On Wed, Oct 19, 2011 at 12:34 PM, Dennis E. Hamilton
<[email protected]> wrote:
> I thought that the previous discussion (on this list, not just ooo-users)
> arrived
> at the following:
>
> 1. ASF does not accept donations that have strings on how the funds are used.
I've seen this expressed generally stated as "ASF does not...". I
have not seen it stated as "ASF may not...".
In fact if you dig around, you find that the ASF Board did approve a
resolution that allows targeted donations:
"WHEREAS, the Apache Software Foundation is a support
organization for open-source software development projects; and
WHEREAS, donations of funds, services, or goods to the
Foundation may be made with the desire on the part of the donor
that the said funds, services, or goods should be utilized to
directly support one or more particular projects or purposes;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Apache Software
Foundation shall accept such targeted donations; and be it
further
RESOLVED, that the acceptance of a targeted donation does not
constitute a commitment by the Foundation to any more than a
best effort in good faith to apply the donation as requested;
and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Foundation will not disburse funds for use by
a Project Management Committee until that Project Management
Committee has developed a budget indicating how those funds will be
used and that budget has been approved by the Board of Directors;
and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Treasurer shall include the intended purpose
of any such targeted donations as part of his reports, making
the intended purpose of the donation a matter of public record;
and be it further
RESOLVED, that such targeted donations shall be applied to the
Foundation's general operating fund or resource pool for
allocation, disbursement, or assignment as the Foundation may
see fit, bearing in mind the donor's intention and the needs of
the Foundation and its projects."
See:
http://www.apache.org/foundation/records/minutes/1999/board_minutes_1999_09_22.txt
So not a legally binding commitment to use contributions as directed
by the donor, but a "best effort in good faith" to use them per the
donor's stated intent.
Was this Board resolution -- admittedly quite old -- ever rescinded?
If not, is there any reason why we could not do something along these
lines, e.g., request targeted donations, develop a budget, get it
approved by the Board, etc.?
I realize that this might be far different than what other projects do
today. But it appears to be a possibility that ASF considered, and
enabled, in previous discussions.
-Rob
-Rob
