Local Chapter Sponsorship

1) What are the kind of sponsorships solicited by OSGeo?

See http://osgeo.org/content/sponsorship/sponsorship.html

2) What is the present status of OSGeo sponsorship?

See http://osgeo.org/content/sponsorship/sponsors.html

3) When the sponsor logos will appear on the OSGeo website, wiki etc.?

See http://osgeo.org/content/sponsorship/sponsors.html

4) What is "Sponsorship Selection" ?

"Sponsorship Selection" refers to OSGeo choosing who will be offcial sponsors for OSGeo's FOSS4G International Conferences. You can see details of how to be a sponsor for the OSGeo's FOSS4G International Conferences at the URL below.

http://www.foss4g2007.org/pdfs/FOSS4G07SponsorshipandExhibitorProspectus.pdf

Preferential treatment for OSGeo sponsors in the process of sponsor selection for the conference would only come into play if there were more sponsors than available sponsor slots.

Presently, only limited number of sponsor are considered for conference sponsors and their logos will be shown at a prominant in the conference hall. Limiting of number of sponsor for Sponsors for conference is to encourage fast sponsor sign ups by making the sponsor slots appear somewhat exclusive.

5) Is the local sponsorship scheme same as OSGeo.org sponsorship ?

OSGeo Executive Director will serve as a contact point to those who are doing international solicitation for sponsors. After the kind of sponsorship, sponsor level etc. are agreed upon, appropriate invoice can be issued by OSGeo. In case the invoice is needed in local country, OSGeo can request the Local Chapter Representative to issue invoice on OSGeo behalf. In case of local chapter sponsors the preferred approach would be that someone form the local chapter connects with the main organisation while also providing support/services to make the adminstrative process easier.

An OSGeo local chapter could solicit local sponsors for the local chapter if the OSGeo local chapter desires to. However, if the sponsorship stays with the local chapter then the sponsor would be considered a local sponsor, to be appropriately acknowledged on the local chapter web site and other promotional materials. If the sponsorship stays with an OSGeo local chapter, it would not be considered at the same level as OSGeo "Foundation Sponsorship" or OSGeo"Project Sponsorship" mentioned earlier in this document.

If a potential sponsor is primarily interested in supporting efforts of an OSGeo local chapter, then it is suggested that the OSGeo local chapter consider establishing some guidelines for local sponsorship and solicit the funds for local use. If this approach is considered inadvisable, then the OSGeo local chapter encouraged to solicit support as a general "Foundation Sponsorship"and perhaps the foundation could make some special effort to fund OSGeo local chapter activities if that is the desire of the sponsoring organization.

6) Will OSGeo sponsors be invited to next FOSS4G Conference ?

Every sponsor above the "Associate Sponsor" level will receive an invite to join the board and other speakers at a sponsors-only event following the conference. (See https://www.osgeo.org/content/sponsorship/). The OSGeo sponsorship indicates that "Sustaining Sponsor" and "Principle Sponsors" will special rights to sponsorship selection for the conference.

OSGeo sponsorship and only "Conference Sponsors" is treated separatly. "Conference Sponsors" will be acknowledged as on the various conference materials. If OSGeo "Foundation Sponsor" or "Project Sponsor" also wish to be "Conference Sponsor"then an additional payment will be required as decided by the conference committee.

7) Can the sponsor specify the purpose for which the sponsorship fee can be used?

Generally no, not through the "Foundation Sponsor" program, though some advice might be well received as long as the advice is considered congruent to the mission and objectives of OSGeo. OSGeo does not provide any guarantee that particular technical suggestions of sponsors will be accepted. If the sponsoring organization desires to receive the formal benefits of sponsorship then they are not able to decide how the money is used.

OSGeo also has a "Project Sponsor" program in which case sponsorship can be applied to a specific project, but only if a project is soliciting "Project Sponsor". The only OSGeo project that is presently soliciting "Project Sponsor" is ithe GDAL/OGR project.

If an organization wished to be an OSGeo "Foundation Sponsor" or "Project Sponsor" they could become sponsors for them separetely, following the normal procedures. OSGeo may decide whether to hold money on behalf of local chapters or whether the funds should be directly disbursed to the local chapter. If OSGeo deems it necessary to hold funds on behalf of local chapters this implies some degree of due diligence to ensure the money is spent responsibly.

8) How do we sponsoring OSGeo in a "non-standard" or special way not described in this document above?

If an organization would like to provide money in a "non-standard" way that is not described in this document, appropriate ways can be worked out in consultation with the Executive Director of OSGeo.