Governance is based on a representative, community-based membership model incrementally rewarding members who have made the greatest commitments to the project. Fedora is governed by a Leadership Group and a Steering Group. This page outlines the roles and responsibilities of each group and its members.
Leadership Group
The Leadership Group is made up of members that contribute over $20,000 annually to the project, along with representatives from institutions contributing at least 0.5 FTE in-kind developers, or a combination of financial and in-kind resources. Members that contribute at lower levels can also be elected to serve on the leadership group. The Leadership Group approves the overall priorities and strategic direction of the project by:
- Approving the annual budget allocation and any modifications
- Approving the product roadmap
- Approving the strategic direction
- Nominating and electing Steering Group members
- Voting on key decisions presented by Steering Group
- Helping to raise funds and secure other resources on behalf of the project
Steering Group
The Steering Group is nominated and elected by the Leadership Group. Steering Group members serve three-year terms. The Steering Group provides project oversight and ensures that the priorities of the Leadership Group and members are met, by:
- Providing strategic direction to the Project
- Providing guidance to the Product Manager / Project Director / Technical Lead, with input on their annual performance reviews
- Recommending annual budget allocations
- Presenting key decisions to the Leadership Group for discussion and approval
- Raising funds and securing other resources on behalf of the Project
- Overseeing project operations
Steering Group Chair
The Steering Group elects a chair on an annual basis, drawn from among its members. The Steering Group chair also serves as the Leaders Group chair, to ensure both groups are working on the same agenda and timeframe. When needed, the person serves as the personification / representative of the members of the Fedora Community The Chair has the following duties:
- Chair (convene and facilitate) the Steering Group meetings (both face to face and conference calls), ensuring an appropriate agenda
- Chair (convene and facilitate) the Leaders Group meetings (both face to face and conference calls), ensuring an appropriate agenda
- Collect and channel feedback on DuraSpace-employed staff supporting Fedora for annual and ad hoc performance reviews
- Represent the community in discussions / negotiations with DuraSpace, as appropriate
- Ensure Steering & Leaders contribute to the creation of and final validation of the Fedora project's annual budget, strategic plan and operating plan
- Ensure Members, Steering & Leaders contribute resources (financial and human) and energy to the project consistent with a member-driven, member-supported open source project
