closed Draft ICANN FY25 Plans

Outcome

ICANN received 160 comments from six community groups and five individuals about the: (i) Draft ICANN FY25 Budget; (ii) Draft ICANN FY25–29 Operating and Financial Plan & Draft ICANN FY25 Operating Plan; and (iii) Draft IANA FY25 Operating Plan and Budget. One (1) individual’s submission was flagged as spam and was removed. The latter will not be further considered.

The comments were reviewed and have been categorized into five themes: document structure, operating plan, operating initiatives, functional activities, and financial management. The Public Comment summary report includes ICANN’s response to the submission.

Update

All comments received during the Public Comment proceeding were taken into consideration, and where appropriate and feasible, clarifications and minor editorial changes were incorporated into the ICANN FY25 Plans. The ICANN FY25–29 Operating and Financial Plan and FY25 Operating Plan and Budget have also been updated to present ICANN’s latest financial projections due to changes in ICANN’s projected funding.

A summary of these changes from the published draft plans can be found in the ICANN FY25 Highlights Document. The community is also invited to review these changes at a live community webinar. These documents are due to be presented to the ICANN Board for adoption in May 2024. After Board approval, all plan documents will be republished as Adopted. The republished planning documents may include minor edits to ensure that changes are sufficiently explained (or commented upon) across all planning documents.

Documents for Board Adoption:

• ICANN FY25 Highlights Document
• ICANN FY25–29 Operating & Financial Plan and FY25 Operating Plan
• ICANN FY25 Budget
• IANA FY25 Operating Plan and Budget

What We Received Input On

ICANN seeks community feedback on the following drafts.

The Draft ICANN FY25–29 Operating and Financial Plan: This five-year operating and financial plan is not a replacement for ICANN org's annual operating plans but is meant to complement them by providing a comprehensive overview of how ICANN will carry out its mission in the public interest over the next five years.

The Draft ICANN FY25 Operating Plan and Draft ICANN FY25 Budget: This annual operating plan and budget defines and describes ICANN's planned activities in Fiscal Year 2025 and the anticipated funding sources and levels.

The Draft IANA FY25 Operating Plan and Budget: This annual operating plan and budget is specific to the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions and includes the work conducted by the Public Technical Identifiers (PTI) contract oversight, plus the plans and costs for overseeing and enabling performance of the IANA functions by ICANN. Because the annual IANA Operating Plan and Budget comprises the full Draft PTI Operating Plan and Budget, it is helpful to review both documents during the Public Comment process. Please note that there are currently two separate public comments proceedings running. This proceeding includes drafts of the ICANN FY25-29 Operating & Financial Plan, the ICANN FY25 Operating Plan & Budget, and the IANA FY25 Operating Plan and Budget to be presented to the ICANN Board. The second proceeding exclusively covers the Draft PTI FY25 Operating Plan and Budget.

Background

ICANN's overall planning process has three components:

1. Five-Year Strategic Plan
   Designed to shape ICANN's priorities, the Five-Year Strategic Plan establishes a vision and a set of strategic objectives and goals in service of ICANN's Mission. The Strategic Plan enables ICANN to continue to fulfill its Mission and meet new and continuously evolving challenges and opportunities. ICANN's Bylaws, Article 22, section 22.5 requires the preparation and adoption of a Strategic Plan every five years. The current Five-Year Strategic Plan covers fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
2. Five-Year Operating and Financial Plan
   The Five-Year Operating and Financial Plan articulates the feasibility and timing of services, activities, and milestones identified to achieve the Strategic Plan's objectives and goals. It is intended to serve as an overarching, holistic view of the activities ICANN org is undertaking, or will undertake, in support of the Strategic Plan to carry out ICANN’s Mission in the public interest over the next five years. ICANN's Bylaws, Article 22, section 22.5 requires the preparation and adoption of a Five-Year Operating Plan at the beginning of each fiscal year.
3. Annual Operating Plan and Budget
   Informed by the Five-Year Operating and Financial Plan, the Annual Operating Plan and Budget further clarifies specific activities and resources for the upcoming year. The Annual Operating Plan and Budget sets forth the focus of efforts and organizational commitments for the current fiscal year. ICANN's Annual Operating Plan and Budget includes the IANA and PTI Annual Operating Plan and Budget. ICANN's Bylaws, Article 22, section 22.4 require the preparation and adoption of an Annual Operating Plan and Budget prior to the commencement of each fiscal year.

Input from ICANN Supporting Organizations, Advisory Committees, constituency groups, other stakeholders, Board of Directors, and ICANN organization is key to the development of these plans, in keeping with ICANN's multistakeholder model.

ICANN developed the Five-Year Operating and Financial Plan for Fiscal Years 2025–2029 and One-Year Operating Plan and Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 by utilizing a forward-looking methodology for funding that incorporates “base” scenario funding projections. This methodology strives to identify predictions about future funding conditions while utilizing a set of base assumptions that are expected to result in a realistic outcome.

ICANN’s Operating Plan includes Operating Initiatives, which are key activities to achieve the Strategic Plan, and Functional Activities, which support the processes and mechanisms that permit the community to complete its work. Some Operating Initiatives in the Operating Plan incorporate multi-year goals outlined in the blog titled “ICANN Interim President and CEO Shares Goals for Fiscal Year 2024,” and these goals will be noted where applicable. The Operating Initiatives and Functional Activities provide what can be considered ICANN org’s statement of intention, outlining planned activities while acknowledging the challenges and dependencies that could impact ultimate delivery.

The ICANN organization deeply values the ongoing involvement of the community, both individual members and organizations, in the annual planning process. Community participation is fundamental to ICANN's public accountability, and we recognize the significant time and attention it demands. We look forward to advancing many important initiatives in FY25.

Supporting Information