FYI ******************************************* Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody's watching. Sing like nobody's listening. And live like it's Heaven on Earth. ******************************************* ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Xavier Calvez via SO-AC-SG-CLeaders <so-ac-sg-cleaders@icann.org> Date: Sat, May 24, 2025 at 2:56 AM Subject: [ICANN Community Leaders] Transparency on the Updated Assumptions in the Adopted ICANN FY26 Budget To: so-ac-sg-cleaders@icann.org <so-ac-sg-cleaders@icann.org> Cc: Russ Weinstein <russ.weinstein@icann.org>, Kurtis Lindqvist < kurtis.lindqvist@icann.org>, Planning <planning@icann.org> Dear SO/AC Leaders: Community participation and engagement in ICANN's planning process is a cornerstone of our transparency and accountability to our stakeholders. The ICANN Board adopted the ICANN FY26–30 Operating and Financial Plan and the ICANN FY26 Operating Plan and Budget (collectively, the 2026 ICANN Plans) on 03 May 2025 (announcement <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-board-adopts-fy2630-ope...>), which reflected changes compared to the Draft plans submitted for public comments in December 2024. The ccNSO reached out to us late last week to express concerns that there was insufficient awareness of the changes, resulting in less transparency than is desirable. We acknowledge that changes to any document after a public comment period create challenging circumstances to ensure continuous transparency. To address this concern, I issued today a blog (see link and text below) outlining our acknowledgment of the concern, reaffirming our commitment to transparency and to provide more information on the changes. ICANN org will also present additional details on the changes reflected within the adopted plans at the Finance and Planning Update session <https://icann83.sched.com/event/23LLb/finance-and-planning-update> at ICANN83 Prep Week. In addition, we would welcome the opportunity to meet with all stakeholders at ICANN83 to address this topic. If this is of interest, please invite the Planning/Finance team and me at the convenience of your ICANN83 schedule, which we know is very full at this point. Thank you for your consideration. Please let us know if you have any questions or requests for information. Kind regards, Xavier Calvez Below is the text from the Blog <https://www.icann.org/en/blogs/details/transparency-on-the-updated-assumptio...> issued today. *Title:* Transparency on the Updated Assumptions in the Adopted ICANN FY26 Budget *Publish Date: *23 May 2025 *Author:* Xavier Calvez, CFO and SVP Planning *Content:* Community participation and engagement in ICANN's planning process is a cornerstone of our transparency and accountability to our stakeholders. This blog is a follow up to the recent announcement <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-board-adopts-fy2630-ope...> that on 3 May 2025, the ICANN Board adopted the ICANN FY26–30 Operating and Financial Plan and the ICANN FY26 Operating Plan and Budget (collectively, the 2026 ICANN Plans). On 11 April 2025, a few weeks before the Board’s decision, ICANN published an announcement <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/preview-the-icann-and-iana-fy...> that the 2026 ICANN Plans were being revised to account for the latest planning and financial assumptions. ICANN also announced a 28 April 2025 webinar where the updated plans would be presented, and committed that the 2026 ICANN Plans that would be presented to the Board would also be published in advance of the Board meeting. At the webinar, ICANN organization (org) presented the latest planning and financial assumptions and revisions to the funding and expenses that were incorporated in the ICANN FY26 Budget. Each year of the planning cycle, ICANN org reviews the latest planning and financial assumptions and evaluates whether updated trends should be included in the plans that the Board is considering for adoption. The updates made to the 2026 ICANN Plans are outlined in a table of changes within the “Highlights Document” that accompanies the plans. To address community inputs since the publication of the adopted 2026 ICANN Plans, and to enhance the transparency on the revisions made from the versions posted for public comment, the FY26 Operating Plan and Budget Table of Changes <https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/projfinadhocws/pages/10663...> has been expanded to include additional explanations and is now published along with a short presentation on the ICANN Finance and Planning Community Group Workspace <https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/projfinadhocws/pages/10663...> (see table below for a short summary). *ICANN FY26 Operating Plan and Budget Summary of Changes* *Type of Change* *Description and Rationale* FY26 Budget Funding Increased $8M Funding for ICANN Operations has been updated to incorporate registry and registrar fee increases that were not included in the draft plans due to the timing of discussions with the contracted parties. FY26 Budget Expenses Increased $8M Expenses for ICANN Operations have been increased to reflect updated assumptions on resource requirements, contractual commitments, and current levels of expenses, such as the projected costs of ICANN meetings. Editorial Changes to Strategic Initiatives Text Certain Strategic Initiatives have been updated with enhanced descriptions, project plan narratives, and considerations or phasing. ICANN org will present the full scope of revisions reflected within the adopted plans at the Finance and Planning Update session <https://icann83.sched.com/event/23LLb/finance-and-planning-update> at ICANN83 Prep Week. In addition, Planning and Finance team members will be available for consultations at ICANN83. The adopted plans are published on the ICANN Financial and Planning Information webpage <https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/governance/current-en>. Thank you Best, Xavier Xavier CALVEZ ICANN SVP Planning and CFO Office: Los Angeles Mobile phone: 805-312--0052 _______________________________________________ SO-AC-SG-CLeaders mailing list -- so-ac-sg-cleaders@icann.org To unsubscribe send an email to so-ac-sg-cleaders-leave@icann.org _______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on.