diff --git a/docs/repo-health/README.md b/docs/repo-health/README.md
index 81a4a7428..56192f073 100644
--- a/docs/repo-health/README.md
+++ b/docs/repo-health/README.md
@@ -106,6 +106,12 @@ says which file is missing.
 | [`repo-health-config.md`](../../plugins/magpie-setup/templates/repo-health-config.md) | Per-skill switches: deprecated runner labels, zizmor rule classes, dependency managers, SPDX expression, flaky-test thresholds. | `dependency-audit`, `flaky-test-triage`, `license-compliance-audit`, `workflow-security-audit` |
 | [`runtime-invocation.md`](../../plugins/magpie-setup/templates/runtime-invocation.md) | Build prerequisite, run-a-single-file recipe, stream-capture conventions, network/dependency handling. | `audit-finding-fix` |
 
+**Optional.** Each has a documented fallback; absent, the skill still runs.
+
+| File | What it carries | Read by |
+|---|---|---|
+| [`project.md`](../../plugins/magpie-setup/templates/project.md) | Project manifest. Identity, repositories, mailing lists, tools enabled, CVE tooling, GitHub project-board + issue-template field declarations. The single file every skill reads to resolve project-scoped references. | `dependency-license-audit`, `workflow-optimization` |
+
 <!-- END generated: skill-config -->
 
 <!-- BEGIN generated: companion-skills (tools/dev/check-companion-skills.py --fix) -->
diff --git a/plugins/magpie-repo-health/skills/dependency-license-audit/SKILL.md b/plugins/magpie-repo-health/skills/dependency-license-audit/SKILL.md
index 34066bb64..8effee420 100644
--- a/plugins/magpie-repo-health/skills/dependency-license-audit/SKILL.md
+++ b/plugins/magpie-repo-health/skills/dependency-license-audit/SKILL.md
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ argument-hint: "[--manager pip|npm|cargo|maven|gradle|trivy] [--policy asf|allow
 capability: capability:triage
 surface_hash: sha256:9723ef52fb16204e
 license: Apache-2.0
-measured_tokens: 3624
+measured_tokens: 3739
 ---
 
 <!-- SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
@@ -137,7 +137,9 @@ is not installed, surface the installation recipe and stop.
 **Golden rule 6 — read the policy from config.** Read the policy model,
 `allowed_licenses`, and `forbidden_licenses` from
 `<project-config>/repo-health-config.md → dependency_license_audit`.
-Default to the `asf` policy when not configured.
+When not configured, default to the `asf` policy only for a project whose
+`<project-config>/project.md` declares `organization: ASF`; any other project
+defaults to `allowlist` with the lists below. Say which default applied.
 
 ---
 
@@ -196,7 +198,11 @@ repo_health:
     unknown_license_action: flag   # or: ignore
 ```
 
-When no config file exists, use the ASF policy defaults above.
+When no config file exists, the default depends on the project's organization
+(`<project-config>/project.md → organization`): `organization: ASF` gets
+`policy: asf`; every other project, including one with no `project.md`, gets
+`policy: allowlist` with the `allowed_licenses` / `forbidden_licenses` above.
+The ASF category model is ASF policy, not a general licence rule.
 
 ### ASF three-category model (`policy: asf`)
 
diff --git a/plugins/magpie-repo-health/skills/workflow-optimization/SKILL.md b/plugins/magpie-repo-health/skills/workflow-optimization/SKILL.md
index 2371fb91f..b7679ff13 100644
--- a/plugins/magpie-repo-health/skills/workflow-optimization/SKILL.md
+++ b/plugins/magpie-repo-health/skills/workflow-optimization/SKILL.md
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ argument-hint: "--repo owner/name"
 capability: capability:triage
 surface_hash: sha256:bbfe83b236640f9e
 license: Apache-2.0
-measured_tokens: 3048
+measured_tokens: 3094
 ---
 
 <!-- SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
@@ -184,7 +184,10 @@ Apply these while classifying:
   Fork CI and self-hosted runners are experimental on the Infra page.
   Recommend them only when the evidence shows heavy jobs, and carry the security caveats with them.
 - **ASF-only checks.**
-  The GitHub Actions Policy, `.asf.yaml` and `creation_cap` checks apply only to repositories under the ASF; skip them elsewhere.
+  The GitHub Actions Policy, `.asf.yaml` and `creation_cap` checks apply only to repositories under the ASF.
+  Run them only when `<project-config>/project.md` declares `organization: ASF`,
+  or, with no project config, when the repository's owner is the `apache` GitHub organization;
+  otherwise skip them and say so in the report.
