+1, PeeringDB should not any terms from donors. I also support Chris Caputo’s draft proposal.
Best regards, Theo Voss -------- Original Message -------- On Tuesday, 07/07/26 at 19:38 Chris Rogers via Pdb-gov <[email protected]> wrote: > After a quick review of PDB’s 2025 financial docs, I struggle to see why the > organization should feel any pressure to accept terms from what I presume is > an outside for-profit firm. It feels like accepting such third party terms > would slowly create, and compound, additional unnecessary and unwanted work. > > Without commenting specifically on Chris’ policy draft, I agree with his > overall perspective. > > -Chris > > On Tue, 7 Jul 2026 at 10:19, Chris Caputo via Pdb-gov > <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Members, >> >> From >> https://docs.peeringdb.com/gov/legaldocs/2026-06-08_PeeringDB_Board_Minutes.pdf >> quoting: >> >> ==== >> 7. Sponsorships. >> >> Some Sponsors are now requiring PeeringDB to accept their terms and >> conditions, which PeeringDB has historically declined to sign. The Board >> discussed how to handle sponsor terms going forward. Discussion to >> continue by email. >> ==== >> >> I have informed the Board this would be a terrible mistake. If you feel >> similarly, please speak up here and rapidly. >> >> I have drafted a "Donor Contract Policy" (below) to be considered and >> hopefully passed by the membership in case the Board or an Officer goes >> against the long standing unwritten policy of not entering into agreements >> with members/sponsors/donors. It would be good to get this on the books >> for current and future Board & Officers to adhere to too. >> >> I would revise this policy as appropriate if no contracts are entered into >> by the time the membership considers this policy proposal at the next >> annual member meeting. >> >> Respectfully, >> Chris >> (Secretary & Treasurer 2015-2024) >> >> ==== >> - PeeringDB >> - DRAFT Donor Contract Policy >> - Approved by Membership April ??, 2027 >> >> - WHEREAS since the founding of the PeeringDB non-profit corporation in >> the year 2015 and until 2026, PeeringDB successfully raised over $2 >> million U.S. Dollars without engaging into a single contract or Terms >> & Conditions with donors. >> >> - WHEREAS PeeringDB is first and foremost a Member-based non-profit in >> which donors are granted the privilege of supporting the efforts of >> the non-profit in exchange for recognition, but in which primacy >> remains with the Membership. >> >> - WHEREAS any contract with a donor creates a legal entanglement and >> associated risks with a donor which is not worth any amount of >> donation to the non-profit. >> >> - WHEREAS any contract with a donor creates an unfair distinction >> between donors and Members in which some entities have a legal >> entanglement with PeeringDB while others do not, which goes against >> the spirit and intent of being a Member-run non-profit organization in >> which all Members are equal and only Members are the empowered >> stakeholders of the organization. >> >> - NOW THEREFORE the Membership of PeeringDB makes clear that it is >> better to avoid donations from those who require contacts, or Terms & >> Conditions, and forbids the Officers of PeeringDB from engaging into >> these legal entanglements for the purposes of fundraising. >> >> - FURTHERMORE the Secretary is directed to inform any donors in which a >> contract was put into place as part of the donation, that the contract >> is being terminated and that they may request a refund to the >> PeeringDB Board if so desired, for any time remaining in the >> sponsorship. >> ====
