[governance] Legal Status of National IGFs

Mon Apr 11 17:17:48 EDT 2016

Arsene,

My 2 cents based on helping launch the Caribbean Internet Forum, the 1st ever regional pseudo-IGF-ish organization, pre-global-IGF launch way back when:

Definitely a registered non-profit is way to go; question is how quickly one can get there.

Assuming it is not possible to instantly establish the non-profit because for example there are no $ for the legal side/no pro bono counsel to help, and/or not suitable/credible/enough volunteers ready to serve on the new non-profit's board, or just not enough time:

Year 1 you could  just be a volunteer activity, and any income and expenses managed from a separate bank account set up for that by a person - cough probably you - by whomever is the trusted key organizer/establishing an audit trail, and income/expenses reported on your personal taxes as this thing you did. Or as a project account of an existing non-profit that consents to play parent to new baby the national IGF.

Then by year 2,  your national IGF could be either a) a registered non-profit or b) an activity of a registered non-profit, with a separate account, and its own advisory board etc, with all also recognizing its intent to split off as its own thing as soon as feasible.

Assuming you make it to year 3, by then you should have credibility with partners and donors and have a board etc. and should be a properly registered national IGF; or choose to continue as a project of another  non-profit, still with your own accounts and advisory board.

Yeah if you can do it right from the start that's better. But one way or another also works.

Lee

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From: governance-request at lists.igcaucus.org <governance-request at lists.igcaucus.org> on behalf of Wisdom Donkor <wisdom.dk at gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, April 11, 2016 11:36 AM
To: governance at lists.igcaucus.org; Judith Hellerstein
Subject: Re: [governance] Legal Status of National IGFs

Hello Arsane,

As far as i no, it has to be registered as non for profit organisation.
you will have to make sure that all structures are in place other wise you can form it have your event and
latter register it when you think the structures are in place.

We can talk more on skype if you want detailed explanations.

Cheers

WISDOM DONKOR (S/N Eng.)
ICANN Fellow / ISOC Member, IGF Member, Diplo Foundation
OGP Working Group Member, Africa OD Working Group Member
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On Mon, Apr 11, 2016 at 2:39 PM, Judith Hellerstein <judith at jhellerstein.com<mailto:judith at jhellerstein.com>> wrote:
HI Arsene,

I would suggest a non profit form as you would want to raise funds for it and you would want a legal entity. If a non-profit is too difficult than a for profit would work as long as it is truly multi stakeholder. I believe that the IGF-USA is a non-profit or at least affiliated with a non profit. The Mag should have representative from all sectors.  You also make want to include restrictions on how much companies can donate so that a few companies do not dominate on the funding.

Best,
Judith

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On 4/11/2016 8:37 AM, Arsene TUNGALI (Yahoo) wrote:
Dear colleagues,

We are in the process of having our first national IGF in the DRC and we are wondering what legal status to give to it. Is is a non profit? a movement? This question has been asked by our Ministry in charge of ICT to us as the organizing committee.

I am writing to inquire which legal status your national initiatives have within your countries. This will help us know how our Secretariat and our own form of MAG will operate. Please do share your experiences.

Thanks for your support,
Arsene

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