diff --git a/Travel/conservancy-travel-policy.md b/Travel/conservancy-travel-policy.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2fcfc57bfde8c7818fe742d0c4c222e513a9c625 --- /dev/null +++ b/Travel/conservancy-travel-policy.md @@ -0,0 +1,641 @@ +# Software Freedom Conservancy Travel and Reimbursable Expense Policy + +## Overview + +This Travel and Reimbursable Expense Policy ("Policy") applies to all +Conservancy Member Projects ("Projects") of Software Freedom Conservancy +("Conservancy") and has been created to memorialize Conservancy's +reimbursement policies relating to travel and other business expenses +incurred by Conservancy staff, Project Leadership Committee ("PLC") +members, and project volunteers while engaged in business on behalf of, or +at the behest of Conservancy and/or a Project ("Travelers"). + +This Policy includes an Easy Reference Guide that can be used as a +template for most of the travel covered under this Policy. When in doubt, +refer to the more detailed sections below. + +## Purpose + +Conservancy must maintain effective control of business-related expenses +in order to maintain its financial viability and tax exempt status. +Conservancy and each Project is also accountable to our donors to ensure +that we manage their contributions wisely and maximize our ability to +pursue our charitable mission. As such, Conservancy expects Travelers to +use good judgment and to claim reimbursement for only those expenses that +are necessary and reasonable. Excessive expenses, including but not +limited to luxury accommodations and services unnecessary for, or unrelated +to the furtherance of Conservancy's charitable mission are not eligible for +reimbursement. + +Any travel expense that adheres to this Policy is considered In-Policy +and does not require special approval, so long as the trip itself +has been approved in writing by Conservancy's Executive Director or +by a Project's Leadership Committee ("PLC") in a regular and documented +PLC vote. Conservancy and/or a PLC can limit allowable travel expenses +to an amount less than what would otherwise be considered acceptable +according to this Policy. If so, the smaller budget is the maximum +allowed expense. + +PLC's may, in fact, have their own travel policy that is more restrictive +than this one. Please consult the PLC for your Conservancy project before +incurring an expenses to ensure you understand what expenses can be +reimbursed. + +## Easy Reference Guide + +Travelers should adhere to the following guidelines to stay In-Policy. + +### Flights + +* Before you buy tickets, save a screenshot of a flight search that + shows the least expensive fare available from multiple airlines for + the dates you need to travel. + +* Book at least 14 days in advance. + +* Fares within $100 of that lowest fare you found are In-Policy, even if + you book on a different site or for different dates. + +* Fares over $750 domestically or $1,500 internationally require + Conservancy's pre-approval. + +### Hotels + +* Hotel fares < GSA rates are In-Policy. Visit + to determine the rate for your + destination. + +* Be sure the receipt from your hotel includes the dates of your + stay, not just a total. + +### Receipts + +Keep and submit PDFs of the following, as applicable: + +* Your fare search (i.e., a screen shot) + +* Your plane/rail ticket (e-confirmation of purchase is sufficient) + +* Your hotel/lodging invoice + +### Per Diem + +* Use your per-diem to cover meals and incidental expenses. + +* Your per-diem is based on GSA guidelines. Visit + to the determine the per-diem for your + destination. + +* Try to be frugal - GSM per-diem rates are rather generous. + +* When attending a conference where food is included, Do The Right + Thing and claim a lower per-diem. + +### Reimbursement + +* To receive reimbursement, send hotel and flight/rail receipt, + along with a list of Per Diem days and totals to + . Refer to the Expense Report + section below for details. + +* Your complete reimbursement request must be submitted to + within 90 days of the last date of + travel. Untimely requests **will not be reimbursed**. + +## Reimbursement Procedure + +Note that reimbursements are only processed once per week. While we usually +can turn around reimbursements in about two weeks' time, please be advised +that Conservancy officially does reimbursements on a NET-30 basis, starting +from the date that complete materials are received. If this is an issue, +Conservancy is available to prepurchase expensive items like airline tickets +on your behalf, so that you don't need to be reimbursed. + +If you seek to be reimbursed for Conservancy Project expenses, please send +the following, in a self contained email (with attachments