How are local sites managed and how do they make decisions? What happens when new funders join a site?
Local site governance is determined by the local funders and is quite flexible. Some sites have opted for two co-chairs, others for rotating chairs, and others for no chairs of the committee. Each funder has one vote, in the cases where a vote is needed. However, foundations can have one or more representatives in the process – while still having one vote. Decisions as to how large the committee should be and whether prospective (but not yet actual) funders can participate are determined by the local funders. With regards to new funders, rolling membership is accounted for differently per site. In most sites, prospective funders are invited from the beginning and participate in the decision-making process (although not allowed to vote until they are officially funders). In some sites, new funders do not come on board until the tail end of the grantmaking process and thus choose to wait for the next round before participating.
