1. Statement of Intention

The GBTI Network Co-Op is designed to foster collaborative development and profit sharing among its members. Our intention is to create a sustainable ecosystem where contributors are rewarded fairly for their work and participation in building the network.

2. Membership Requirements

To participate in the co-op program, users must first be network members. This requires paying a $5 USD per month membership due powered by the GitHub Sponsors program. Membership provides access to the point system and profit-sharing model described in this document.

3. Distribution of Profit According to Predefined Roles

The GBTI Network distributes profits based on member contributions and roles. Each role is allocated a percentage of the total profit pool:

Role	Distribution Percentage	Description
Product Team	40%	Responsible for the development of the GBTI Network platform and products
Editorial Team	15%	Reviews and improves content quality across the network
Administration	10%	Manages day-to-day operations of the network
Contributor	10%	Provides content, code, and other contributions
House	10%	Funds allocated for platform maintenance and hosting
Charity	6%	Portion of profits for charitable causes
Curator	5%	Responsible for curating and sharing educational material
Bonus	4%	Distributed equally among all point holders

Note: These distribution weights are subject to change.

4. How the Point System Works

The GBTI Network uses a point system to track contributions and allocate profits. Points are awarded by GBTI administrators based on the role and contribution of each member.

Point Value Calculation

The monetary value of points is calculated based on the following formula:

For example, if:

• The total profit for a month is $1,000
• The Product Team's distribution percentage is 40%
• There are 20 active Product Team points

Then:

• The Product Team's profit share would be $1,000 × 40% = $400
• Each Product Team point would be worth $400 ÷ 20 = $20

Point values fluctuate monthly based on the total profit pool and the number of active points in the system, as well as accounting for operational expenses.

5. How Points are Awarded

Points are awarded according to the following guidelines:

Product Team

Points are awarded based on project size and accessibility:

Project Size	Free/Public Projects	Member-Exclusive Projects	Expiration
Small (≤25 hours)	1 point	10 points	Evergreen*
Medium (25-100 hours)	5 points	30 points
Large (100-300 hours)	20 points	60 points
Extra Large (300-500 hours)	Points will be discussed with administrator

* Product team points are considered evergreen as long as the products are hosted/served/promoted on the GBTI Network website.

Product Hosting and Distribution Guidelines

Contributor

Contributors are awarded expiring points based on their contributions:

Contribution Type	Points Awarded	Expiration	Limits
Article published	10 points	12 months	No specific limit
Accepted pull request	10 points	12 months	No specific limit
Well-documented Bug Report (GitHub Issue)	1 point	12 months	Limited to 10 per member
Long-form Video Demonstration	10 points	12 months	Limited to 1 per month
Short-form Video Demonstration	2 points	12 months	Limited to 3 per month

Role-Based Points Summary

Role	Points Structure	Expiration	Maximum Points/Holders
Editorial Team	1 point per role holder	Non-expiring	Maximum 2 role seats
Administration	1 point per role holder	Non-expiring	1 role seat
House	1 point total	Non-expiring	Maximum 1 role seat
Charity	Initially 1 point, may increase	Non-expiring	Based on selected charities
Curator	1 point per role holder	Non-expiring	Maximum 7 role seats
Bonus	Distributed equally to all point holders	N/A	N/A

Role Maintenance Requirements

Editorial Team

Editorial team members must define and enact standards on all produced contributions related to blog and social content. They must advise network members and curators on best practices and engage in quality control iterative processes, ensuring that content published to the GBTI network blog and its related social properties strictly match required standards.

Curator

Curators must follow a curation style guide and meet a quota of 7 shares per month. All content must be submitted to an editor for approval.

6. Duration of Points Awarded

Point duration varies by role:

Point Type	Applicable Roles	Duration
Non-expiring points	Product Team, Editorial Team, Administration, House, Curator	Permanent (unless forfeited)
Expiring points	Contributor	12 months from award date

Points may be forfeited if role requirements are not maintained or if a member leaves the network. Active membership is required to benefit from points.

The expiration date is calculated as: award date + (expiration_months * 30 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000). Points with expiration_months = -1 never expire.

7. Statement on the Fluctuation of Point Values

The monetary value of points fluctuates based on the total profit pool and the number of active points in the system. As the network grows and profits increase, the value of each point may increase. Conversely, if more points are awarded without a corresponding increase in profits, the value per point may decrease.

8. Redeeming Points for Monetary Payout

Payouts are automatically processed on the 1st of every month. Members can view their point balances and manage their payouts through the GBTI Network management dashboard.

Points are non-transferable between members but may be revoked by administrators under certain circumstances (see Point Forfeiture Policy).

9. Minimum Payout Threshold

A minimum payout threshold of $50 USD applies to all redemption requests. Points will continue to accumulate until this threshold is reached.

10. Unclaimed Expired Points

If points expire and are still unclaimed, they will be removed from the system. The value associated with these points will be redistributed to the House role for future network development.

11. Tax Registration for US Citizens

US Citizens accruing more than $600 USD annually through the GBTI Network Co-Op must provide appropriate tax documentation. This is required for compliance with US tax regulations.

Required Tax Documentation

Form	Purpose	Submission Process
W-9 Form	Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification	Submit directly to GBTI Network before receiving payments
1099-NEC or 1099-MISC	Report of earnings (provided by GBTI Network by January 31st)	Use when filing your annual tax return

W-9 Form Submission Requirements

Complete all required fields including:

• Full legal name
• Business name (if applicable)
• Federal tax classification
• Address
• Social Security Number (SSN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• Signature and date

Additional Tax Considerations

• Keep records of all income and related business expenses for at least 3 years
• Consider making quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid penalties
• You may be eligible for business deductions related to your work

12. Policy on Point Forfeiture

Points may be forfeited under the following circumstances:

• Expiration of time-limited points
• Failure to maintain role requirements (for role-based points)
• Violation of the GBTI Network's code of conduct
• Voluntary withdrawal from the network

All point awarding and revocation is currently determined by the administrator role. An appeals process may be developed in the future.