The OSI recognizes three types of organizations as elegible for OSI Affiliate Membership: non-profit organizations, educational institutions and user communities.

Non-Profit Organizations

Qualifications

Please provide references for (these may be hyperlinks)...

1. Currently recognized as a (or application submitted for) non-profit / not-for-profit (or equivalent) by the national government were organized.
2. Mission statement describing purpose and goals.
3. Documentation formalizing organization, e.g. by-laws.
4. Publicly available release of a product(s) or service(s).
5. Use of an OSI approved open source license (software development projects only).
6. Documented approach for participation by the public.
7. An active community:
   1. Methods for current and interested individuals/organizations to join and participate in your community
   2. Active participation from multiple contributors, i.e. individuals and organizations other than founders (contributions may be other than programming/technology)
8. References from other open source projects, ideally a current OSI Affiliate Member.

Criteria

1. OSI Agreement has been signed and submitted.
2. Cover letter including
   1. interest in Affiliation;
   2. proof of qualification.

Educational Institutions

Qualifications

Please provide references for...

1. Institution is currently recognized and in good standing by an appropriate accreditation body.
2. Evidence of institutional/departmental authority to affiliate with external organizations.
3. Mission statement describing purpose and goals of institution/department.
4. Documentation by the institution recognizing organization (academic and administrative departments only), e.g. organizational chart.
5. Publicly available release of a product(s) or service(s) in line with the goals, values and mission of the OSI.
6. Examples of software used and/or supported within the institution/department with an OSI approved open source license.
7. An active community:
   1. Methods for current and interested individuals/organizations to join and participate in your community
   2. Active participation from multiple contributors, i.e. individuals and organizations other than founders (contributions may be other than programming/technology)
8. References from other open source projects, ideally a current OSI Affiliate Member.

Criteria

1. OSI Agreement has been signed and submitted.
2. Cover letter including
   1. interest in Affiliation;
   2. proof of qualification.

User Communities

Qualifications

Please provide references for...

1. Founding documentation formalizing organization, e.g. by-laws.
2. Association memberships, partnerships, etc. (if applicable) with international, national, professional and/or affiliated organizations.
3. Mission statement describing purpose and goals.
4. Publicly available release of events/activities, e.g. meetings, conferences, etc.
5. Documented approach for participation by the public.
6. An active community:
   1. Methods for current and interested individuals/organizations to join and participate in your community
   2. Active participation from multiple contributors, i.e. individuals and organizations other than founders (contributions should be other than programming/technology)
7. References from other open source projects, ideally a current OSI Affiliate Member.

Criteria

1. OSI Agreement has been signed and submitted.
2. Cover letter including
   1. interest in Affiliation;
   2. proof of qualification.

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