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/plugins/magpie-security-tools/tools/forwarder-relay/README.md b/plugins/magpie-security-tools/tools/forwarder-relay/README.md
index 83893994a..c4b404034 100644
--- a/plugins/magpie-security-tools/tools/forwarder-relay/README.md
+++ b/plugins/magpie-security-tools/tools/forwarder-relay/README.md
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ ASF preamble or the `@apache.org` sender pattern.
 
 | Adapter | Status | Inbound channel | Reference doc |
 |---|---|---|---|
-| `asf-security` | shipping | Mail from `security@apache.org` or a personal `@apache.org` address with the ASF forwarding preamble | [`tools/gmail/asf-relay.md`](../gmail/asf-relay.md) |
+| `asf-security` | shipping | ASF projects only (`organization: ASF`): mail from `security@apache.org` or a personal `@apache.org` address with the ASF forwarding preamble | [`tools/gmail/asf-relay.md`](../gmail/asf-relay.md) |
 | `huntr-relay` | placeholder | Mail from huntr.com's notification address with the huntr disclosure preamble | not implemented — contract slot only |
 | `hackerone-relay` | placeholder | Mail from HackerOne's notification address with the HackerOne handoff preamble | not implemented — contract slot only |
 | `ghsa-relay` | placeholder | Mail forwarded from a GHSA private report by the GitHub notification system | not implemented — contract slot only |
diff --git a/plugins/magpie-security-tools/tools/gmail/asf-relay.md b/plugins/magpie-security-tools/tools/gmail/asf-relay.md
index 7cff554ac..4462cade9 100644
--- a/plugins/magpie-security-tools/tools/gmail/asf-relay.md
+++ b/plugins/magpie-security-tools/tools/gmail/asf-relay.md
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@
 
 # Gmail — ASF-security-relay drafting
 
+> **Scope — `organization: ASF` · 🪶 ASF-specific.** The `asf-security` forwarder adapter:
+> reports relayed by the ASF Security team (`security@apache.org`). It applies only to a
+> project whose `<project-config>/project.md` declares `organization: ASF`, which is also
+> where its `forwarders.enabled: [asf-security]` default comes from
+> ([`organizations/ASF/`](https://github.com/apache/magpie/blob/main/organizations/ASF/organization.md)).
+
 Some reports reach the project's security list via the ASF security
 team — `security@apache.org` itself, or a personal `@apache.org`
 address of an ASF security-team member — forwarding a report that
diff --git a/plugins/magpie-security-tools/tools/privacy-llm/checker/src/checker/check.py b/plugins/magpie-security-tools/tools/privacy-llm/checker/src/checker/check.py
index 54fa4ca9b..f1c87572f 100644
--- a/plugins/magpie-security-tools/tools/privacy-llm/checker/src/checker/check.py
+++ b/plugins/magpie-security-tools/tools/privacy-llm/checker/src/checker/check.py
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ def _approve_by_opt_in(entry: LLMEntry, opt_in: list[OptInEntry]) -> Verdict:
                 False,
                 f"opt-in entry {opt.name!r} matches but the 'Approved-by' "
                 f"sub-bullet is missing or still has placeholder text "
-                f"({opt.approved_by!r}); a real PMC member must sign off.",
+                f"({opt.approved_by!r}); a member of the project's governing body must sign off.",
             )
         return Verdict(entry, True, f"opt-in entry {opt.name!r} (data-residency + approved-by present)")
     return Verdict(
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ def _approve_endpoint_by_opt_in(
                 False,
                 f"opt-in entry {opt.name!r} matches but the 'Approved-by' "
                 f"sub-bullet is missing or still has placeholder text "
-                f"({opt.approved_by!r}); a real PMC member must sign off.",
+                f"({opt.approved_by!r}); a member of the project's governing body must sign off.",
             )
         return Verdict(entry, True, f"opt-in entry {opt.name!r} (data-residency + approved-by present)")
 
diff --git a/plugins/magpie-setup/skills/setup/verify.md b/plugins/magpie-setup/skills/setup/verify.md
index 5ebd109b1..84867e357 100644
--- a/plugins/magpie-setup/skills/setup/verify.md
+++ b/plugins/magpie-setup/skills/setup/verify.md
@@ -672,6 +672,7 @@ adopter opted into via
   - `mcp__claude_ai_Gmail__list_drafts`
   - `mcp__claude_ai_Gmail__list_labels`
   - `mcp__gmail-plaintext__create_draft`
+  - and, only when `project.md` declares `organization: ASF` (they are ASF services):
   - `mcp__ponymail__search_list`
   - `mcp__ponymail__auth_status`
   - `mcp__ponymail__get_thread`
@@ -715,7 +716,8 @@ The skill invokes the CLI once per settings file:
 ```bash
 uv run --project <framework>/tools/permission-audit \
   permission-audit audit <repo>/.claude/settings.local.json \
-  --families <comma-joined families from the lock>
+  --families <comma-joined families from the lock> \
+  --organization <organization from project.md>
 ```
 
 The CLI emits structured JSON the skill folds into the verify
diff --git a/tools/forwarder-relay/README.md b/tools/forwarder-relay/README.md
index ea70b6117..0dd1a422b 100644
--- a/tools/forwarder-relay/README.md
+++ b/tools/forwarder-relay/README.md
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ ASF preamble or the `@apache.org` sender pattern.
