Sponsoring OpenLayers
=====================

Development and maintenance of OpenLayers is supported by a core team of
developers, who seek to maintain a high quality code base driven by the needs
of their users and customers. The support and contributions of a wide variety
of participants has fostered the development of a high quality library that is
now the de facto standard for open source web mapping.

However, there are many aspects of the project that do not receive the
attention they should. Crucial tasks, such as writing documentation, offering
ad hoc support to users, and processing of bug reports often receive less attention
than would be desired - or, when the attention is given, it comes at the cost
of time that might otherwise be spent improving the library.  Meanwhile, many
organizations have made an investment in using OpenLayers as part of their
operations, but have not had a way to directly contribute to the success and
long-term health of the project. 

In order to provide funding to support the maintenance, improvement, and
promotion of OpenLayers, the Project Steering Committee (PSC) is seeking sponsors
to provide financial support via the OSGeo Project Sponsorship program.  Funds
will be held by the OSGeo Foundation for disposition on behalf of the project,
and disbursed at the discretion of the OpenLayers PSC.

Sponsorship should not be seen as a way to control the development of the
project directly, but rather a way of ensuring the longevity and overall health
of the project, by funding work that is regarded as vital but otherwise
undersupported by the contributions of developers using OpenLayers in their 
own projects.


Goals of Sponsorship
--------------------

The OpenLayers community has established high-level goals for
the use of funds from sponsors.  The PSC votes periodically to
allocate funds according to these priorities.  The PSC also
periodically votes to revise these priorities.  

1) Make it easier for both JavaScript experts and also those just
   starting out to adopt and use OpenLayers.

2) Make OpenLayers globally known as an easy way to build rich mapping
   applications.

3) Expand the number of people contributing functionality and
   improvements to the OpenLayers code base.

4) Make OpenLayers a more useful and higher quality web mapping toolkit
   by enhancing the library.


Sponsorship Uses 
----------------

The sponsorship funds will be spent to further the above goals by both
funding tasks that receive less attention without direct support, and
by funding work on more rote project tasks so that core contributors
can focus efforts on library improvements.

Examples of expenditures include:

 * Paying specific developers at PSC-negotiated rates for tasks such as:
   
   * Triage of bug reports, i.e. reproducing, then fixing or passing on to
     another developer a particular bug.
   * Extending the test suite for existing and new features to help
     improve library quality and prevent regressions.
   * Improving documentation to lower the bar to entry for the project.
   * General improvements to the software, especially as they meet the needs
     of the wider OpenLayers community.

 * Funding participation in organized project activities, such as code
   sprints or other community building activities.

 * Funding project participation in conferences that help expand the
   OpenLayers community.

 * Provisioning resources such as web hosting



Sponsorship Benefits
--------------------

Sponsoring OpenLayers provides the following benefits:

 1. Sponsorship will help ensure the sustainability and health of the
    OpenLayers project.
 2. Sponsors will be listed in the credits/authors sections of the
    OpenLayers project documentation, ordered by contribution class,
    with a link back to the sponsor. Additionally, sponsors will be
    listed on the OpenLayers sponsor page, linked prominently from the
    OpenLayers homepage. Silver sponsors and above may include a logo.
    Platinum sponsors may also have their logo placed directly on the
    OpenLayers home page.
 3. Sponsors will be permitted to indicate they are project sponsors in
    web and other promotional materials.
 4. Sponsor input on project focus and direction will be solicited via 
    regular sponsor surveys, though such feedback does not imply any
    direct control over the direction of the project. 
 5. Sponsors will receive a degree of priority in developer feedback on
    bug reports during any routine maintainence paid for with
    sponsorship funds.
 6. Sponsors will receive a detailed annual report on the use of
    sponsorship funds.

Sponsorship Process
-------------------

Sponsors can sponsor OpenLayers for any amount of money of at least $500
USD.  At or above the following levels a sponsor will be designated as
being one of the following class:

   1. $27000+ USD: Platinum Sponsor
   2. $9000+ USD: Gold Sponsor
   3. $3000+ USD: Silver Sponsor

Sponsorships last one year, after which they may be continuing with a
new payment, or allowed to lapse. OSGeo is planning to be US 501(c)3
charity and sponsorships will be eligible as a charitable contribution
for US taxpayers. Appropriate receipts can be issued when needed.

Organizations or individuals interested in sponsoring the OpenLayers
project should email ``sponsorship [at] openlayers.org`` with questions 
or to make arrangements.