as necessary), +cc'ing your Project Leadership Committee address (PROJECT@sfconservancy.org) +for Project approval: + +* a brief paragraph explaining what was accomplished for the project + during your travel and/or with the funds being reimbursed. This can + be informal; it's just for our records to confirm the travel advanced + the not-for-profit mission of both Conservancy and the project. + +* A brief report listing the items to be reimbursed. + +* Full receipt(s) for everything, unless the travel policy does not + require receipts (e.g., for per diem expenses). + + If your receipts are in a different currency than your preferred one + for reimbursement, include documentation of the rate conversion (e.g., a + redacted credit card statement in your preferred currency). Otherwise, + Conservancy will use the prevailing rate for the date of the expense for + conversion. + + Please verify that the receipts that you submit are within the attached + travel policy requirements. Note, however, that your Project Leadership + Committee may have set a stricter budget than what the general + Conservancy policy allows. + +* How you'd liked to be reimbursed. The four payment options, in order of + Conservancy's preference, are: + + * PayPal. For this, we need (a) the email address that is registered to + the PayPal account that will receive reimbursement and (b) the preferred + currency. (Please verify that PayPal supports transactions in + [your preferred currency before choosing one](https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/sell/mc/mc_intro-outside).) + Note that sometimes PayPal charges fees. Usually we're taking funds + from our PayPal balance, which means no fees appear on our side, but + they may appear on yours. In our experience, USA PayPal account holders + physically in the USA are not typically charged fees; but we do advise + you to check PayPal's fee schedule before choosing this method. + + NOTE: Typically, when choosing PayPal as a payment option, amounts owed + in USD will be paid in USD, regardless of your preferred currency + selection. + + * Issue you a check in USD from a USA bank, sent to you via post. + For this option, I just need your postal address. + + * Wire the amount in your local currency to your bank account in your + country. For this option, I need as much of the following information + as it's possible for you to collect. + + **Required information** + + * Full Name of the Account Holder + + * Full Address of the Account Holder + + * Account Number + + * Preferred Currency + + * Bank Name + + * Bank Address + + * Bank ACH or ABA routing number (for banks in the US); + or SWIFT and/or BIC code (for banks outside the US) + + **Additional required information by country** + + * All countries inside the EU: IBAN + + * Australia: BSB or "Bank Code" + + * Brazil: IABN; Tax ID of the Account Holder (your 14-digit CNPJ + or 11-digit CPF); Phone Number of the Account Holder; + and Bank Agency Code + + * Colombia: Tax ID of the Account Holder; and Phone Number + of the Account Holder + + * India: IFSC Code + + * Kenya: The name of the local branch of your bank where you hold your + account + + * Qatar: IBAN + + * Russian Federation: Beneficiary INN; Patronymic Name of Beneficiary; + and VAT/VO Code of Beneficiary Bank + + * Ukraine: BSB or "Bank Code"; Tax ID of the Account Holder; + and Phone Number of the Account Holder + + * United States: Phone Number of the Account Holder + + **Additional information we can use** + + Banks outside the US will often designate a Correspondent Bank when + receiving funds from the US. If you can give us the Correspondent + Bank Name and ACH, we can specify that in the wire. Your bank will + usually take the fewest fees when receiving wires from its + Correspondent Bank, so this will mean the most money for you. + + * A check in your local currency, sent to you via post. For this option, we + just need your postal address and what currency you want. Note that this + is a more involved option to process and will usually take at least 30 + days to issue payment. We do not recommend this method. Please choose + it only if you absolutely cannot receive a wire transfer for some reason. + +Project Leadership Committees: when you see emails of this nature, please +be sure to have your designated Representative review the materials and +send an approval message to Conservancy. + +## Project Leadership Committee Review + +Conservancy foresees the need for periodic reasonable exceptions to +this Policy. Persons working on behalf of a specific Project seeking +an exception to this Policy must petition their PLC to obtain written +approval from Conservancy authorizing the exception. Persons working +directly on behalf