Governance
Our governance framework is built on transparency, collaboration, ethical funding and independence.
This page summarizes SIA's governance. See the Q&A for common questions and the Governance Framework PDF for full details.
Origins
The Science Integrity Alliance (SIA) was founded in 2024 with a simple but powerful conviction: that research integrity and openness are essential to research and to the society it serves, and that the global community working to uphold them needs stronger connection, visibility and support.
Founder and Executive Director Dr. Luciana Machado drew on over two decades as a researcher and mentor to establish SIA in response to a fragmented landscape where many research integrity initiatives operate in isolation, valuable resources remain unknown and public trust in research is under pressure.
Organizational Evolution
SIA was originally structured as a practical and flexible starting point to establish a stable base for programmatic development, early partnerships and testing collaborative activities. During its startup phase, SIA grew through the involvement of advisors, contributors and partner entities. As this phase draws to a close, SIA is evolving into a hybrid structure better suited to sustain its mission and expand its impact.
In 2026, SIA will complete its transition to a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) to manage services and subscriptions, while the Partnership Program will operate independently as a fiscally sponsored nonprofit project.
Mission-Driven from the Start
SIA was designed as a mission-driven initiative from day one, advancing research integrity and openness while serving the research community and the public good with independence and transparency.
Governance, Advisory & Support Structures
SIA is guided by a governance framework that ensures clear accountability while embedding expert advice, independent oversight and community-driven collaboration. Fiduciary responsibility and governing authority currently rest with the Founder and Executive Director. Once SIA's transition to a hybrid structure is completed, these responsibilities will rest with the Board of Directors (PBC) and the fiscal sponsor (Partnership Program).
SIA's work is shaped by Advisory Bodies comprising recognized experts in research integrity and Open Science, support structures including the Editorial Committee and Working Groups, and a growing network of partners and contributors. Together, this network helps ensure that activities reflect global perspectives and remain responsive to community needs.
Funding
As a startup, SIA is funded independently by its Founder and has no external investors. Once SIA’s new hybrid structure is in place, the PBC will remain Founder-owned and will be sustained through subscriptions, paid advertising and merchandise sales. The Partnership Program will receive U.S. tax-deductible donations and grants through its fiscal sponsor.
Further Information & Policies
This framework is reviewed periodically to ensure it remains responsive to SIA's growth and evolving needs. The current version was approved by the Advisory Board in December 2025.
SIA's governance is supported by related policies:
See the Q&A below for common questions and download the Governance Framework PDF for full details. Still have questions? Contact us at contactus@sci-integrity.com.
Q&A
What is SIA?
The Science Integrity Alliance is a global platform whose mission is to unite those working to strengthen research integrity and openness, support collaborative projects that foster responsible research practices and build capacity through educational resources and effective communication.
In practice, this takes two forms. Through its growing set of resources, SIA provides educational content, news and tools that serve the entire research community. Through its Partnership Program, SIA brings together organizations and initiatives, gives visibility to their work and supports collaborative projects where partners work together on shared challenges rather than duplicating efforts in isolation.
How is SIA different from other organizations?
Unlike membership associations that represent a specific sector, profession or discipline, SIA serves as a connector and amplifier. It brings together those working toward shared goals across multiple focus areas: scholarly infrastructure, communication, research education, publication ethics, reproducibility and Open Science. SIA does not duplicate what others do; instead, it provides infrastructure for visibility, collaboration and resource-sharing.
This approach matters because the challenges facing research today are systemic: they span institutions, disciplines and borders, and they require coordinated responses that no single player can deliver alone. Publishers, funders, educators, research institutions, educational programs, researchers and research-supporting staff all hold pieces of the puzzle, but without a shared platform, their efforts remain fragmented. SIA creates common ground where different perspectives and expertise converge, enabling collective action on challenges that affect the entire research ecosystem. This is why SIA's motto is We are stronger together.
What is a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC)?
A Public Benefit Corporation embeds a public benefit purpose into its governing documents. Unlike a traditional corporation, which prioritizes shareholder financial interests above all else, a PBC requires directors to balance financial interests with the organization's mission and the broader public good. Although structured as corporations with the ability to generate revenue and have shareholders, PBCs are legally bound to keep their public benefit purpose central to all decisions. In Delaware, where SIA is incorporated, PBCs must also produce regular Public Benefit Reports, adding a layer of transparency and accountability.
What is a fiscally sponsored nonprofit project?
Fiscal sponsorship allows a project to operate under the legal and tax-exempt status of an established 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization without forming its own charity. Establishing a standalone nonprofit in the U.S. requires significant administrative, legal and compliance infrastructure that SIA is not yet positioned to implement in this initial phase. By operating as a fiscally sponsored project during this growth phase, the Partnership Program can focus on building its programs and community while benefiting from the fiscal sponsor's established charitable status and administrative support. This approach also allows the program to receive U.S. tax-deductible donations and grants immediately, develop a strong track record and refine its collaborative activities before taking on the responsibilities of an independent charity. The establishment of a standalone nonprofit is planned for 2029, once SIA's Partnership Program has the capacity and experience to sustain independent charitable operations.
Some internationally recognized research-related initiatives that are also fiscally sponsored nonprofit projects include NumPy, pandas, rOpenSci, Stan, Invest in Open Infrastructure, PREreview and MetaDocencia. The Carpentries is an example of a project that operated under fiscal sponsorship in its initial phase and has since become a standalone 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Why is SIA adopting a hybrid structure?
A hybrid structure offers greater resilience than relying solely on grants and donations, which can be unpredictable, time-limited and highly competitive. By combining a revenue-generating PBC with a charitable pathway for the Partnership Program, SIA can sustain its services while keeping commercial and community-driven activities appropriately separated, both aligned toward its public benefit mission.
How does SIA protect its independence?
SIA welcomes external funding that aligns with its values but does not accept support that could compromise its independence, ethos or mission. No contribution grants influence over direction, decisions or operations. To further protect integrity, leadership, advisors, staff, contractors and partners are required to declare any interests that could influence, or appear to influence, their engagement with SIA. For more details, see our Funding Policy and Confidentiality and Competing Interests Policy.
How is SIA approaching transparency and accountability?
SIA is committed to openness about its activities, governance and finances. Governance documents and related policies are publicly available on this website. Once the hybrid structure is in place, the PBC will be legally required to produce biennial reports on how it promotes its stated public benefit. Beyond this legal requirement, SIA will publish Public Benefit Reports annually and make them publicly available. Each report will cover activities in support of SIA's mission and their impact, future plans, sources of financial support and how revenue was allocated, a financial overview for the year and information about governance and decision-making. The Partnership Program, operating as a fiscally sponsored nonprofit project, will be subject to the oversight and compliance requirements of its fiscal sponsor.