policies/Document-Retention/Conservancy-Document-Retention-Policy.lyx
Tony Sebro cfb1ef9d8f
2012-02-22 18:59:32 +00:00

445 lines
11 KiB
Text

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\begin_body
\begin_layout Title
Software Freedom Conservancy Document Retention Policy
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\begin_layout Section
Purpose
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\begin_layout Standard
Software Freedom Conservancy (
\begin_inset Quotes eld
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Conservancy
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\end_inset
) has adopted a document retention and destruction policy (
\begin_inset Quotes eld
\end_inset
Policy
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\end_inset
) in order to define the record retention responsibilities of Conservancy
officers, staff, and board members for maintaining and documenting the
storage and destruction of Conservancy's documents and records.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Section
General Guidelines
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
Records should not be kept if they are no longer needed for the operation
of the business or required by law.
Unnecessary records should be eliminated from the files.
The cost of maintaining records is an expense which can grow unreasonably
if good housekeeping is not performed.
A mass of records also makes it more difficult to find pertinent records.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
From time to time, Conservancy may establish retention or destruction policies
or schedules for additional categories of records in order to ensure legal
compliance, and also to accomplish other objectives, such as cost management.
Conservancy has identified several categories of documents that warrant
special consideration; these categories are listed below.
While Conservancy has established minimum retention periods for these categorie
s, the retention of these documents - and of records not included in the
identified categories - should be determined primarily by the application
of the General Guidelines affecting document retention in this Section,
as well as the exception for litigation-relevant records described in the
next Section and any other pertinent factors.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Section
Exception for GPL Compliance and Litigation-Relevant Documents
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\begin_layout Standard
Conservancy expects all staff, officers, board members, and PLCs to comply
fully with this Policy and any other written document retention policies,
with the following notable exception to any stated destruction schedule:
if you believe, or if Conservancy informs you, that certain Conservancy
and/or Project records relate to efforts to bring companies into compliance
with the General Public License, enforcing the GPL, or in some way relates
to litigation or potential litigation (i.e., a dispute that could result
in litigation), then you
\series bold
must
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preserve those records until it is determined that the records are no longer
needed.
That exception supersedes any previously or subsequently established destructio
n schedule for those records.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Section
Document Storage Methods
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
All Conservancy documents are stored electronically in a version-controlled
repository on a remote server that is backed up to drives on our local
premises, with the following exceptions:
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\begin_layout Itemize
Conservancy stores all e-mails are stored on a separate e-mail server
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\begin_layout Itemize
Conservancy retains hard copies of all contracts executed with parties outside
of the United States for at least the full term of each contract
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\begin_layout Section
Minimum Retention Periods for Conservancy Documents
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\begin_layout Subsection
Organizational Documents
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\begin_layout Standard
The following records should be retained permanently:
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\begin_layout Itemize
Conservancy Articles of Incorporation
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\begin_layout Itemize
Conservancy By-laws
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\begin_layout Itemize
Conservancy's IRS Form 1023 - which is also to be made available for public
inspection upon request
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Board meeting minutes
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\begin_layout Subsection
Tax Records
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\begin_layout Standard
Tax records should be retained for at least seven years from the date of
filing the applicable return.
These records include:
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\begin_layout Itemize
IRS Form 990 and related schedules
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Financial audit letter and supporting documents
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Employment tax records
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\begin_layout Itemize
Documents concerning payroll, expenses, proof of donor contributions
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Documented accounting procedures
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Financial Records
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\begin_layout Standard
In general, Conservancy's financial records should be kept for at least
seven years.
These records include:
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Accounts payable ledgers and schedules
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\begin_layout Itemize
Accounts receivable ledgers and schedules
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\begin_layout Itemize
Bank reconciliations, bank statements, deposit slips and checks (except
for as stated below)
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\begin_layout Itemize
Donation records
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\begin_layout Itemize
Expense reimbursement requests and supporting receipts and documentation
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\begin_layout Standard
Certain important financial records are to be kept permanently.
These records include:
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\begin_layout Itemize
Checks and/or proofs of payment for expenditures over US$100,000
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\begin_layout Subsection
Employment/Personnel Records
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\begin_layout Standard
All employment and personnel records should be kept for at least seven years,
with the following exceptions:
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\begin_layout Itemize
IRS Form 990 and related schedules: at least seven years from the date of
filing the applicable return
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\begin_layout Itemize
Financial audit letter and supporting documents: at least seven years from
the date of filing the applicable return
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\begin_layout Itemize
Employment applications and related documents (including correspondence
and CVs from prospective candidates): at least three years
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\begin_layout Itemize
Employee offer letters, and confirmations of acceptance: kept permanently
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\begin_layout Subsection
Other Corporate Records
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\begin_layout Standard
Other corporate records shall be kept according to the schedule below:
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Insurance policies (both current and expired), claims, and related reports:
retained permanently
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Press releases: retained permanently
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Trademark and copyright applications and registration materials: retained
permanently
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Executed fiscal sponsorship agreements: retained permanently
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Internal strategic documents: at least three years
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Correspondence from Member Project liaisons re: Member Project matters,
including disbursement requests: at least seven years
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Correspondence
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\begin_layout Itemize
Except as classified above, letters received in hard copy shall be kept
for at least one year.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Except as classified above, e-mail correspondence in Conservancy e-mail
accounts shall be archived for at least one year, with the exception of
the correspondence sent to the
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compliance@sfconservancy.org
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account, which shall be archived for at least seven years.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Reports from Projects
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Blogs and Press Releases
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\begin_layout Standard
Conservancy should retain permanent copies of all official Conservancy blogs,
press releases and
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Contracts
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\begin_layout Standard
Except as classified above, all contracts entered into by Conservancy should
be retained for at least seven years from the date of filing the applicable
return.
These records include:
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
IRS Form 990 and related schedules
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Financial audit letter and supporting documents
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Documents concerning payroll, expenses, proof of donor contributions
\end_layout
\begin_layout Itemize
Documented accounting procedures
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Software Development Contract Deliverables
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
All code and supporting documentation written by a developer in fulfillment
of a contract with Conservancy should be archived electronically for at
least three years.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Presentations
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
All presentations, including slides, charts, and supporting visual aids,
prepared for use by a Conservancy officer or staff member shall be kept
for at least two years.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Subsection
Drafts
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
Notwithstanding the above, once the final copy of a document has been completed,
the drafts may be recycled or deleted, unless they are documents of legal
value.
For documents determined to be of legal value, drafts containing comments
shall be saved for at least two years, and drafts without comment may be
destroyed once the final version is complete.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Section
Destruction of Documents
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
Conservancy reserves the right to destroy hard copies of documents by shredding
or fire after the expiration of the applicable document retention schedule.
Conservancy reserves the right to destroy electronic copies of documents
by fire or other proven means to destroy such media after the expiration
of the applicable document retention schedule.
\end_layout
\begin_layout Standard
All permitted document destruction shall be halted if the organization is
being investigated by a governmental law enforcement agency, and routine
destruction shall not be resumed without the written approval of Conservancy's
General Counsel or Executive Director.
No documents are to be concealed, altered, or destroyed with the intent
to obstruct a legal investigation or litigation.
\end_layout
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