of Conservancy seeking an exception to the +Policy must obtain written approval from Conservancy authorizing the +exception. + +PLCs are responsible for creating procedures for requesting exceptions, +and submitting to Conservancy reimbursement requests associated with +their respective Projects. PLCs are also responsible for making available +a list of required response times for inquiries, including but not +limited to, the following two cases + +* a specific number of days to respond to regular reimbursement requests, +and + +* a specific number of days to respond to pre-authorization requests. + +PLCs are also responsible for monitoring the available balance in their +Project Fund, and for granting or refusing approval for travel expense +requests based on an assessment of the funds available and of any +outstanding contracts payable. PLCs are not to approve travel expense +requests when their Project does not have sufficient funds to cover the +expense. If a PLC has any questions regarding whether their Project has +sufficient funds to cover a Traveler's expense request, the PLC should +contact Conservancy. + +## Transportation + +### Overall transportation Cost + +Domestic transportation costs greater than US$750 requires Conservancy +approval prior to booking, even if all other Policy conditions have been +met. International transportation costs greater than US$1,650 requires +Conservancy approval prior to booking, even if all other Policy conditions +have been met. + +### Advance Purchase + +Tickets for travel by air or rail (excluding commuter train and subway) +should be booked at least 14 days in advance; any travel booked less than +14 days in advance requires written pre-authorization by Conservancy. +Tickets for travel by air or rail beyond 365 days in advance also require +written pre-authorization by Conservancy. + +### Air Travel + +#### Class of Service + +Coach and/or Economy Airfare is the only acceptable class for all flights +(domestic and international) unless a PLC provides a special exception and +a valid reason (such as a need for business class due to a documented +medical reason) to Conservancy for written approval. Travelers may select +their airline of choice (e.g., for the purpose of collecting airline miles +and rewards), provided that the resulting air fare otherwise meets the +requirements of this Policy. Travelers should not book out-of-Policy trips +(and thus pay a higher fare) in order to qualify for a mileage upgrade. + +#### Advance Purchase + +Air travel should be booked at least 14 days in advance; any travel booked +less than 14 days in advance requires written pre-authorization by +Conservancy. Flights beyond 365 days in advance also require written +pre-authorization by Conservancy. + +#### Low Fare + +Conservancy aims to balance cost savings with convenience and considers +flights that are within US$100 of the lowest logical fare to be within +Policy. The lowest logical fare is the least expensive fare available from a +fare search that meets all of these criteria: + +* The search must include fares from multiple airlines. + +* The search must cover only the dates of relevant travel. For example, if + you're attending a conference that runs Monday through Friday, the search + must have you arriving no earlier than Sunday, and leaving no later than + Saturday. + +* Except as allowed by Policy, the search must not use filters that might + exclude the least expensive fare. For example, you may filter out + flights with two or more connections, since Conservancy does not + consider those reasonable. However, you may not filter out specific + airlines, or flights without WiFi. + +Any widely-recognized airfare search site that lists results from multiple +airlines is acceptable, including sites such as [Orbitz](http://orbitz.com), +[Kayak](http://kayak.com) or [Hipmunk](http://hipmunk.com/). The PLCs and/or +the traveler must submit the output (such as a screenshot or printout from +the browser) of a online fare search as part of documentation in airfare +pricing. Make sure the output shows the least expensive fare available. +Travelers may book their tickets on different dates or a different site as +long as they used a qualifying fare search site to determine that the +booked flights are within Policy. + +Any flights greater than US$100 over the lowest logical fare require +written pre-authorization by Conservancy. + +#### Reasonable Flights + +Conservancy asks that Travelers allow for flexibility with respect +to departure times during a desired day of travel, as well as longer +trips in order to reduce cost. However, Conservancy does consider +flights with two or more connections as unreasonable and does not +expect Travelers to