What is Open Source Matters?
Open Source Matters (OSM) is the non-profit organization behind the popular open-source project Joomla. The role of OSM is to manage the legal, financial, and organizational aspects of Joomla, ensuring that the project remains transparent, sustainable, and forward-looking. OSM takes care of everything from strategic direction and governance to coordinating the community and developer teams.
In short, OSM is the backbone of Joomla – it ensures that everything runs smoothly while the actual technical development and community activities are driven by Joomla’s members and developers.
Legally, Open Source Matters is a not for profit organization (NPO) that is registered in the USA . This legal structure allows the organization to operate on a tax-exempt basis as long as it pursues charitable, educational, or other beneficial purposes, which is the case for OSM, as it supports the open-source Joomla project.
The Role of the President
The President of OSM carries significant responsibility and must be continuously present. They lead the organization, inspire the team, and ensure that strategic goals are met. This role requires someone with strong organizational and business acumen, along with a high degree of empathy, in order to successfully lead both the team and the project. Ego has no place here – the primary job of the President is to help the project grow and thrive, not to pursue personal goals.
The President’s tasks include leading board meetings, overseeing financial matters, fundraising activities, maintaining relationships with sponsors and partners, and strategic planning for the organization. They work closely with the Treasurer and the Secretary to ensure that the organization meets all legal requirements and pursues its long-term goals. The President is also the primary external spokesperson for the organization – representing OSM in the media or at important events.
What the President cannot do:
- No instructions on technical decisions: The President does not dictate which features are developed or how the code is written. These decisions are made by the developer teams and team leads.
- No setting of deadlines or timelines: The President does not set deadlines or working hours for the team or other board members. These tasks fall under the responsibility of the respective individuals.
- No operational control: The President is not responsible for day-to-day management but ensures that the organization is following its broader strategy.
Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer
The Vice President has no fixed legal position within the organization and does not manage a separate budget. However, they play an important supportive role to the President. The Vice President's primary task is to ensure that the organization continues to function smoothly if the President is temporarily unavailable or needs a break. In this case, the Vice President steps in and takes over the President's responsibilities. Their primary role, however, remains to support the President. The Vice President can also be active in other areas, but supporting the President always takes priority.
The Secretary is the person responsible for documentation. They take minutes at board meetings, ensure that decisions are traceable, and keep the community and the board informed about important developments and elections. Additionally, the Secretary manages relevant documents and ensures that new board members are properly onboarded.
The Treasurer has responsibility for the organization’s financial matters. They monitor income and expenses, prepare financial reports, and ensure that the budget is adhered to. The Treasurer also ensures that all tax and legal requirements are met, so the organization remains on solid financial footing.