What is an Open Source Citizen Sector Organizations (CSO)?



First, what is a Citizen Sector Organization (CSO)?

A Citizen Sector Organization (CSO) is also known as a nonprofit, or a nongovernmental organization (NGO). In the United States, this typically means that the organization is incorporated as a nonprofit and generally registered as a 501(c)3 tax-deductible organization. Sometimes these are referred to as “civil society organizations”, “charities” or less commonly “foundations” in various parts of the world. We prefer the term “CSO” because it focuses on the power that individuals have, citizens, to make a difference. The citizen sector is different from the private, government, or religious sectors of society.

Second, what is Open Source?

Open Source is a term commonly used by software designers that broadly describes a practice in production and development that promote access to the end product’s sources. Basically, open source means the designers open the books, reveal the code, share the plan and invite people to contribute to the creation of the final product and ultimately the use of the final product. Some consider open source a philosophy (e.g. sharing is inherently better), and others consider it a pragamatic tool (the wisdom of the masses produces better results). We think it is both. To learn more about open source, please visit wikipedia.

So, what is an Open Source CSO and how is Atlas Corps one?

An Open Source CSO is one that reveals the financial documents, the business plan, the long term vision, the staff, the expenses, the donors, everything to be critiqued by the general public. Everything except that which is inherently, legally private (most staff and employee records, some partner agreements, etc). Atlas Corps attempts to do this by having a comprehensive website with everything online. We are proud of our vision and want to share the workings of the organization. We want you to feel comfortable donating to us, partnering with us, volunteering with us.

What is the downside? Why don’t more people do this?

Although we don’t know a lot of examples, we imagine other organizations do have an open source approach. Many organizations do not embrace open source because of the inherent ability for your organization to get copied and to lose your strategic advantages. There is still a strong sense that a competitive market requires organizational privacy to stay on top. This is especially true for private sector companies, but should not be as true for citizen sector organizations.

So this is our experiment. This is our goal. Feel free to let us know what you think about it. The biggest advantage and disadvantage to being an Open Source CSO is that we are open to your comments. Please make them constructive!!