consider those flight options to be reasonable. + +#### Excess Baggage + +Should a team member travel on an airline that charges for a single piece +of checked baggage, such a baggage expense is eligible for reimbursement. +Team members are responsible for charges on any baggage beyond a single +piece, unless that additional baggage is materials specifically related to +the Project's and Conservancy's mission (i.e., bringing t-shirts and other +promotional materials to an event). + +#### Out-of-Policy Bookings + +All air travel not adhering to the above Policies are considered Out-of-Policy +and require written pre-authorization by Conservancy's Executive Director. + +#### Cancellation Fees + +Cancellation fees and other penalties incurred result of a change +of plans are reimbursable at Conservancy's discretion. In general, +Conservancy shall reimburse such fees if the Traveler can submit a +valid reason for the change of plans. Acceptable reasons include Conservancy +and/or the PLC canceling or altering the trip or unexpected delays +in flight connections. In instances where these fees are incurred +without adequate explanation, Conservancy reserves the right to refuse +to reimburse the cost of the fees. + +### Other Transportation + +#### Ground Transportation + +Ground transportation necessary as part of authorized Project trips +is considered to be a reasonable expense. Public ground transportation, +such as taxis, shuttles, buses and municipal transit, are generally +the most cost-effective options and are the standard for eligible +ground transportation reimbursements. All car rentals require pre-authorization +by the PLC or by Conservancy's Executive Director. When car rentals +have been pre-approved, the rental of compact cars is encouraged; +mid-size vehicles are authorized when necessary (e.g., when compact-sized +vehicles are not available or the number of passengers or volume of +baggage makes a compact vehicle impractical). + +#### Rail Transportation + +Rail transportation as a means of travel for an authorized Project +trip is considered to be a reasonable expense. All rail transportation +must be in economy and/or coach class. + +#### Use of Personal Vehicles + +When circumstances require Travelers to utilize their personal vehicles +for Project purposes, they can be reimbursed at the current USA IRS +rate per mile, plus any related parking expenses and toll fees. Drivers +are encouraged to find the lowest cost parking area reasonably near +their destination. + +## Lodging + +Travelers are expected to be cost-conscious and prudent when booking +lodging for approved trips, and to verify that rates are within the +established per-diem rates for the geographic area of travel. + +If the cost per-diem of lodging chosen by the Traveler and/or the PLC +exceeds the +[United States General Services Administration's Per Diem calculator](http://www.gsa.gov/perdiem)'s +"Max lodging" column and/or +[United States Department of State's "Foreign Per Diem Rates by Location" calculator](http://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem.asp)'s +"Maximum Lodging Rate column" for the given location (per Traveler), the +Traveler and/or the PLC **must** obtain written pre-approval from +Conservancy and the PLC before booking the hotel. If written pre-approval +is not sought or is not granted, Conservancy will only reimburse up to the +amount in the rate table above. + +Lodging documentation submitted as part of a reimbursement request must +include a copy of the hotel invoice detailing all charges (credit card +receipts **alone** are unacceptable). In particular, since Conservancy only +reimburses for room charges (plus relevant taxes and fees) for the necessary +travel dates, the receipt from the hotel must clearly show the dates of stay, +and separately list room charges and any food or service charges. +Conservancy will not reimburse Travelers for any costs associated with an +upgrade of room accommodations. + +In some cases, Conservancy, upon consultation with the PLC, may decide to +book lodging on behalf of Travelers. In this case, Conservancy-booked +lodging is always considered In-Policy. + +## Other Reimbursable Expenses + +Conservancy will reimburse persons for Project-related expenses that +are incurred while traveling on approved Project business and/or approved +Conservancy business. Only necessary, ordinary and reasonable expenses +are eligible for reimbursement, and only those categories of expenses +listed in this document qualify. + +### Meals and Incidental Expenses + +#### Overview + +Travelers can submit for a per diem for meals and incidental expenses for +every day of a trip devoted to Project- and/or Conservancy-related mission +work, including