FSF Adopts New Governance Framework for Board Members
FSF Adopts New Governance Framework for Board Members — Free Software Foundation — Working together for free software

  

  
    
  

  
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    Dec 16, 2021 03:02 PM
  

  

  

  

  



            The board of the Free Software Foundation (FSF) has approved and
implemented two new measures designed to help make FSF governance more
transparent, accountable, ethical, and responsible. They are a Board
Member Agreement that enumerates the responsibilities of board members,
and a Code of Ethics that lays out principles to guide their
decision-making and activities.
"The FSF has always been a steady beacon for freedom and against the
widespread mistreatment of computer users," said FSF president Geoffrey
Knauth. "In the last year, the board realized that we faced a challenge
and opportunity to improve our governance practices and recruit new
leaders to the FSF board. I'm proud of this important step in that
ongoing work."
The new measures are the first products of a six-month, consultant-led
review. They formalize crucial aspects of the FSF's governance, and will
guide board members to understand and embrace their responsibilities to
the nonprofit's worldwide mission to promote computer user freedom.
The new Board Member Agreement spells out nineteen duties and
responsibilities, including minimum expectations for organizational and
financial oversight, participation in board activities, the recruitment
of associate members, and annual performance reviews.
The Code of Ethics details thirteen specific provisions establishing how
the board of directors will conduct the business affairs of the
organization in good faith and with honesty, integrity, due diligence,
and competence.
All current board members have signed and committed to upholding the new
governance standards. These standards will be an important part of the
FSF's new process for evaluating and recruiting board members that is
under review, and will be announced in early 2022. All candidate board
members will be expected to uphold these standards upon joining the
board.
Knauth said, "We want to make clear what the duties and responsibilities
of board members are, as we work hard to attract new talent to keep the
Foundation moving into the future, so that it will always be there to
protect hard-won freedoms."
        