Frequently Asked Questions

UBIf is a civic mutual-aid and infrastructure movement that empowers communities to design, fund, and govern the infrastructure they need. Founded in Warrensburg, NY in 2023, UBIf operates through local autonomous chapters connected by shared principles and values. We believe that communities should have democratic control over their infrastructure—from energy and water to food systems and digital access.

UBIf is community-led, not top-down. Decisions are made by the people directly affected, not by outside experts or organizations. We also practice radical transparency—all budgets, decisions, and processes are open. Finally, we see infrastructure as an act of collective power, not charity. Communities aren't recipients of development; they're the builders.

Each local chapter operates through participatory democracy—all members have a voice. We use consensus-building, consent-based decision-making, and voting depending on the decision. There's no central authority; chapters are autonomous and aligned by shared principles. The National Steering Council coordinates across chapters, but decisions flow from the ground up.

Anyone! We welcome community members, volunteers, organizers, professionals, and anyone who shares our commitment to community power and infrastructure. There's no membership fee. Whether you want to attend meetings, volunteer, join a working group, or donate—there's a place for you.

As flexible as you need it to be. Some members commit just a few hours a month, others work on projects full-time. You can be as involved as you want—attend a meeting, work on a specific project, join a working group, or step into a coordination role. Define your own involvement.

All chapters maintain transparency about budgets and funding. Decisions about how to allocate funds are made collectively by chapter members through our decision-making processes. Each chapter controls its own funds and makes spending decisions locally. The national network shares best practices and coordinates larger fundraising initiatives.

We learn and share the lessons. Part of UBIf's mission is to document both successes and failures so other chapters can learn from them. We prioritize honest reflection over blame. If a project faces challenges, the community comes together to understand why and decide next steps together.

Through monthly national learning calls, a shared Slack workspace, quarterly steering council meetings, and our shared knowledge base. We also share templates, toolkits, and resources so every chapter can learn from others' experiences. Regional groups coordinate within their area while staying connected to the national network.

Yes! We actively support new chapters. If you're interested, reach out to us at fieldsrj1@gmail.com. We'll connect you with mentorship from existing chapters, provide templates and guidance, and help you build an organizing team. We have a "Starting a Local Chapter" guide that walks through the process step-by-step.

UBIf is funded through individual donations, grants from foundations aligned with our mission, in-kind contributions, and project-specific fundraising. We do not accept corporate or government funding that would compromise our independence. 60% of funds support direct project work, with the rest supporting coordination, learning, and scaling.

Disagreement is healthy. We have formal conflict resolution processes to work through differences thoughtfully. You can voice your perspective in meetings, join working groups focused on issues you care about, and participate in decision-making. If you feel a decision violates core principles, there are escalation processes to address it.

We are accountable to our communities, not a board of directors. All budgets, decisions, and processes are transparent. We publish annual reports on our impact and finances. We solicit feedback from community members regularly and adjust based on what we learn. If you see something that doesn't align with our values, you can raise it directly.

Yes, UBIf is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our EIN is 88-1234567. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. We maintain nonprofit status to ensure our work serves the public good and to access certain funding opportunities aligned with our mission.

We scale through principles and knowledge, not top-down control. Each chapter adapts UBIf to its local context, culture, and needs. We share what works, but we don't impose a one-size-fits-all model. International chapters develop their own governance, choose their own priorities, and maintain autonomous decision-making while connecting to the broader movement.

Reach out to us! Email fieldsrj1@gmail.com or use our contact form to send your question. We'll connect you with someone from the chapter nearest you who can answer in detail. You can also join one of our monthly learning calls to ask questions directly.