THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Support the Foundation. Strengthen the Standards.
The Board of Governors is the Foundation's non-voting membership body — organizations that financially support the standards work, participate in working groups, and help build the adoption coalition. Membership confers benefits. It does not confer governance authority.
THE STRUCTURAL INVARIANT
Money buys benefits. Not votes.
This is the principle that makes Foundation membership credible. Governors receive operational benefits — recognition, working-group seats, early briefings, event access — scaled to their contribution. Governors do not receive voting rights, veto power, the ability to appoint or remove Trustees, or any control over the Foundation's standards-setting decisions or anti-capture protections.
This separation is encoded in the Bylaws as a structural invariant. It cannot be modified except through the Foundation's most protected amendment process, which requires unanimous Trustee approval, Charter Steward consent, and public consultation.
ELIGIBILITY
Five member categories. One non-voting body.
The Board of Governors is open to organizations from across the global ecosystem. Each member organization is classified into one of five categories based on its institutional type. Category does not affect tier or benefits.
Corporate Members
Private-sector companies engaged in trade, insurance, logistics, technology, finance, and related industries.
Government & Public Sector
National government agencies, customs authorities, regulators, and public institutions. Non-voting observer status.
Multilateral Institutions
International organizations, development banks, and intergovernmental bodies. Non-voting observer status.
Standards Bodies
Industry and international standards organizations whose work intersects with the Foundation's mandate.
Civil Society
NGOs, academic institutions, research organizations, and policy think tanks.
TIERS
Three tiers. Benefits scaled to contribution.
Membership tier reflects the level of financial support and the corresponding operational benefits the Foundation extends in return. Tier does not affect voting rights — there are none — or the Foundation's neutrality obligations.
Tier 1 Founding Governor
The highest tier, for major institutional supporters seeking visibility and early integration access during the Foundation's formative years.
— Named recognition as "Founding Governor" on Foundation materials
— Priority access to pilot corridors and lighthouse projects
— Seats in up to two (2) working groups
— Quarterly Governor Briefings with Trustee and Council leadership
— Early access to draft standards (under embargo) and implementation guidance
— Invitation to the Annual Governor Congress
Tier 2 Strategic Governor
The middle tier, for serious stakeholders making a meaningful financial commitment to the Foundation's mission.
— Recognition as "Strategic Governor"
— Access to pilot corridors (non-priority)
— Seat in one (1) working group
— Governor Briefing access
— Standards preview and comment window
— Invitation to the Annual Governor Congress
Tier 3 Associate Governor
The entry tier, designed to make Foundation participation accessible to smaller organizations, NGOs, startups, and academic institutions.
— Listing as "Governor Member" on Foundation materials
— Access to published standards and public calls
— Eligibility to participate in open forums and webinars
— Eligibility to join working groups as contributors
— Invitation to the Annual Governor Congress
Reduced or waived fees are available to eligible academic institutions, NGOs, government agencies, and organizations from developing economies, at the discretion of the Board of Trustees. Fee schedules are set annually and reviewed publicly.
The membership process.
Membership is by application and subject to approval by the Board of Trustees. Each Governor organization executes a Participation Agreement that includes acknowledgment of the non-voting status provisions of Article VII of the Bylaws.
Inquiries about membership — including fee schedules, reduced-rate eligibility, and the timing of the inaugural Governor cohort — should be directed to the Foundation.
The Board of Governors is established under Article VII of the Bylaws of the Verida Charter Foundation, a 501(c)(6) non-profit corporation incorporated in the State of Delaware. Membership fees are not deductible as charitable contributions; the Foundation will disclose the portion of dues that is not deductible as a business expense, as required under U.S. tax law.