Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees
The Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees manage the nonprofit and supervise the disposition and solicitation of nonprofit donations. The Board of Trustees are the ultimate corporate authority in the Wikimedia Foundation Inc. (article IV, sec. 1 of the Wikimedia Foundation bylaws).
The Board has the power to direct the activities of the Foundation. It also has the authority to amend the corporate bylaws (article VI). Full responsibilities and procedures of the Board are laid out in the Board Handbook.
The Board currently has five seats selected in some fashion by the Wikimedia community, plus one seat designated for Jimmy Wales. Together these trustees, with the help of community brainstorming and outside recruiters, choose four other people (not always from within the community) to fill out the expertise needed on the Board. At full membership, the Board thus includes ten Trustees, although some seats may not be occupied at the moment.
This is primarily a historical page about the past composition of the Board. For current news and discussions, see the Board portal summarizing its recent work and committees, and a noticeboard for posting requests or sharing proposed resolutions with the Board.
Contents
- 1 Current board
- 2 History
- 2.1 Original Board: 2003
- 2.2 Board #1: June 2004 – June 2005
- 2.3 Board #2: July 2005 – September 2006
- 2.4 Board #3: September 2006 – November 2006
- 2.5 Board #4: December 2006 – July 2007
- 2.6 Board #5: July 2007 – February 2008
- 2.7 Board #6: February 2008 – June 2008
- 2.8 Board #7: July 2008 – September 2008
- 2.9 Board #8: October 2008 – July 2009
- 2.10 Board #9: August 2009 – March 2010
- 2.11 Board #10: March 2010 – July 2010
- 2.12 Board #11: July 2010 – July 2012
- 2.13 Board #12: July 2012-July 2013
- 2.14 August 2013
- 3 Chart
- 4 See also
Current board
History
Original Board: 2003
| Board of Trustees original members |
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The original founding three members of the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees were Jimmy Wales, Tim Shell, and Michael Davis.
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The Foundation was created in 2003, with three trustees. It was planned that two members would be added to this list, to represent the community.
- Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia and designated life member, Chair
- Michael Davis
- Tim Shell
Board #1: June 2004 – June 2005
Two of the elected seats were filled via a project-wide vote in June 2004. This election was open to all active users who had made their first edit on any Wikimedia project at least 90 days before they voted.
The initial trustees (article IV, sec. 2.2.) included the following individuals, three Bomis partners, and two (other) Wikipedians:
- Jimmy Wales, Founder and designated life member, Chair
- Michael Davis, Treasurer
- Tim Shell
- Florence Nibart-Devouard, Vice-Chair
- Angela Beesley, Secretary
Board #2: July 2005 – September 2006
The first Board of Trustees changed the duration of the two elections position from one to two years. The notion of volunteer user representative and contributor user representative were dropped. This election was open to all active users who had made their first edit on any Wikimedia project at least 90 days before they voted. It took place directly on the website. See Elections for the Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation, 2005 for more information.
The second elections took place in June–July 2005 and resulted in the two members' representatives being re-elected. Positions within the board were changed as followed :
- Jimmy Wales, Chair
- Michael Davis, Treasurer
- Tim Shell, Secretary
- Florence Nibart-Devouard, Vice-Chair
- Angela Beesley, Vice-Chair
In July 2006, Angela Beesley announced her resignation, effective September 2006. In August 2006, Tim Shell announced his plan to resign in the near future.
Board #3: September 2006 – November 2006
The third Board had a very short duration, and was characterized by a strong reorganization. Erik Möller was elected as Angela Beesley's replacement and joined the Board on September 26 (resolution). His term was set up to expire on July 18, 2007, as he was simply completing Angela's term. The changed board was as follows:
- Jimmy Wales, Chair
- Michael Davis, Treasurer
- Tim Shell, Secretary
- Florence Nibart-Devouard, Vice-Chair
- Erik Möller, Vice-Chair
On 28 October 2006, the board was reorganized. A major change was the replacement of Jimmy Wales by Florence Nibart-Devouard as chair. Positions on the Board were changed as below:
- Florence Nibart-Devouard, Chair
- Jimmy Wales, Chairman Emeritus
- Tim Shell, Vice-Chair
- Michael Davis, Treasurer
- Erik Möller, Executive Secretary
This Board decided on the expansion of its membership, the replacement of Tim Shell, a change of term duration of elected members, and the removal of lifelong term for Jimmy Wales. To limit the risk of a huge trusteeship turnover in June 2007 (where Florence, Erik, and the future two additional trustees term is due), it was decided that Florence would be appointed from June 2007 till June 2008.
