From 1ee94bd026b5f6e28b8acd4019e76456e3879200 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Afshin T. Darian" Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2024 18:51:18 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Add text of LF proposal --- _toc.yml | 7 +- linux-proposal.md | 252 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2 files changed, 257 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-) create mode 100644 linux-proposal.md diff --git a/_toc.yml b/_toc.yml index 5400bfc3..17ee2fb0 100644 --- a/_toc.yml +++ b/_toc.yml @@ -13,11 +13,10 @@ parts: - file: standing_committees_and_working_groups.md sections: - file: list_of_standing_committees_and_working_groups - - file: communitybuildingcommittee + - file: communitybuildingworkinggroup - file: distinguished_contributors - file: people - - caption: Code of Conduct chapters: - file: conduct/code_of_conduct @@ -38,6 +37,10 @@ parts: - file: trademarks - file: projectlicense +- caption: Proposals + chapters: + - file: linux-proposal + - caption: Previous Governance chapters: - file: governance diff --git a/linux-proposal.md b/linux-proposal.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fdada9a0 --- /dev/null +++ b/linux-proposal.md @@ -0,0 +1,252 @@ +# Proposal for Jupyter\'s Sustainable Growth + +March 5, 2024 + +# Executive Summary + +The Jupyter Executive Council (EC) has the responsibility to ensure the +healthy and sustainable evolution of Project Jupyter and to seek the +best vehicles to support this. **We, the EC, propose to create a new +funding vehicle for the project, paired with some management and +operational changes in support of this funding mechanism, in partnership +with the Linux Foundation (LF)**. These changes will enable us to grow +and develop ambitious efforts we have often discussed but lacked +resources to implement, and provide long-term stability both for key +Jupyter contributors and the project itself. While Project Jupyter has +been impactful and successful in many areas, we currently struggle in +our ability to scale in certain strategic directions and in maintaining +core functions needed for an effort of our size and scope. We believe +the plan below is the right path forward to meet these challenges; +we\'ve come to this plan after a detailed exploration of multiple +options. + +**We propose that Project Jupyter -- with its current governance +structure and name -- transfer from NumFOCUS to the Linux Foundation +Charities 501(c)(3). This transition would be paired with the creation +of a new resource, provisionally called the *Jupyter Foundation*, +designated to secure corporate contributions, and an associated +c*ommittee* to make budgetary decisions associated with these funds. The +Jupyter Foundation would be under the Linux Foundation 501(c)(6).** +Below, we provide more details about this proposal and answer questions. +This document aims to be a reference point for the community to discuss +this plan, which (after suitable community deliberation, refinement, and +approval) the EC would like to implement as soon as possible. + +> **Note --** A 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) are both tax-exempt nonprofit +> structures in the United States. A (c)(3) is a vehicle to support +> collective fundraising for a scientific or charitable purpose. A +> (c)(6) is a vehicle to support collective fundraising for a common +> business interest in industry. Like many projects that the LF hosts, +> Project Jupyter aligns both with nonprofit models with scientific and +> educational goals, and with business interests. Therefore, it can take +> advantage of having both fundraising options available to donors +> through LF Charities, a 501(c)(3), and the Linux Foundation, a +> 501(c)(6). + +# Project Jupyter's Needs + +Project Jupyter requires **sustainable funding that is centrally managed +for some key \"backbone needs\'\' of the project.** There are activities +and programs that are critical to the mission of Jupyter that are +currently either underfunded or unfunded. Examples include JupyterCon, +other Jupyter community and outreach events, Binder, NbViewer, +jupyter.org, an Executive Director, other project-wide staff (release +engineering, developer advocate, documentation writer, program manager, +testing infrastructure, etc.) and more. We believe that if a few such +\"backbone\" roles and activities are sustainably funded, it will become +easier for individual subprojects and teams in the community to pursue +strategic objectives, propose new developments, and seek targeted +resources that rely on this stable foundation for coordination, +planning, and project-wide interactions. **The EC has a goal to raise +\$1-2 million/year in a sustainable manner**. + +*The EC believes that this funding can come from a combination of +non-profit (private foundations, government grants) and for-profit +(corporate) sources*. In the past, Jupyter has obtained grants on the +order of a million dollars and above through private foundations, with +smaller contributions