Executive Committee Summary Records Summary Record of 83rd meeting of the Executive Committee – 21st January, 2025

Nov 17, 2025 | Meeting Summary Records, Reports and Meeting Minutes

Internet Governance Forum Support Association (IGFSA)

83rd meeting of the Executive Committee

21st January, 2025

  1. The Executive Committee held its 83rd meeting on 21st January, 2025. The meeting took place in a virtual setting with the following participants: Amrita Choudhury (chair), Flavio Wagner, Fiona Asonga, Anriette Esterhuysen, Wisdom Donkor, Chris Mondini and Nigel Hickson (Treasurer), and from the Secretariat team: Jennifer Chung and Phyo Thiri Lwin. A quorum was established for the meeting, with seven of the nine Executive Committee members taking part. 
  2. During the call, the agenda was reviewed and was accepted with a suggestion. The IGF Donors page and branding were discussed, emphasizing the need for clear branding. It was agreed to address this under AOB.
  3. Election of Chair
    • The committee discussed the re-election of Amrita Choudhury as the Chair of IGFSA.
  4. Recap of key takeaways from IGF2024
    •  Jen is compiling figures and notes for the AGM update but encountered technical difficulties. Two IGFSA EC members represented IGFSA at the IGF Trust Meeting. Concerns were raised over the lack of IGFSA visibility in IGF Trust discussions, and the need for better recognition as a donor was emphasized. IGFSA’s role has evolved from primarily contributing to the Trust Fund to also supporting NRIs. 
    • She highlighted past in-kind contributions. A discussion took place regarding the cost-effectiveness of the IGF leadership panel’s trip to Seattle and the need for strategic financial contributions. To improve visibility, an email will be sent to the IGF Secretariat requesting IGFSA’s recognition. Marketing efforts will be increased through the website, social media, and mailing lists. Marcus will engage strategically by meeting with the IGF Secretariat in Geneva. Additionally, a request will be made for the IGF Donors page to include a link for contributions from IGFSA.
    • Jen provided an update on IGFSA membership, noting a slight increase post-General Assembly, with total paid-membership around 40. Efforts to re-engage older members and encourage new sign-ups were discussed. It was mentioned that the DotAsia booth was used to directly engage with potential members. A suggestion was made to compile a list of lapsed members and reach out personally or via email for renewal.
    • It was mentioned that Kelvin provides a list of active and inactive members regularly. The committee discusses increasing the organizational membership fee from $100. There was a suggestion that a few other organizations propose a sliding scale fee structure. Nigel mentioned Vint’s willingness to contribute and secure additional funding. 
  5. Discussion on Sponsorship and Outreach plan for FY 2025
    • It was discussed the lack of a strong social media platform for engagement. LinkedIn was identified as the most effective platform for internet governance discussions. Issues with the X (formerly Twitter) account recovery were noted due to email access problems. Facebook remains active but limited in reach beyond NRIs. Instagram was suggested as a better alternative for reaching younger audiences. The decision was made to focus on LinkedIn while attempting to regain access to X.
    • Chris also proposed publicly announcing grants awarded to NRIs to boost visibility. The idea of adding a simple step to acknowledge grants and provide a donation link was discussed. It was agreed to develop a standard template for grant announcements.
    • Chris suggested reviving an old document to track outreach efforts and potential leads. Jen proposed mapping events where Executive Committee (EC) members would be present, facilitating face-to-face donor engagement. A shared resource/spreadsheet was suggested to track relevant events and outreach opportunities.
  6. Funding Request and Disbursement Status  
    • Youth LAC IGF: Fund confirmed at the beginning of the year but awaiting disbursement confirmation. Nigel checked the bank account and confirmed funds were deducted but not yet received. 
    • Benin Funding Request: A new request was sent for 2025; previous request from August still needs confirmation. Jennifer to confirm if the previous request has been received or returned. 
    • Application Form Update: The committee proposes highlighting non-eligibility for applicants receiving IGF Secretariat funding. EC members approve the amendment. 
    • Chris suggested forming a Fundraising Subcommittee to track leads and follow up. A shared document will be created to list potential sponsors, assign responsibilities, and track progress.
  7. Finance Update by Treasurer
    • Nigel provided a financial update that current funds are $101,000 and 3,150 Swiss francs. There are no significant changes from the previous year. Fundraising is necessary by year-end to maintain a healthy balance. The urgency is moderate, but proactive efforts are required.
  8. AOB 
    •  The secretariat is to send a Doodle poll to determine the meeting times for the next call.