 
 | Adapter | Status | Inbound channel | Reference doc |
 |---|---|---|---|
-| `asf-security` | shipping | Mail from `security@apache.org` or a personal `@apache.org` address with the ASF forwarding preamble | [`tools/gmail/asf-relay.md`](../gmail/asf-relay.md) |
+| `asf-security` | shipping | ASF projects only (`organization: ASF`): mail from `security@apache.org` or a personal `@apache.org` address with the ASF forwarding preamble | [`tools/gmail/asf-relay.md`](../gmail/asf-relay.md) |
 | `huntr-relay` | placeholder | Mail from huntr.com's notification address with the huntr disclosure preamble | not implemented — contract slot only |
 | `hackerone-relay` | placeholder | Mail from HackerOne's notification address with the HackerOne handoff preamble | not implemented — contract slot only |
 | `ghsa-relay` | placeholder | Mail forwarded from a GHSA private report by the GitHub notification system | not implemented — contract slot only |
diff --git a/tools/gmail/README.md b/tools/gmail/README.md
index 77f2b383c..55227aecb 100644
--- a/tools/gmail/README.md
+++ b/tools/gmail/README.md
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ Used by the security-issue-import / sync / invalidate flows. See [`tool.md`](too
 - **Runtime:** claude.ai Gmail MCP (`mcp__claude_ai_Gmail__*`) for search / read / draft; the preferred `oauth_curl` draft backend is Python 3.11+ run via `uv` (`tools/gmail/oauth-draft`) plus `curl`.
 - **CLIs:** None beyond the runtime on the MCP path; `uv` + `curl` for the `oauth_curl` backend.
 - **Credentials / auth:** claude.ai Gmail MCP authenticated. For `oauth_curl`, a Google OAuth refresh-token file (default `~/.config/apache-magpie/gmail-oauth.json`, overridable via `$GMAIL_OAUTH_CREDENTIALS` or `tools.gmail.oauth_credentials_path`) created once by `oauth-draft-setup`. Read + draft only — never sends.
-- **Network:** Gmail API (`gmail.googleapis.com`); `lists.apache.org` for the adjacent PonyMail archive lookups.
+- **Network:** Gmail API (`gmail.googleapis.com`); `lists.apache.org` for the adjacent PonyMail archive lookups (ASF projects only: [`ponymail-archive.md`](ponymail-archive.md) and [`asf-relay.md`](asf-relay.md) are ASF-specific).
 - **Optional:** `google-auth-oauthlib` (pulled by `uv` for the one-time `oauth-draft-setup` consent flow only).
 
 ## Security and privacy
diff --git a/tools/gmail/asf-relay.md b/tools/gmail/asf-relay.md
index 419e84b9a..dca9cd9cf 100644
--- a/tools/gmail/asf-relay.md
+++ b/tools/gmail/asf-relay.md
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@
 
 # Gmail — ASF-security-relay drafting
 
+> **Scope — `organization: ASF` · 🪶 ASF-specific.** The `asf-security` forwarder adapter:
+> reports relayed by the ASF Security team (`security@apache.org`). It applies only to a
+> project whose `<project-config>/project.md` declares `organization: ASF`, which is also
+> where its `forwarders.enabled: [asf-security]` default comes from
+> ([`organizations/ASF/`](../../organizations/ASF/organization.md)).
+
 Some reports reach the project's security list via the ASF security
 team — `security@apache.org` itself, or a personal `@apache.org`
 address of an ASF security-team member — forwarding a report that
diff --git a/tools/gmail/ponymail-archive.md b/tools/gmail/ponymail-archive.md
index 4a353221f..0285bfe99 100644
--- a/tools/gmail/ponymail-archive.md
+++ b/tools/gmail/ponymail-archive.md
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@
 
 # Gmail — ASF PonyMail archive URL construction
 
+> **Scope — `organization: ASF` · 🪶 ASF-specific.** The archive these URLs point at,
+> `lists.apache.org`, holds the ASF's lists only: use this recipe only for a project whose
+> `<project-config>/project.md` declares `organization: ASF`. The PonyMail tooling itself is
+> [`tools/ponymail/`](../ponymail/README.md), also ASF-only.
