Membership

Members of the Foundation are entitled to vote in the affairs of the Foundation. They have no special say in how the OpenStreetMap project is run, just the running of the Foundation. OSM contributors who want to influence the activities of the Foundation are welcome to join. You do not have to be a member in order to use or contribute to OpenStreetMap.

All classes of members may also get discounts on some OSM Foundation (OSMF) organised events (such as the State of the Map conference).

Membership application may be initiated here.

If you have any questions about membership, please email membership@osmfoundation.org

Prerequisites and fees

The board will accept applications from persons who have registered an OpenStreetMap account at least three months ago and have made a reasonable amount of contributions to OpenStreetMap. Currently, this is taken to mean that they have mapped at least 21 days, although the board may also approve other applications for exceptional circumstances.

The membership fee is £15 per year, but can be waived for active contributors.

Active contributor program

If you are an active contributor with at least 42 mapping days in the last 365 days, or if you are equally active in OpenStreetMap with non-mapping activities, we would like you to become a member of the OSM Foundation regardless of if and how you could pay the membership fee. You can apply for an active contributor membership to become an associate (by default) or normal member, and help decide on the direction and future of the OSM Foundation.

Membership types

Since the acceptance of the new Articles of Association at the Annual General Meeting in 2013, the OpenStreetMap Foundation has the membership classes described below.

Normal Members

Normal Members are members as mentioned in the UK Companies Act. These members have to submit their full name and residential address in our register of members. While OSMF will not actively publish the register, it can be inspected by the public as per the UK Companies Act. Also, normal members are liable for up to £1 (one) if the Foundation is wound up.

Normal membership is available to all natural persons. Membership enables you to influence the direction of OpenStreetMap by being able to vote in elections for officers of the foundation.

Be aware that changing from normal membership to associate membership does not strike your address information out of the the normal membership register. When you cease to be member of the Foundation the end date of your membership will be added to the register; other information will be kept in the register.

A natural person can only be either a normal or an associate member at the same time; not both.

Associate Members

Associate Members are NOT members as mentioned in the UK Companies Act. These members have to submit their name (or OSM username) and country of residence in our register of associate members. This register cannot be inspected by the general public, but only by the members (normal and associate) of the OSM Foundation.

Associate membership is available to all natural persons. They may vote just as normal members, but subject to the limitations of section 76 of the Articles of Association.

A natural person can only be either a normal or an associate member at the same time; not both.

Corporate Members

Corporate Members are Associate Members without voting rights. This membership class is open to companies and organisations (not "natural persons").

To ensure the long-term stability and quality of the OpenStreetMap project, we invite all corporate and organizational users of OSM to join the OSM Foundation as corporate members. An OSMF Corporate Membership is the best way for companies to coordinate and collaborate with the global OSM community. Our Corporate Membership program offers more flexible levels of support to organisations and companies, from €750/year for ‘Supporter’ level, all the way up to €30,000/year for ‘Platinum’ level. Membership levels are loosely associated with the size of your company’s mapmaking operation and product footprint, and should be seen as a good faith guide.

Read more details on the tiers, fees and benefits. Corporate Membership application may be initiated by emailing the OSM Foundation board at board@osmfoundation.org