Global Shapers Community Charter Last update: July 2024

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Introduction and Background

The Global Shapers Community, established in 2011 and based in Geneva, Switzerland, operates as an independent, non-profit foundation under Swiss law, and is not tied to any political, ideological or partisan interests. It benefits from the operational support of the World Economic Forum (the Forum), including financial aid, staff involvement, and technological resources, which enhances its collaborative and operational capabilities.

The Global Shapers Community Charter seeks to ensure fairness, inclusion, and accountability, reflecting best practices and a commitment by all members to uphold these values to foster a responsible global community. By joining the Global Shapers Community, all members agree to live up to these principles and as outlined below.

Purpose and Principles

The Global Shapers Community inspires and connects young changemakers globally. Its mission is to develop youth leaders, accelerate youth action and amplify youth voices. Through a decentralized hub model, Global Shapers implement local projects across various regions, fostering innovation and collective action. This network connects members worldwide, enhancing their skills through technology, training, and events, and provides access to the Forum's global platforms and partnerships, promoting intergenerational contributions.

Membership Opportunities

Joining the Global Shapers Community empowers young changemakers with extensive opportunities for personal and professional development. Members connect with a local hub and a global network, fostering lifelong relationships that enhance their impact. They acquire practical skills for social change through training, mentorship, and hands-on projects that benefit local communities. Members also participate in virtual and physical events, gaining insights from the Forum's network of experts. The digital platform TopLink facilitates both local and global collaboration. Additionally, flexible hub transfers* support members who relocate, ensuring continuous engagement and influence.

* To request a hub transfer, members email globalshapers@weforum.org with the Curators of the outgoing and incoming hubs in copy. Hubs may opt-out of automatic transfers if the number of transfer requests received per year exceeds 25% of their total size. In this case, existing members must reapply to the new hub, following the incoming hub’s established selection process.

Membership Criteria and Diversity

Global Shapers Membership criteria include*:

must be 18-27 years old;
demonstrates potential for social change, and/or with verifiable track record of results;
committed to working with Global Shapers for local and global projects;
a resident of their hub location or area;
uphold and support the diversity** of their hub.

The Global Shapers Community champions diversity as a foundational strength. All hubs must represent and mirror the diversity of its local environment. This includes ensuring:

representation from various stakeholder groups, including diverse disciplines, industries and professions (not more than 3 members from 1 organization), and aim to address inequalities by including representation from historically marginalized or underrepresented groups;
having gender balance (not more than 60% of one gender represents the total membership);
avoid conflicts of interest by not selecting direct family relatives or partners of existing members;
maintain a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 50 members*** after a 12-month period to maintain inclusive and effective membership conducive to personal and professional growth while driving impactful projects.****

* Hubs or Global Shapers Headquarters may reject applicants, if they do not meet these criteria. Hubs are expected to select members in good faith. If it is discovered that the above criteria have not been upheld at the time of selection, individual memberships may be cancelled retroactively.

** Considerations include, but is not limited to, age, gender, race, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, income, education, political beliefs or other differences.

*** If exceeded, additional hubs may be established based on geographic needs.

**** Global Shapers Headquarters and the Head of the Global Shapers Community may pursue hub closure to uphold the standards set out in this Charter if hubs cannot uphold these principles.

Membership Commitments

By joining the Global Shapers Community, members commit to upholding the purpose and principles of the community as detailed in the Charter. They engage in respectful and responsible behavior, volunteer their time, energy, and ideas to foster positive and lasting change, and participate in at least 1 hub project or leadership role annually. Members are expected to attend at least 60% of hub meetings or relevant local activities each year and transition to Alumni status upon meeting eligibility criteria. If unable to meet these commitments due to changes in status or emerging conflicts of interest, members may step down or request a temporary pause in membership, ensuring they continue to act in the best interest of the community.

Alumni Network

When members of the Global Shapers Community reach the age of 30* or have been active for 5 or more years,** they transition to the Alumni network. This network allows them to stay connected with the Forum, engage in Alumni-specific activities, and support upcoming generations of Global Shapers. Alumni contribute by sharing insights, best practices, and connections, and can take on leadership roles within the Global Shapers Council or as Regional Champions. They also enjoy continued access to the digital engagement platform, TopLink, and can participate in World Economic Forum digital events and other communities.

* The age criterion of the Global Shapers Community was adjusted in 2020 to 18-30 years old. Members who joined the community prior to 1 July 2020, will become Alumni at 33 years old.

** Members who have been in the Global Shapers Community for five or more years and are not 30 years old, automatically receive honorary Alumni status and retain their active Global Shapers status in their hub until they reach the age limit, as determined by their joining date. Members can opt-out and solely graduate to Alumni by contacting their hub's Curator.

Responsible Behavior and Code of Conduct

The Global Shapers Community adopts and observes the Forum’s Code of Conduct including policies related to Respectful Behavior and Integrity Reporting. Active Members, both current and alumni, are expected to consistently embody the Community’s values of passion, integrity, service, cooperation, and commitment, actively participating in creating an inclusive environment and aligned with the responsibilities outlined in the Forum Code of Conduct. Members must also maintain the integrity and independence of the Global Shapers Community and the Forum by adhering to ethical standards, using digital platforms responsibly, and avoiding any actions that could compromise the Forum's non-partisan stance or legal standing.

Global Governance

The governance of the Global Shapers Community is overseen by a Foundation Board, which ensures adherence to its vision, mission, and governance principles. The Board is diverse, comprising experts and leaders from the Global Shapers Community, the World Economic Forum, and partner organizations, and is balanced in regions.

