Re: [gentoo-nfp] Gentoo NPO Business Model thoughts

[Marius Mauch]

On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:19:09 -0500
"William L. Thomson Jr." <wltjr@g.o> wrote:

>
> On Wed, 2007-12-12 at 01:08 +0100, Marius Mauch wrote:
> >
> > Please lets not mix the Gentoo project and the Gentoo Foundation at
> > this point,
>
> Ok, but can't really see how you can separate the two with any
> re-structuring discussion.
>
> >  they are two almost completely independent entities.
>
> I guess, but essentially the Gentoo Foundation is owner and maintainer
> of the Gentoo project. So at min maybe like a subsidiary relationship,
> but I see the two as being closely connected. If not part of the same
> entity.
>
> >  In the
> > following I'll only talk about the Foundation part.
> > I understand that you have a goal in mind, however currently it's
> > more important how to get away from the current state, so lets
> > focus on that, not on how things eventually will be in a year.
>
> Ok
>
> > To get away from the current state we need two things (Btw, the
> > attracting thing about the SFC is that they basically take care of
> > both):
> > A plan for a new structure (that's what your idea is about), and
> > some people to get us there and manage the existing setup for the
> > remaining time (that's what my questions are about).
>
> Ok, I didn't realize you had wanted me to name names, and suggest
> titles and positions for them?
>
> > Those people have to fit two requirements:
> > 1) have to be trusted (or supervised, but then we need trusted
> > supervisors as well) as they are going to be responsible for all
> > assests of Gentoo
> > 2) have to be capable of dealing with the paperwork involved, that
> > means time, commitment and preferably experience with such things
> >
> > Note that it's not required for them to be involved with the new
> > structure in the end.
> >
> > 1) is generally assumed for existing foundation members, but those
> > lack 2), going by history at least
> >
> > 2) should be assumed of externally hired professionals, but for
> > those 1) becomes an issue
> >
> > And I think it's pointless to discuss a potential new structure if
> > there is nobody who'd get us there
>
> If your talking about the legal and paper work side. I know people
> there I can likely get involved if we seek external. For example
> http://www.fishertousey.com
>
> I know Mike Fisher personally, and grew up with his children. He is a
> very prominent tax and estate attorney. Pretty sure managing
> organizational things like this is up their alley. Surely the planning
> and legal aspects. If they can't or don't offer services like that. I
> know other CPA's and etc. My father was one before he passed away. But
> contacts there remain. My sister works for Deloitte, and is a CPA, but
> mostly does corporate asset management and etc. Her clients are
> Deliotte employees so to speak, branch offices etc.
>
> But didn't really want this personally bound to me. I am sure others
> have similar contacts. If not I surely feel confident enough in mine
> to recommend others research. To establish and build their own trust
> or credibility in them.

Ok, so you're saying we should hire a lawyer recommended by some dev and
trust is assumed due to that recommendation. That's what I wanted to
know.

> >  while the SFC offers us a viable
> > short- and long-term alternative (btw, does anyone have a status
> > update on that?)
>
> Short of taking care of legal status and filing there. I fail to see
> what difference the SFC will really make.

Well, those are our current problems (lack of administration). It's
generally a good idea to define the problem you're trying to solve
first, especially when you want to compare solutions.

> Also when it comes to say funding request or allocations of funds.
> Who controls that once the SFC is managing all that? We have to
> justify to them what we want to spend Gentoo funds on? How will they
> know what's best to authorize and not?

From what I've learnt when this was first discussed we would sign a
contract which would control the details and then appoint some people to
act as gatekeepers that would indirectly control the funds (also see
http://www.grantgoodyear.org/g2blog/gentoo/20070717-sflc.html, I
also recall another discussion about this with Grant but can't find it
atm)

> How will they help us fill the coffers? How can they manage assets if
> they don't exist? Beyond assets like the logo, trademark, etc. How
> will they help us accumulate more?

Is that a problem for us? For what do we actually need more money?
I'll start another subthread to actually discuss your idea.

Marius

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