Working Groups
Working Groups are the main way in which the Foundation supports OSM in specific areas. Some are more active than others. Working Groups may include a member of the board.
Like everything in OpenStreetMap, we are very open and always welcome new working group members and helpers. If you support the ideals of OpenStreetMap and open data and want to help, just email the group that interests you.
Follow the links on this page to find out more about what each group does and who its members are.
Licensing Working Group
- Handle issues relating the the current license for OSM data
- Migrating to a new license.
Data Working Group
- Resolution of issues in copyright violation, disputes, vandalism, and bots, beyond the normal means of the community.
- Helping to set policy on data.
Operations Working Group
- Planning and maintenance of the OSM API and servers.
Engineering Working Group
- Handling software development paid for by the OSMF
- Putting out calls for proposals on tasks of interest, and accepting proposals on other tasks
- Offering a platform for coordination of software development efforts across the OSM ecosystem
- Managing OSM’s participation in software mentorship programs
Communication Working Group
- Maintaining blog.openstreetmap.org and OpenStreetMap on X, Mastodon, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
- Supporting fundraising
- Responding to press contacts
- Oversight of design and content on osmfoundation.org
StateoftheMap Organizing Committee
- Organization and execution of the annual OpenStreetMap Foundation Conference "The State of the Map"
Membership Working Group
- Administering the membership database
- Answering routine membership queries
- Increasing OSMF Membership
Local Chapters and Communities Working Group
- Encouraging local groups to become Local Chapters
- Seeking ways to help local communities build cohesion
- Facilitating a global exchange of ideas among Local Chapters and communities
- Reviewing and improving the Local Chapters affiliation scheme
Historic
- Management Team
- Local Chapters Working Group - Responsible for running the process of setting up federated OSM-Foundation local groups. This is now done by the Secretary. It has now been restarted as a group focusing on encouraging local community growth.