OpenStreetMap Foundation: Providing Access to the World Map, Anytime and Anywhere

OpenStreetMap Foundation (OSMF) is a non-profit organization established to develop free and reusable geospatial data. Registered as a guarantee-limited company in England and Wales, OSMF is associated with the OpenStreetMap (OSM) project.

OSMF spearheaded the OSM project as a collaborative initiative to create and develop a free and editable world map. The project was conceived due to lack of availability of, or restrictions to map information worldwide. Now that acquiring portable satellite navigational equipment has become inexpensive, the project was timely and sought-after.

With the success of Wikipedia as inspiration, OSM project was started by Steve Coast. Using crowdsourcing, its over a million users gather data using aerial photography, hand-held GPS devices, and other free sources of information. These data are made available for public consumption through the Open Database License.

OSMF is funded by donations and membership fees. Its operations are managed by a board composed of seven members.