Board #4: December 2006 – July 2007
The Board was expanded according to the Resolution:Board expansion. Consequently three new members were appointed on 8 December: one to replace Tim Shell, who stepped down effective 15 December 2006, and two as the result of expansion. After this expansion, four trustees were effectively elected, while three are "appointed". Terms of appointment were thenceforth one year, elected, two years. The two appointed trustees, Kat Walsh and Oscar van Dillen, made it numbers 2 and 3 at the September 2006 board elections.
Members were:
- Florence Nibart-Devouard, Chair
- Jimmy Wales, Chairman Emeritus
- Jan-Bart de Vreede, Vice-Chair
- Michael Davis, Treasurer
- Erik Möller, Executive Secretary
- Kat Walsh
- Oscar van Dillen
Terms of members ended:
- in June 2007 for Kat Walsh and Oscar van Dillen
- in December 2007 for Jimmy Wales and Jan-Bart de Vreede
- in June 2008 for Florence Nibart-Devouard
Board #5: July 2007 – February 2008
New elections occur in June 2007, at the term of which Erik Möller and Kat Walsh were re-elected and were on the Board until the 2009 elections. Oscar van Dillen's seat was taken by Frieda Brioschi. In October 2007, Florence Nibart-Devouard (chair), Jan-Bart de Vreede (vice chair), Erik Möller (secretary) were reconfirmed in their positions.
Members were:
- Florence Nibart-Devouard, Chair
- Jimmy Wales, Chairman Emeritus
- Jan-Bart de Vreede, Vice-Chair
- Michael Davis, Treasurer
- Erik Möller, Executive Secretary
- Kat Walsh
- Frieda Brioschi
Board #6: February 2008 – June 2008
Erik Möller and Michael Davis resigned from their positions. Michael Snow and Domas Mituzas joined the Board (Mituzas became secretary). Stuart West was appointed as Treasurer on 21 April.
Members were:
- Florence Nibart-Devouard, Chair
- Jimmy Wales, Chairman Emeritus
- Jan-Bart de Vreede, Vice-Chair
- Stuart West, Treasurer
- Domas Mituzas, Executive Secretary
- Michael Snow
- Kat Walsh
- Frieda Brioschi
Board #7: July 2008 – September 2008
After the 2008 Board elections, a new trustee, Ting Chen was elected to replace Florence Nibart-Devouard, whose term as the chair had expired; Michael Snow was appointed the new Board chairman during the 2008 Wikimania, to remain chair until the Wikimedia Chapters appointed their own trustees. Arne Klempert became a chapter-selected seat. Frieda Brioschi resigned in September.
Members were:
- Michael Snow, Chair
- Jimmy Wales, Founder Seat
- Jan-Bart de Vreede, Vice-Chair
- Stu West, Treasurer
- Arne Klempert, chapter-elected seat
- Domas Mituzas, Executive Secretary
- Frieda Brioschi
- Kat Walsh
- Ting Chen
Board #8: October 2008 – July 2009
After the 2008 Board restructuring, in May 2009 WMF chapters selected and the board approved the appointment of Michael Snow and Arne Klempert.
Members were:
- Michael Snow, Chair
- Jimmy Wales, Founder Seat
- Jan-Bart de Vreede, Vice-Chair
- Stu West, Treasurer
- Arne Klempert, chapter-selected seat
- Domas Mituzas, Executive Secretary
- Kat Walsh
- Ting Chen
Board #9: August 2009 – March 2010
Kat Walsh was re-elected to replace Domas Mituzas. Ting Chen was reelected. Samuel Klein was elected. Matt Halprin was appointed a Trustee, with a term to expire in December 2009.
