutions. The > objective of the Trust is to promote the objectives of the Wikimedia > movement and work closely with the Wikimedia community on various projects > with an India focus. It is important to understand that the Trust will not > have any editorial control over content on any of the Wikimedia projects. > The Trust is a not for profit organization. > > > > Introduction of Trustees > > Trustees have been identified based upon their support for Wikimedia > movement's principles and plans in addition to having reputations for good > governance and management. > > > > Sunil Abraham and Rahul Matthan have been requested to be the initial > Trustees. Both are friends of Wikipedia and have extensive experience. > > > > Sunil is Executive Director of the Centre for Internet & Society (CIS), > is a long term advocate of free software and IP reform and has been > supporting the Wikimedia community and movement for some time now. > > > > Rahul is a partner and heads the technology practice at Trilegal. He > brings deep expertise and relationships that will be valuable for the Trust. > > > > These initial Trustees will serve for a term of three years at the > maximum. All additional or subsequent Trustees will serve on rotation in > accordance with a trustee selection plan that will be prepared. > > > > Trustees will not be compensated for their services. > > > > Governance, Funding, Financial Standards & Communications of the Trust > > The Trust will be governed by Trustees who will provide oversight and > guidance regarding the operations and governance of the Trust. > > > > Since the Trust is an independent organization, it will require funding > for its operations which is in compliance with the legal and regulatory > framework in India. It will seek funding from private donors within India > as well as external sources. > > > > The Trust has the support of the Wikimedia Foundation which is a United > States based non-profit foundation. However, in India all non-profit > organizations need to be in existence for 3 years before they can receive > funding from sources outside India. In the interim, they can apply for > prior-permission under the FCRA regulations to help expedite the process. > As a result, the Trust will shortly be applying for approval to receive > funds from the Wikimedia Foundation in the future. > > > > As a Trust, we are required to have an independent external auditor. We > have appointed KPMG. KPMG is experienced in auditing non-profit companies > and are also auditors for the Wikimedia Foundation. > > > > Annually, the Trust will publicly disclose it's independently audited > financial statements. > > > > The Trust will publish a monthly newsletter outlining its current > activities and future plans. This will commence in December 2011. > > > > Operations of the Trust > > The trust deed under which the Trust must operate clearly states that > the purpose of the Trust is to independently promote the growth of > volunteer activities within India in support of effective and unrestricted > dissemination of free knowledge to the public. > > > > I will serve as the Executive Director of the Trust. Once it is > possible, additional employees will be brought on to the Trust > > > > The Trust will eventually have an office in Delhi. > > > > In the interim, I have personally secured temporary office space to > facilitate establishing the Trust and its mission. It is located at Top > Floor, G-15, Hauz Khas, New Delhi - 110 016. It's a couple of minutes walk > away from IIT Flyover and Hauz Khas Metro. Do drop in! It's a small but > cozy place and we'd love to have you over! > > > > Conclusion > > We continue to make progress in setting up program activities to support > the growth of Wikimedia in India. We have a long way to go, but are glad > that we are starting to build a solid foundation. > > > > The following link is for FAQs on this (and related) topics: > http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/FAQ_India_Programs/FAQ_Wikimedia_India_Program_Trust > > > > As always, do reach out if you have any comments or questions. > > > > Warm Regards, > > > > hisham > > > > _______________________________________________ > foundation-l mailing list > foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l > _______________________________________________ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