The community’s daily operations are managed by a dedicated team at the Global Shapers Headquarters housed at the Forum. This team is tasked with defining global strategies, supporting hubs, managing engagement, and monitoring the impact of hub projects. This team also coordinates the Annual Summit and regional SHAPE events, which play a crucial role in fostering engagement and learning.

Leadership at the Global Shapers Headquarters

Additionally, the Community's daily operations are managed by a dedicated team at the Global Shapers Headquarters housed at the Forum and led by the Head of the Global Shapers. This team is tasked with, among others, defining global strategies, supporting hubs, managing the digital platform TopLink, and monitoring the impact of hub projects. The Global Shapers Annual Summit and regional SHAPE events are also coordinated by this team, which plays a crucial role in fostering community engagement and learning.

Leadership at the Global Shapers Headquarters is spearheaded by the Head of the Global Shapers Community, who holds authority to make decisive actions regarding membership and hub status to ensure compliance with this Charter.

The Global Shapers Advisory Council and Regional Community Champions play a pivotal role in supporting governance. These experienced members are involved in leadership and provide localized support to hubs, ensuring the community’s principles are upheld globally. Their contributions are invaluable to our work.*

* If Council members or Regional Community Champions do not uphold the principles outlined in this Charter, members should contact Global Shapers Headquarters at globalshapers@weforum.org.

Hub Governance

Hub governance is structured to empower teams through a decentralized model that encourages collaboration and innovation. Each hub operates autonomously within the framework of the Global Shapers Community Charter, developing local guidelines that align with overarching principles. Regular meetings, at least monthly, are essential for aligning on the hub’s goals and activities, which include implementing at least one impactful project annually. These projects are designed to address local issues and generate tangible outcomes, enhancing the hub's role within the global network.

Hub Curatorship

Hubs within the Global Shapers Community are guided by a Curatorship, consisting of a Curator, a Vice-Curator and an Impact Officer, elected for one-year terms starting from July 1 to June 30 of each year. This leadership team is responsible for aligning hub activities with the community's purpose, ensuring adherence to the Charter, facilitating monthly meetings, and overseeing membership and project implementation in line with established guidelines. The Curatorship also plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the huba and managing transitions.

Hub Elections

Annual elections within the Global Shapers Community hubs ensure leadership renewal by electing by majority vote Curators (at least 2 candidates), Vice-Curators, and Impact Officers, with results submitted by March 1 each year. Candidates must adhere to the principles of the Charter, avoid conflicts of interest, and can serve up to 2 non-consecutive terms, ensuring a diverse and effective leadership.*

* Global Shapers Headquarters may reject election results if they do not meet these criteria. Hubs are expected to hold elections in good faith. If it is discovered that the above criteria have not been upheld, election results may be overturned, and hubs may have to hold new elections.

Hub Resolution Mechanism

Resolving disagreements is crucial to maintaining a collaborative environment in the Global Shapers Community. Each hub is tasked with establishing an impartial and confidential conflict resolution mechanism. Curators play a key role by facilitating discussions, either individually or in group settings, to openly explore disagreements and brainstorm solutions. If consensus is not reached, the hub may vote on potential solutions, ensuring the process is transparent and respects the majority's decision. Additionally, hubs may engage an impartial mediator, agreed upon by the majority, to aid in achieving a resolution.*

* If long-term disagreements prevent hubs from achieving their goals, members should contact their Community Champion or Global Shapers Headquarters at globalshapers@weforum.org. In the case of protracted conflict, the Head of the Community may pursue hub closure.

Hub Opening and Closure

The Global Shapers Headquarters has the sole responsibility to open and close hubs. To initiate a hub, an established leader is selected by the Headquarters as a Founding Curator who, along with a founding team of 5 members, establishes governance standards set forth in this Charter, recruits members and sets the hub's foundational activities and goals, aiming to exceed 20 members within the first year. Founding Curators serve for a 1-year term and are pivotal in ensuring the hub's adherence to the Charter and its long-term sustainability. After their term Founding Curators become lifetime members with honorary/advisory status (if over 30) but are not eligible for other leadership roles.

Hubs can request closure by emailing globalshapers@weforum.org. In this case, Global Shapers Headquarters will email all members and if there is no interest to continue, the hub will be closed. Closures happen annually in April, after hub elections in March. Hubs may also be closed by the Headquarters under conditions such as failure to uphold the Charter's principles, safety concerns, or persistent internal disagreements, with possible review periods to address these issues before closure.

Hub Partnerships

Financial and in-kind partnerships are important accelerators for positive impact. Hubs may engage in these partnerships while ensuring adherence to local regulations and maintaining a non-profit status. These partnerships must avoid conflicts of interest and reputational risks, and all profits must be reinvested into hub projects, operations and activities. Hubs may also introduce annual membership fees (non-exclusionary) to support its projects, operations and activities. Additionally, hubs must accurately represent themselves, using only their own name and logo, and may use the Global Shapers Community only upon written approval.

Cancellation of Membership

Membership can be cancelled at the hub level if a member or alumna fails to uphold the community's commitments (with an opportunity to rectify the shortcomings within a 2-month period). The process must be transparent, with members informed of the decision and their right to appeal locally. This ensures that the integrity and values of the Global Shapers Community are maintained across all interactions and engagements.

The Global Shapers Headquarters (at the sole discretion of the Head of the Global Shapers) reserves the right to terminate an individual’s community membership or alumni status immediately and without notice should s/he be found in violation of the principles and behaviours in this Charter, the Forum’s Code of Conduct or its related policies, or otherwise under investigation for financial or other impropriety, and the outcome is final.

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