Members were:
- Michael Snow, Chair
- Jimmy Wales, Founder seat
- Jan-Bart de Vreede, Vice-Chair
- Kat Walsh, Executive Secretary, community-selected trustee
- Stu West, Treasurer
- Ting Chen, community-selected Trustee
- Arne Klempert, chapter-selected Trustee
- Samuel Klein, community-selected Trustee
- Matt Halprin
Board #10: March 2010 – July 2010
Bishakha Datta was appointed in March.
Members were:
- Michael Snow, Chair
- Jimmy Wales, Founder Seat
- Jan-Bart de Vreede, Vice-Chair
- Kat Walsh, Executive Secretary, community-selected Trustee
- Stu West, Treasurer
- Ting Chen, community-selected Trustee
- Arne Klempert, chapter-selected Trustee
- Samuel Klein, community-selected Trustee
- Matt Halprin
- Bishakha Datta
Board #11: July 2010 – July 2012
In 2010, Michael Snow left the Board and Phoebe Ayers was selected by the Chapters in his place. See WMF blog announcement and press release (with Q&A) for more. In 2011, Ting Chen, Samuel Klein, and Kat Walsh were reelected by the community.
Members were:
- Ting Chen, Chair (community selected trustee)
- Stu West, Treasurer, vice chair until July 2011
- Jimmy Wales, Founder Seat
- Samuel Klein, Secretary until July 2011, community selected trustee
- Kat Walsh, community selected Trustee
- Arne Klempert, chapter selected Trustee
- Phoebe Ayers, Secretary from July 2011, chapter selected Trustee
- Matt Halprin, specific expertise Trustee
- Bishakha Datta, specific expertise Trustee
- Jan-Bart de Vreede, Vice Chair from July 2011
Board #12: July 2012-July 2013
In 2012, Patricio Lorente and Alice Wiegand were appointed to the chapter-selected seats previously held by Arne Klempert and Phoebe Ayers. Kat Walsh was chosen to be the new chair, Bishakha Datta to be the new secretary.
Members were:
| Kat Walsh (talk • contribs • email) | Chair |
| Jan-Bart de Vreede (talk • contribs • email) | Vice Chair |
| Stu West (talk • contribs • email) | |
| Bishakha Datta (talk • contribs • email) | |
| Ting Chen (talk • contribs • email) | until April 2013 |
| Matt Halprin (talk • contribs • email) | until 1 January 2013, succeeded by Ana Toni on 1 July 2013 |
| Samuel Klein (talk • contribs • email) | |
| Patricio Lorente (talk • contribs • email) | |
| Jimmy Wales (talk • contribs • email) | |
| Alice Wiegand (talk • contribs • email) |
Later that year the Bylaws were amended so that Treasurer and Secretary officerships could be held by staff. Garfield Byrd was chosen as Treasurer, and Geoff Brigham as Secretary.
August 2013
- NB: Now that we are starting to regularly appoint new Trustees around January 1, and have staggered election and selection of Trustees, it may not make sense to define and number Boards from July to July. A continuous list of Trustees, updated as needed with a comment explaining the transition, makes more sense. And this better matches the highly informative chart below.
In April, Ting Chen resigned from the Board in order to apply for the post of WMF executive director. In June, Ana Toni was appointed to the Board starting July 1, filling the seat vacated by Matt Halprin, and the community elected Phoebe Ayers and María Sefidari and reelected Samuel Klein to the Board, starting August 7.
Starting in August, the Board's composition is:
| Jan-Bart de Vreede (talk • contribs • email) | Chair |
| Stu West (talk • contribs • email) | (former Treasurer) |
| Bishakha Datta (talk • contribs • email) | |
| Samuel Klein (talk • contribs • email) | |
| Patricio Lorente (talk • contribs • email) | |
| Jimmy Wales (talk • contribs • email) | |
| Alice Wiegand (talk • contribs • email) | |
| Ana Toni | left August 2014 |
| Phoebe Ayers (talk • contribs • email) | Vice Chair |
| María Sefidari (talk • contribs • email) |
Garfield Byrd (staff member) is Treasurer, Geoff Brigham (staff member) is Secretary, see foundation:Resolution:Appointment of Foundation Staff Officers.
Chart
- From the Board Chart template:
See also
- Board elections
- Board Reports
- Board of Trustees on official site
- Board member role and appointments on official site
- Information and statistics
- Organization chart