coming from individuals and a few generous +corporate partners. Securing consistent funding via grants has proven +challenging given the lumpy nature of grant allocations and the limited +number of people who can devote their time to grant writing for Juptyer. +These inconsistent levels of funding make it very difficult to maintain +a stable backbone for the project that enables long-term vision and +strategic planning and execution. Similarly, we have faced challenges in +raising consistent funding from corporations. + +Additionally, Jupyter needs **improved operational support**. Jupyter +needs a higher level of support for operating (legal/trademark, +marketing, fundraising, accounting, contracts, internships, events, dev +ops, etc.) than is currently available from NumFOCUS. The EC\'s +responsibility is to serve Jupyter\'s pressing needs today and tomorrow; +currently, the EC is spending a significant amount of its time on +operational matters instead of fundraising and other activities that +support Jupyter's long-term mission. At this time, and after extensive +conversations with NumFOCUS and time spent by Ana Ruvalcaba taking deep +dives into operational matters, the EC\'s assessment is that the best +course of action is to secure operational support with a proven partner +that can provide it today. *Our assessment is that the Linux Foundation +is such an ideal partner for Jupyter today*. + +Finally, Jupyter needs to be able to hire and manage **full-time +staff**, including roles such as an Executive Director, CI/devops, +program managers, test engineering, documentation writing, and release +engineering. These require a sustained and full-time effort, beyond what +is reasonable for volunteers or can be funded via project-specific +initiatives and/or grants. In the past, we have funded, hired, and +managed these types of roles through universities (Cal Poly State +University, San Luis Obispo and UC Berkeley), but that is not +sustainable for the institution or the staff who seek a long term career +path associated with Jupyter, rather than with specific corporate or +academic organizations. Again, Jupyter needs sustainable funding and +operational support to hire, retain, and manage contributors in these +types of roles. + +# So, what would be changing? + +We have spent time and effort in discussions with the Linux Foundation +team, to ensure that this transition introduces the smallest possible +changes to Jupyter\'s operations while meeting our above goals. + +Under this proposal, **Jupyter keeps its current governance structure +and transfers from NumFOCUS to LF Charities 501(c)(3). An additional +funding vehicle will be created called the Jupyter Foundation under the +Linux Foundation 501(c)(6) providing corporations a well known and +proven method to support the Jupyter Project.** + +In order to manage this new resource (the Jupyter Foundation), we +propose to create a new committee (JFC), populated by representatives of +our corporate funders. The role of this committee will be to approve the +use of the corporate funding available, in coordination with the EC. The +JFC and EC members will vote on Jupyter Foundation resource allocation +with exact details to be determined soon (for example, the funding +committee model typically has one vote per corporate funding +representative). + +As part of the normal course of business, and to encourage strategic +engagement of the corporate partners (beyond just giving money), the EC +meetings will be open to members of the JFC, though the EC reserves the +right to call a separate closed meeting should the need arise. + +In addition, the Linux Foundation through its 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) +will provide back-office operational support as needed for the project +operations such as grants and events as well as the ability to hire +staff for the benefit of the project. + +# What other options have we explored? + +We have investigated the following options: + +- Remaining at NumFOCUS + +- Joining several other 501(c)(3) organizations. + +- Partnering with Linux Foundation via its 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) + support structures (our proposed path) + +- Creating our own 501(c)(3). + +NumFocus, as previously stated, is not able to meet our needs and our +goals for Project Jupyter at this time. + +Other 501(c)(3) organizations were either larger in scale, but without +deep experience supporting open source projects and their communities, +or smaller in scale but with experience supporting software projects. + +The costs to instantiate and operate a new 501(c)(3) are very high and +the focus on building up back-office infrastructure expertise and +capabilities would limit our ability to focus on the needs stated +earlier. + +After carefully evaluating all these options and engaging in multiple +detailed discussions, we concluded that the Linux Foundation is the best +option. LF can support our existing community and governance structure, +and it has a proven track record of supporting