the day(s) of travel itself. Maximum per diem rates for +travel within the United States shall be based on the +[United States General Services Administration's Per Diem calculator](http://www.gsa.gov/perdiem), +using the ZIP code of the travel destination. For example, a Traveler based +in Palo Alto, CA heading to a conference in Atlanta, GA (with a layover in +Dallas, TX each way) will use the ZIP code of the destination in Atlanta to +calculate the maximum per diem for the entire trip, including days of +travel. + +Maximum per diem rates for locations outside of the United States shall be +based on the +[United States Department of State's "Foreign Per Diem Rates by Location" calculator](http://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem.asp)'s +"Meals & Incidental Expenses" (M&IE) column, using the name of a listed city +closest to the travel destination. For example, a Traveler based in Palo +Alto heading to a conference in London, England (with a layover in New York +City) has a maximum per diem of the M&IE per diem listed London for the +entire trip, including days of travel. + +These per diem rates are the maximum daily rate Travelers can claim. If a +conference has provided food, or food is provided in some other form, or +the costs the Traveler incurs are lower than this rate, then the Traveler +should reasonably reduce their per diem claim. +In addition, Conservancy generally encourages Travelers to be conservative with per +diem submissions, and consider asking for less if the full per diem +amounts allowed were not used during travel. + +PLCs and/or Conservancy have the authority to set lower per diems +than those generated by the calculators above. In those instances, +Travelers will only be able to submit for the lower per diems. + +#### Group Meals + +For groups of Travelers on an In-Policy trip, each Traveler should +pay for his/her own meals, seeing as all participants will have an +opportunity to submit for separate per diems after the trip. + +For clarification purposes, this Policy does not relate to planned +group events that include meals and/or refreshments (e.g., a PLC-organized +conference that includes lunch for all attendees). Further, PLCs and/or +Conservancy retain the right to allocate a separate budget for anticipated +large group meals beyond the individual per diem limits of each Traveler, +provided that they are within the PLC's technical objectives and/or +Conservancy's mission. Travelers anticipating a need to cover such +a large group meal should seek pre-approval from his/her PLC and/or Conservancy +for such expenses before the trip. + +For any such group meal, Conservancy will require a written paragraph +summary of the meeting, indicating what was accomplished for the Project's +and Conservancy's mission. + +#### Meals For Organizational Development + +Travelers may occasionally have the need to invite third parties, +e.g., prospective donors, contributors, community members, etc., to +meals in order to further a PLC's technical direction and/or Conservancy's +mission. Conservancy recommends that Travelers seek pre-approval from +their PLC and/or Conservancy for such meals. + +For any such organizational development meal, Conservancy will require a +written paragraph summary of the meeting, indicating what was accomplished +for the Project's and Conservancy's mission. + +#### Phone Call Charges Part of Per Diem + +Charges for personal phone calls (e.g., made from a hotel, or via +a mobile phone in international travel) are not reimbursable as an +expense separate from the allocated per diem. + +#### Currency Conversion Charges Part of Per Diem + +Any fees associated with currency conversion are not reimbursable as an +expense separate from the allocated per diem. + +### Conference Registration Fees + +Conservancy will reimburse conference registration fees up to $100 per day +for Travelers on approved Project business and/or approved Conservancy +business. For example, a $250 registration fee for a 3-day conference is +In-Policy; however, a $225 registration fee for a 2-day conference is not. + +Travelers seeking reimbursement for registration fees that exceed $100 per +day must obtain prior approval from Conservancy's Executive Director. + +### Internet Access + +Internet access/wi-fi fees charged by a hotel are reimbursable, provided +that they are listed on the hotel/lodging invoice submitted for +reimbursement. Other internet access fees (e.g., airport internet +services, personal wi-fi hotspots, internet cafes) are not reimbursable +except as incidental expenses to be covered by a Traveler's per-diem. + +## Additional Days of Travel + +Travelers often seek to add extra days before or after an approved trip +(e.g., the weekend before a conference). A Traveler may seek approval for +the expenses associated with an extended stay prior to booking the trip, +provided that the additional days are solely to enable a Traveler to +conduct work within the PLC's objectives and Conservancy's charitable +mission, or to get a particular airfare that **reduces** the overall cost of +the trip. Travelers may seek approval to book travel itineraries that +include extra days for personal reasons, so long as the cost of the flight +meets the other requirements of this Policy. Other expenses incurred +during extra personal days beyond transportation costs are not reimbursable. + +## Non-reimbursable Expenses + +Non-reimbursable expenses are identified throughout this policy. The +following items are typically non-reimbursable expenses: + +* Partner, spouse, and/or companion travel + +* First class travel (unless medically necessary) + +* Upgrades to air travel, car rentals, or hotel rooms + +* Purchase of clothing, luggage, toiletries and other miscellaneous +personal items + +* Supplemental travel or car rental insurance + +* Fines, penalties, or legal fees + +* Personal entertainment or recreational expenses beyond the allotted per +diem + +Travelers are permitted to pay for their own upgrades, or use bonus +programs to upgrade Conservancy-reimbursed expenses. However, Travelers +must ensure that Conservancy does not receive nor reimburse any charges +for any such transaction. + +## Satisfaction of IRS Requirements + +Reimbursed travel expenses are subject to examination by the USA Internal +Revenue Service (IRS). Travelers are responsible for retaining documentary +evidence that all expenses are strictly for Project- and/or +Conservancy-related purposes, not personal in nature, and therefore not +includable as taxable income to the Traveler. Receipts are required for +all expenses, no matter the amount. + +## Currency Exchange Rates + +Expenses incurred in foreign currencies will be converted to US dollars +based on the exchange rate on the date of incursion. The currency exchange +rate of record shall be done using +[The Bank of Canada 10-year currency converter](http://www.bankofcanada.ca/rates/exchange/10-year-converter/). + +## Approvals + +Travelers traveling on behalf of a Project must seek approvals and +submit expense reports to their PLC. PLCs are to review those expense +reports and pass them along to Conservancy's Executive Director for +final approval and reimbursement. + +Travelers traveling on behalf of Conservancy must seek approvals and +submit expense reports to Conservancy's Executive Director. Conservancy +staff must seek approvals and submit expense reports to Conservancy's +Treasurer or to another Conservancy Board Member designated by Conservancy's +Board. + +## Expense Reporting + +Travelers seeking reimbursement must submit an expense report to the +appropriate channel with the following information: + +* Name of Traveler + +* Brief description of trip and trip's purpose (e.g., "August 2011 +trip to XYZ conference for ABC project, served as planning committee +member"; "Feb. '12 FOO hackfest in Portland, OR; contributed code") + +* A brief paragraph explaining what was accomplished for the project +during your travel. + +* Number of days traveled (with documentary evidence, e.g., conference +itinerary, etc.) and associated per diem + +* List of expenses not covered by per diem (e.g., transportation, lodging) +with substantiating receipts (or scans of receipts). + + In the event that it is impractical to obtain a required receipt and/or if + such receipt has been inadvertently destroyed or lost, the Traveler should + furnish a written statement to that effect, as well as an explanation of + the expenditure involved. When possible, secondary documentation (such as + a redacted credit card bill) should be provided instead of the + lost/destroyed receipt. + +Any expense without a substantiated receipt and/or a supporting written +statement will not be reimbursed. + +Conservancy requests that all expense reports be submitted within two +weeks of travel. Expense reports filed more than 90 days after expenses +are incurred **will not be reimbursed**. + +Reimbursements are paid by Conservancy on a NET-30 basis, from the +date of receipt by Conservancy of the fully complete report and supporting +documentation for the travel. + +## Consequences of Policy Violations + +Failure to comply with this policy may result in the denial of, or delay +in payment for, reimbursement requests. + +## Policy Changes + +The Conservancy reserves the right to change any terms of this Policy +from time to time. The Policy of record shall be the Policy most recently +distributed by the Conservancy. +