Board size, composition mix, term limits, succession, removal, compensation, conflict-of-interest policy. Existence public; specific candidates internal.
Why this matters
In a Foundation+PBC structure, the board of the mission-holding entity is the guardian of constitutional commitments. Per Entry 014, the board has unilateral authority to refuse mission-violating amendments. Pick people whose values are tested and who will dissent when leadership is wrong, including against the founder.
Design questions
- Board size (3, 5, 7?)
- Composition mix (mission-aligned outsiders, contributor representatives, technical/governance/legal experts)
- Term limits and succession mechanics
- Removal mechanics and authority
- Compensation
- Conflict-of-interest policy (especially for board members who are also Council/Arbiters)
- Initial appointment vs. eventual community-elected seats — what fraction become elected, on what timeline
- Quorum and supermajority requirements for what classes of decisions
- How founder board service interacts with diluted founder Power (Entry 012)
Sourcing pool (categories)
The categories of people the Creator is sourcing from are public commitments to the kind of board this should be:
- Alumni of Wikimedia Foundation, Mozilla Foundation, Internet Archive, EFF, Creative Commons
- Experienced UGC platform leaders with public records of pushing back on extraction
- Legal/governance specialists in mission-driven organizations
- Technical leaders with public commitments to open systems