software projects with a +sustainable operational and multi-modal funding model that scales. + +# How does this affect our project\'s mission regarding both open science, education, and access to all regardless of money or industrial relationships? + +Project Jupyter's mission and focus on open science remains unchanged +and driven by its contributors. Project Jupyter will develop a formal +mission statement that will reiterate our commitment to open science, +education, research and broad access to interactive computing. Based on +many previous discussions we\'ve had on this topic, we propose here a +rough draft of such a mission statement: "Project Jupyter is an open and +collaborative community that develops interactive computing tools, +software, standards, and infrastructure for research, education, and +industry." As part of the transition to LF, we will open an issue to +discuss and approve an official mission statement. + +# Other Questions (FAQ) + +## How would this change our relationship with NumFOCUS? + +Once the transition is concluded and assets are transferred, Project +Jupyter would not have a legal relationship with NumFOCUS. However, we +will always maintain a collaborative relationship with NumFOCUS and its +various projects: Jupyter is for many a portal into a broad ecosystem of +projects that currently operate under NumFOCUS, and we\'ll continue +collaborating with all of them as before. In this regard, NumFOCUS is +and would remain a key partner for Project Jupyter, and we wish the +NumFOCUS team success. + +We will work out a transition plan between NF and the LF Charities that +will minimize disruption to the projects. There may be some funds that +are simpler to wind down through NF and some that are easier to move to +the LF Charities. + +## How would the 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) legal entities work together for Project Jupyter? + +The Project Jupyter EC continues its current authority over funds and +grants that go to the 501(c)(3). As explained above, the corporate +funders to the Jupyter Foundation would have input, along with the +Project Jupyter EC, into how Jupyter Foundation monies are allocated for +the sustainability and growth of the Project Jupyter. + +## What is the process for Jupyter leaving NumFOCUS and whose authority/approvals does it require? + +Jupyter's current governance model requires any changes to Juptyer's +governance to be approved by the Jupyter Executive Council and Software +Steering Council. Once these two bodies have voted to leave NumFOCUS and +transfer the project to LF Charities 501(c)(3), the NumFOCUS FSA +Committee will formally notify NumFOCUS of our plans. The current FSA +requires us to give NumFOCUS a 60-day notice before moving. The NumFOCUS +FSA Committee currently consists of Matthias Bussonnier, Benjamin +Ragan-Kelley, Fernando Pérez, Ana Ruvalcaba, and Thomas Kluyver. + +## And similarly, what will be the process for Jupyter potentially leaving the Linux Foundation in the future? + +When requested by the governing body for a project, the LF has moved +projects out of its stewardship to the governing body's designated +entity. The Project Jupyter EC would decide that. The Project Jupyter +assets in the 501(c)(3) would transfer to another 501(c)(3) and +501(c)(6) assets could be transferred to another 501(c)(6) or to the +501(c)(3). Similarly, there will be a notice period, and wind-down +component related to employees, IP, etc. + +## How does corporate membership work in terms of levels and dues amount? + +The details need to be finalized and we welcome input from the community +on this. Based on what is common with other funds under the Linux +Foundation 501(c)(6), typically there are 2 levels, Premier and General. +For example, Premier members each get a seat on the funding committee +and General members collectively have one elected representative from +the general member class that represents them alongside the Premier +members. The dues amount will be determined based on the financial needs +of Project Jupyter and corresponding alignment with corporate budgets +that have a precedent for supporting critical projects upon which +companies depend. The Linux Foundation also has (free) Associate +memberships for government, education, research, and non-profit +organizations. Given the importance of these types of organizations to +the mission of Jupyter, the EC would like to work through how they can +be included. + +## What is the proposed timeline? + +The EC anticipates community discussion in March 2024 leads to a formal +governance change proposal in April 2024 to move from NumFOCUS to LF +Charities 501(c)(3), creation of an LF 501(c)(6) foundation, and the +operational details of how these entities will be managed (e.g., +creation of a budget process). The EC anticipates this proposal will be +voted on by the newly-elected EC and SSC by the end of April 2024. If +approved, the EC anticipates that the effective date of a move to LF +could be 60 days later, by the end of June 2024.