Attendees: Marc Baizman, Laura Meerkatz, Sarah Pilzer, Michael Kolodner, Jason Bury, Brandon Mead
NPPatch Organizational Structure Planning
The team discussed the path forward for NPPatch, focusing on organizational structure and decision-making processes. They explored the possibility of forming a 501c3 nonprofit as a straightforward option for accepting donations. While other legal structures like cooperatives or B Corps were mentioned, the group agreed to first evaluate the feasibility of a 501c3 before considering alternatives. The team acknowledged that while decision-making methodology and organizational structure are related, they can be discussed separately, with the legal structure being the immediate priority to address.
Project Organization Structure Discussion
The group discussed options for organizing their project, including using an existing 501c3 nonprofit that Brandon has, which could potentially save 9-12 months of processing time. They explored the possibility of using a fiscal sponsorship as an alternative approach. Laura emphasized her preference for a community-owned, not-for-profit model without venture capital involvement. The group agreed on the importance of clearly defining project values and goals to guide their decision-making process.
Nonprofit Repurposing Discussion
The team discussed repurposing Brandon’s existing nonprofit to house their project. Brandon explained two potential approaches: either fully adopting the nonprofit or establishing it as a fiscally sponsored program. He noted that the nonprofit’s flexible structure allows for either option, with the latter providing more initial formality while maintaining the ability to transition to full adoption later. The group agreed to further evaluate these options, with Brandon offering to share the nonprofit’s bylaws and documentation for review.
Nonprofit Collaborative Repurposing Discussion
The group discussed the future of the Nonprofit Collaborative and its potential role in supporting the NPPatch project. Brandon explained that it could be repurposed with updated bylaws to better support the project, rather than creating a new entity through fiscal sponsorship. The group agreed that maintaining the flexibility of the existing nonprofit might be more practical than establishing a new entity, particularly since the nonprofit already has the necessary infrastructure in place.
Nonprofit Collaborative Governance Structure
The group discussed the structure and governance of Nonprofit Collaborative, focusing on board elections and membership criteria. Michael raised questions about identifying future members who would elect the board, suggesting it should include organizations that have installed the product and partners who install it for clients. Brandon indicated that fiscal sponsorship could be a potential arrangement to address these questions long-term, while also noting the need to replace less active board members with more active ones. Marc asked about the organization’s financial infrastructure, including the ability to accept donations and maintain a bank account, emphasizing the importance of fiduciary responsibilities regardless of the structure chosen.
Nonprofit Financial Management Structure
The group discussed the current state of the nonprofit’s structure and financial management. Brandon confirmed that while the basic structure exists, financial reviews and donations tracking are dormant, and he recommended reactivating these processes. Sarah volunteered to serve as treasurer. The discussion also touched on potential funding sources, including a conversation Michael had at Nonprofit Dreamin’ about possible support. The group acknowledged the need to better track expenses and potentially secure additional funding, as current costs are being personally covered by Laura.
Nonprofit Organization Establishment Discussion
The group discussed the benefits and considerations of establishing a nonprofit organization for their project. Jason highlighted three tactical reasons: accessing nonprofit benefits like Salesforce license donations, obtaining services from other platforms like Google or Slack, and managing potential donations. Laura emphasized the importance of controlling critical namespaces, particularly regarding customer organizations. The discussion also touched on the potential for the nonprofit to own and control the project’s direction, though Jason expressed skepticism about whether anything could truly guarantee long-term control.
Nonprofit Collaborative Affiliation Discussion
The team discussed potentially affiliating with Nonprofit Collaborative, with most members expressing support in principle but wanting to review documentation first. Jason raised concerns about urgency and copyright ownership, while Laura emphasized the need to understand the difference between fiscal sponsorship and full integration before making a decision. Sarah requested access to the bylaws document to review potential edits, and Laura offered to create a shared document in Google doc for collaborative editing.