We had a great FOSS4G 2025 in Auckland. Big thanks and compliments to the organizers, volunteers, Auckland University of Technology, sponsors, participants and all presenters and workshop organizers!
I’m sure many of us left inspired and in good spirit. The conference also made clear why we put time into this community of like minded people, in organizing FOSS4G conferences and in the OSGeo foundation. One of the things that I’ve put time in over the last two years is talking with people in the community and on the OSGeo Board about the future of OSGeo. This has resulted in a discussion paper that I would like to put out for comments in this forum, and preferably on the document itself. I would therefore like to invite you to read it and provide your valuable insights and suggestions so we can move forward and strengthen OSGeo and our mission.
The document can be found here. It can not be edited, but it can be commented on. I’ll then take the time to review those comments to come up with an improved version, out of which I hope we can formulate a number of actions and proposals that can be moved to the OSGeo Board for further action.
Looking forward to hear from you! For a future proof OSGeo!
I know I have keenly felt the financial restrictions placed on committee activities, most recently with the OSGeo website which still has google plus icons, and not mastodon.
While it is highland in general terms in your document in general terms, the classification as US 501(c)(4) is a considerable liability for fundraising. Reclassifying as 501(c)(3) so that donations are tax-exempt would have a considerable impact.
Thanks for putting this document together. Solving the issue in regards to seperation of sponsor ship agreements, recognition, and benefits between OSGeo / FOSS4G, as well as local chapter and their events seems impossible to solve but we welcome that we are attempting to address this issue.
I do believe that OSGeo needs a stronger media presence which will help tto attract sponsors if they are recognised in different channels.
There should be community videos featuring sponsors in addition to the videos recorded at FOSS4G conferences. This can be hosted and produced more frequently.
We are probably a bit late to the game but there are plenty of good geo podcasts and newsletter which feature sponsors.
Geomob for example is running a very popular podcast and has a newsletter which my organisation [GEOLYTIX] sponsors on an annual basis.