+
 The ASF hosts mailing-list archives at
 [`lists.apache.org`](https://lists.apache.org/) (internally
 **PonyMail**). The skills use it for two distinct lookups:
diff --git a/tools/permission-audit/src/permission_audit/audit.py b/tools/permission-audit/src/permission_audit/audit.py
index 63b8660ed..f34baa31e 100644
--- a/tools/permission-audit/src/permission_audit/audit.py
+++ b/tools/permission-audit/src/permission_audit/audit.py
@@ -100,21 +100,34 @@
             "mcp__claude_ai_Gmail__search_threads",
             "mcp__claude_ai_Gmail__list_drafts",
             "mcp__claude_ai_Gmail__list_labels",
-            "mcp__ponymail__search_list",
-            "mcp__ponymail__auth_status",
-            "mcp__ponymail__get_thread",
-            "mcp__ponymail__get_email",
-            "mcp__ponymail__list_restrictions",
-            "mcp__apache-projects__project_stats",
-            "mcp__apache-projects__get_committee",
-            "mcp__apache-projects__get_group_members",
-            "mcp__apache-projects__get_person",
-            "mcp__apache-projects__search_people",
-            "Bash(vulnogram-api-record-fetch *)",
         }
     ),
 }
 
+# Organization → family → patterns recommended only to that organization's
+# projects: the ASF's PonyMail archive, its project directory and its CVE
+# tool mean nothing to a project outside the ASF, so recommending them
+# there would only widen the allow-list.
+RECOMMENDED_BY_ORGANIZATION: dict[str, dict[str, frozenset[str]]] = {
+    "ASF": {
+        "security": frozenset(
+            {
+                "mcp__ponymail__search_list",
+                "mcp__ponymail__auth_status",
+                "mcp__ponymail__get_thread",
+                "mcp__ponymail__get_email",
+                "mcp__ponymail__list_restrictions",
+                "mcp__apache-projects__project_stats",
+                "mcp__apache-projects__get_committee",
+                "mcp__apache-projects__get_group_members",
+                "mcp__apache-projects__get_person",
+                "mcp__apache-projects__search_people",
+                "Bash(vulnogram-api-record-fetch *)",
+            }
+        ),
+    },
+}
+
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class AuditFinding:
@@ -143,7 +156,9 @@ def has_findings(self) -> bool:
         return bool(self.forbidden or self.missing_recommended)
 
 
-def audit_settings(allow_list: Iterable[str], families: Iterable[str]) -> AuditResult:
+def audit_settings(
+    allow_list: Iterable[str], families: Iterable[str], organization: str | None = None
+) -> AuditResult:
     """Classify allow-list entries against forbidden + recommended lists.
 
     Args:
@@ -152,6 +167,9 @@ def audit_settings(allow_list: Iterable[str], families: Iterable[str]) -> AuditR
         families: the opt-in family names the adopter has selected
             (e.g. `["security"]`). The empty-family bucket ("")
             is always included regardless.
+        organization: the project's `organization` (`project.md`);
+            only that organization's own recommendations are added,
+            so the ASF-only ones appear for `ASF` alone.
 
     Returns:
         `AuditResult` with two buckets — entries to remove
@@ -178,8 +196,9 @@ def audit_settings(allow_list: Iterable[str], families: Iterable[str]) -> AuditR
 
