Projects/Guide

This page provides a guide to starting and running a project at the Open Knowledge Foundation.

What kinds of projects does the Foundation run or host?
The Open Knowledge Foundation runs projects in a wide range of different areas.

Some of our flagship projects include:


 * OpenSpending.org - mapping spending around the world
 * TheDataHub.org - a hub for getting, using and sharing open data

We also run smaller projects such as:


 * Europe's Energy - showing progress towards EU energy targets
 * Open Shakespeare - an open collection of Shakespeare's works, with an annotation tool
 * The Public Domain Review - a web based journal highlighting interesting cultural works which have entered the public domain
 * Yourtopia.net - measuring global development according to your criteria

We also support lots of other projects we like in various ways - from providing hosting to help with publicity and community building.

For a full list of our current projects see: http://okfn.org/projects

How can the Foundation support my project or idea?
There are many different ways we can support projects.


 * The Foundation is a large network of projects and people working; being part of this network can provide useful contacts and access to a large pool of volunteers with the same vision
 * The Foundation can provide server space, wiki, blog and other useful project management and administration tools
 * The Foundation website, blog and wiki provide articles that advocate the vision of the OKFN and also provide a location where useful information can be published and shared; we hope to develop more content regarding project management, so that we can provide further assistance to projects for their own management.

How do I join an existing project?

 * Find & join the mailing list for the project: http://wiki.okfn.org/Mailing_Lists
 * Drop the list an introductory email, mentioning who you are and the capacity in which you would like to get involved!
 * The working group / project lead will get back to you with more details on how you can get involved

Proposing a project
See http://okfn.org/projects/propose

What a Foundation project should have

 * A current Foundation project must have a definitive page, and that page must be listed at http://okfn.org/projects.

What needs to be on a project page:


 * The definitive page must provide some key information – or links to the locations of key information. The minimum required key information is described below.
 * Name and contact details of project manager / leader.
 * Brief description of the project goals.
 * Links to any project documentation, such as blog, wiki, document archive, software repository, etc.
 * Information (or link) about how to get involved with the project, such as a link to a project working group or mailing list.
 * At least one of the links must point to some form of ongoing documentation / project diary that can be referenced to assess project progress – such as a regularly updated blog.


 * A project must output regular updates, so that interested parties can track the progress of the project, and so that the OKFN project co-ordinator can report back to the board about OKFN projects. Project updates can take many forms – a wiki, a blog, document archive, commented software repo – whatever is most suitable for the project in question. As long as the updated material can be found by starting from the definitive list pointed at from http://okfn.org/projects, it will be acceptable.

If a project does not meet these requirements at any time, status as an OKFN project can be removed upon recommendation by the coordination group and agreement from the board.

What a Foundation project does not have to do

 * An OKFN project does not have to develop a product – the OKFN is not-for-profit organisation, and projects are not required to return a profit.
 * A project does not have to be successful in terms of producing an implementable output; the OKFN vision is to build a community different to our own as regards open knowledge, and this is by definition a speculative venture. As long as a project documents successes and failures, that output is valuable in itself.
 * A project does not have to adhere to any specific method of governance, as long as the method used does not cause the project to contravene the requirements of an OKFN project.
 * A project does not have to disclose management or financial information unless such details are directly related to the governance and financial responsibilities of the OKFN, in which case such data must be available to the OKFN board on request.

What the Foundation provides to the community

 * A focus for advocacy and drive for the vision of the Foundation and the community.
 * A framework and community to support multiple autonomous projects that share related goals.
 * Annual reports regarding the management of the OKFN itself – but NOT of individual projects; as projects are autonomous in nature, each project is self-managing – however the OKFN does require that a project documents progress.
 * Details of (or links to details of) all OKFN projects.
 * A project incubation space.
 * An archive of all Foundation projects and their outcomes.

More information about Foundation management is available at http://okfn.org/governance.

Project support
The main contact of any OKFN project should also join the coord group. The group holds regular meetings - but there is no mandate to attend these. Rather, it is hoped that the coord group will enable inter-project support and development, as well as community building and promotion of ideas.

Project Wiki Pages
See Projects

Working Group Wiki Pages
See Working Groups