Start a FREE chapter
A chapter is a local assembly of people, organized in a place, doing the work of economic emancipation in that place.
The chapter is the basic unit of FREE. Everything else — the foundation, the global network, the federation infrastructure — exists to support chapters and connect them to each other.
A chapter is sovereign in its local work. It chooses its own focus, its own campaigns, its own pace, and its own leadership. What connects chapters is shared values, shared documentation practices, and a shared global frame.
What a chapter is not
Not a fan club for FREE. People don't gather to support FREE. They gather, with FREE's support, to organize where they live.
Not a study group. Reading and learning happen. The chapter exists to act, in concert with the local community, on local conditions.
Not a satellite of Tulsa. The founding pilot is where many of these practices were tested. Each new chapter shapes its own version.
How a chapter forms
Phase Timing:
Seed Team forms — three to five people commit to the first 90 days: Weeks 0–2
First public event — speakers, food, and a sign-up sheet: Weeks 3–4
First General Assembly — gather voice, surface motivations: Weeks 4–6
Second General Assembly — adopt founding documents, elect Stewards: Weeks 6–8
Stewards Phase 1 — bi-weekly assemblies, Operational Circles form: Weeks 6–18.
First project — one tangible thing beyond meetings: By week 12
What FREE foundation provides
Templates and how-to documents, including the full Chapter Starter Kit
Shared platforms for documents, calendars, and communication
Remote training, onboarding calls, and direct connection to organizers in other chapters
Promotion through global channels — newsletter, social media, G+Local sessions
Federation infrastructure — cross-chapter forums and working groups
A global frame that connects local action to the broader struggle
A chapter that starts with FREE inherits infrastructure the Tulsa founders had to build from scratch.
What FREE foundation does not provide
Being honest about this matters more than being generous.
No funding for chapter events. The Tulsa pilot was catalyzed by a major grant that covered production, food, and PR. Most chapters operate without that subsidy. Each chapter is responsible for its own local resources.
No paid staff for your chapter. Foundation staff hold global infrastructure. Chapter work is done by chapter members.
No direction of your organizing focus. The chapter chooses what to organize around, in conversation with its local community.
No guarantee of success. The Starter Kit raises the floor. The work raises the ceiling.
An honest note on cost
Tulsa events have run from $4,000 to over $10,000 — professional production, paid speaker travel, AV rental, stage build, catering for 100–200+ people. That was grant funding.
Most chapter events will cost €200–500. A community room, simple food, local speakers, flyers in the neighborhood. That smaller scale is normal. It's also where every chapter begins, including Tulsa.
What it takes
A Seed Team of three to five people covering three basic capacities:
A catalyst/facilitator — someone who holds the torch initially
An organizer — someone with the time and follow-through to handle logistics. Without this, the catalyst burns out in six to eight weeks. It's the most common failure.
An operations person — someone comfortable with shared documents, forms, and software tools.
Plus: at least two members who each know 20+ people locally, access to a free or low-cost venue, a modest budget, and two people with 5–10 hours a week for the first 90 days.
If you're missing one of these, that's useful information. It may mean waiting a few weeks, partnering with an existing local group, or starting with a smaller informal gathering. Starting underpowered and failing publicly is harder to recover from than waiting.
Tell us about your situation
Takes about four minutes. Someone from our organizing team will be in touch.