     # Recommended — always include the empty-family bucket.
     effective_families = {""} | set(families)
+    by_org = RECOMMENDED_BY_ORGANIZATION.get(organization or "", {})
     for family in sorted(effective_families):
-        recommended = RECOMMENDED_BY_FAMILY.get(family, frozenset())
+        recommended = RECOMMENDED_BY_FAMILY.get(family, frozenset()) | by_org.get(family, frozenset())
         for pattern in sorted(recommended):
             if pattern not in allow_set:
                 result.missing_recommended.append(
diff --git a/tools/permission-audit/src/permission_audit/cli.py b/tools/permission-audit/src/permission_audit/cli.py
index b43271cad..5eedcd42f 100644
--- a/tools/permission-audit/src/permission_audit/cli.py
+++ b/tools/permission-audit/src/permission_audit/cli.py
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ def _cmd_audit(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
     settings_path = Path(args.settings_path).resolve()
     allow = _read_allow(settings_path)
     families = [f.strip() for f in (args.families or "").split(",") if f.strip()]
-    result = audit_settings(allow, families)
+    result = audit_settings(allow, families, args.organization)
 
     output = {
         "settings_path": str(settings_path),
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ def _cmd_audit_any(args: argparse.Namespace) -> int:
             continue
         if audit_kind == "claude":
             allow = _read_allow(full_path)
-            r = audit_settings(allow, families)
+            r = audit_settings(allow, families, args.organization)
             results.append(
                 {
                     "harness": harness_id,
@@ -250,6 +250,11 @@ def _build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
         default="",
         help="Comma-separated opt-in family names (e.g. 'security,issue').",
     )
+    p_audit.add_argument(
+        "--organization",
+        default=None,
+        help="The project's organization (project.md); ASF-only recommendations need 'ASF'.",
+    )
     p_audit.set_defaults(func=_cmd_audit)
 
     p_apply = subparsers.add_parser("apply", help="Atomically add/remove allow-list entries.")
@@ -291,6 +296,11 @@ def _build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
         default="",
         help="Comma-separated opt-in family names for Claude Code audits (e.g. 'security,issue').",
     )
+    p_audit_any.add_argument(
+        "--organization",
+        default=None,
+        help="The project's organization (project.md); ASF-only recommendations need 'ASF'.",
+    )
     p_audit_any.set_defaults(func=_cmd_audit_any)
 
     p_audit_oc = subparsers.add_parser(
diff --git a/tools/permission-audit/tests/test_audit.py b/tools/permission-audit/tests/test_audit.py
index b3e82cdcd..fea201a6f 100644
--- a/tools/permission-audit/tests/test_audit.py
+++ b/tools/permission-audit/tests/test_audit.py
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
 def test_empty_allow_only_misses_recommended():
     result = audit_settings(allow_list=[], families=["security"])
     assert result.forbidden == []
-    # lychee (default family "") + 15 security family = 16
-    assert len(result.missing_recommended) == 16
+    # lychee (default family "") + 4 generic security entries = 5
+    assert len(result.missing_recommended) == 5
 
 
 def test_forbidden_python_wildcard_flagged_with_pointer():
@@ -68,3 +68,20 @@ def test_default_family_always_included_even_when_not_requested():
     result = audit_settings(allow_list=[], families=["security"])
     patterns = {f.pattern for f in result.missing_recommended}
     assert "Bash(lychee *)" in patterns
+
+
+def test_asf_only_recommendations_need_the_asf_organization():
+    """PonyMail, the ASF project directory and Vulnogram are ASF services."""
+    asf_only = {
+        "mcp__ponymail__search_list",
+        "mcp__apache-projects__get_person",
+        "Bash(vulnogram-api-record-fetch *)",
+    }
+    elsewhere = {f.pattern for f in audit_settings([], ["security"]).missing_recommended}
+    independent = {f.pattern for f in audit_settings([], ["security"], "independent").missing_recommended}
+    asf = {f.pattern for f in audit_settings([], ["security"], "ASF").missing_recommended}
+    assert not asf_only & elsewhere
+    assert not asf_only & independent
+    assert asf_only <= asf
+    # lychee + 4 generic + 11 ASF security entries
+    assert len(asf) == 16
diff --git a/tools/privacy-llm/checker/src/checker/check.py b/tools/privacy-llm/checker/src/checker/check.py
index 54fa4ca9b..f1c87572f 100644
--- a/tools/privacy-llm/checker/src/checker/check.py
+++ b/tools/privacy-llm/checker/src/checker/check.py
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ def _approve_by_opt_in(entry: LLMEntry, opt_in: list[OptInEntry]) -> Verdict:
                 False,
                 f"opt-in entry {opt.name!r} matches but the 'Approved-by' "
                 f"sub-bullet is missing or still has placeholder text "
-                f"({opt.approved_by!r}); a real PMC member must sign off.",
+                f"({opt.approved_by!r}); a member of the project's governing body must sign off.",
             )
         return Verdict(entry, True, f"opt-in entry {opt.name!r} (data-residency + approved-by present)")
     return Verdict(
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ def _approve_endpoint_by_opt_in(
                 False,
                 f"opt-in entry {opt.name!r} matches but the 'Approved-by' "
                 f"sub-bullet is missing or still has placeholder text "
-                f"({opt.approved_by!r}); a real PMC member must sign off.",
+                f"({opt.approved_by!r}); a member of the project's governing body must sign off.",
             )
         return Verdict(entry, True, f"opt-in entry {opt.name!r} (data-residency + approved-by present)")