bootstrapping.md

Commonhaus Foundation Bootstrapping Agreement

• Project: [Insert GitHub Organization and Project name here]
• EGC representative: [Insert GitHub Username here]

This document outlines the preliminary, non-binding agreement for the establishment phase of the Commonhaus Foundation (CF), aiming to foster a collaborative community dedicated to open source projects.

• EGC Quorum Establishment
• Preliminary Commitment
• Formation Period
• Binding Commitments Post-Formation
• Feedback and Iteration
• Acknowledgement

EGC Quorum Establishment

Five projects are required for moving forward with binding commitments. Each project must have an appointed EGC member to approve revised bylaws.

Preliminary Commitment

By engaging in this agreement, projects indicate their preliminary, and non binding, intent to join the Commonhaus Foundation (CF), with the understanding that this stage does not require any legal transfer of assets.

This intent is symbolized through a digital acknowledgment by the project's designated Extended Governance Committee (EGC) representative. Where applicable, additional acknowledgments may be required to satisfy employer or vendor requirements to ensure all parties are aligned with the project's commitment to the CF.

Formation Period

Upon formal organization of the Commonhaus Foundation (CF), a designated Formation Period will commence, lasting one year. This extended timeframe accommodates the collaborative development of essential operational processes, including but not limited to domain management, email domain assistance, and other logistical support necessary for the projects' success within the CF ecosystem.

During this period, projects are expected to:

• Adopt the Code of Conduct, as illustrated by this project's CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md and the corresponding CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md template.
• Clearly document their current governance practices within their top-level project or repository¹ for transparency. No changes to governance or operational practices is required. Refer to this project's GOVERNANCE.md and the GOVERNANCE.md template for guidance.
• Engage in the development and refinement of CF's operational processes, ensuring all actions align with the CF decision-making process.

Binding Commitments Post-Formation

Projects are invited to formalize their participation in the Commonhaus Foundation through binding agreements at any point during the Formation Period. These agreements may include the transfer of project assets, such as trademarks and domains, to the foundation.

Should there be fewer than five projects bound by either this provisional agreement or a formal binding agreement by the end of the Formation Period, the projects still in the provisional phase retain the right to reassess their participation and may withdraw their membership without facing any penalties or obligations.

The Foundation and committed projects will evaluate their progress and circumstances. Based on this evaluation, they may continue operations or follow the dissolution process to transition projects to another suitable non-profit organization that aligns with their goals and needs.

Feedback and Iteration

To ensure the Commonhaus Foundation's (CF) governance and operational frameworks remain responsive and effective, regular feedback mechanisms will be established for the Extended Governance Committee (EGC). These mechanisms include both convened sessions and asynchronous feedback via GitHub discussions, in accordance with the electronic participation guidelines and the decision-making process outlined in our bylaws. This approach aims to address concerns, suggest operational improvements, and ensure ongoing alignment with the collective goals of the CF community, fostering a collaborative and flexible environment for governance and decision-making.

Acknowledgement

By making a signed commit to this document in the Commonhaus Foundation's repository, the undersigned EGC representative of the participating project acknowledges their understanding of the terms outlined herein and expresses their non-binding intent to support the establishment of the Commonhaus Foundation.

This digital action is considered a valid form of written consent, in line with the foundation's bylaws on electronic participation and decision-making.

Project Name: [Insert Project Name here]

EGC Representative GitHub Username: [Insert GitHub Username here]

Date of Signed Commit: [Insert Date here]

For organizations with a legal department, a digitally signed PDF of this document may be submitted as an alternative.

Footnotes

1. As an example, this could be in either the primary or .github repository within a GitHub organization. ↩