Community Resources/Grants Strategy Relaunch 2020-2021/How will this affect me?
The new Grants Strategy has been launched. See Grants:Start. |
How will this affect me?
How will this process and changes to our current grant programs affect you or your organization? Below, you will find some guidance on what to expect. This guidance is split into two parts:
- Information on specific grant programs described in the proposal, and
- Broader considerations for implementation
An important goal in this transition process is to ensure that you understand how you will be able to apply for and receive funding, how this transition will affect your current grants, and what new opportunities and resources will be available to you. Furthermore, because this transition process uses an iterative approach, we are open to and expect to make adjustments to the proposal to support your needs.
Information on specific grant programs
[edit]For each proposed grant program, we provide a conceptual framework and initial guidance related to what needs the funding will support:
- Scope of Proposals: What kinds of programmatic work will this grant program support?
- Considerations: An overview of initial concepts for each grant program.
- Relation to current grant program: How does this relate to the Wikimedia Foundation’s current grant programs?
Grant Program Focus Area: More Sustainable, Healthy and Diverse Global Movement
[edit]Most current grantees would fall into this program, which will distribute the largest portion of grants funds, estimated at least 80% of the grants budget. We plan to clarify pathways for growth for those who desire them, including opportunities for funding staff and capacity building. We will have a proactive strategy for inviting new and diverse communities into the movement.
Scope of Proposals | Initial Considerations | Relation to current grant programs |
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Short-term project and program activities, such as local edit-a-thons, contests, and workshops. |
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Long-term projects, programs and activities, such as annual plans or regularly occurring international campaigns |
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Grant Program Focus Area: Stronger Free Knowledge Ecosystem
[edit]This program will help amplify and grow the network in emerging communities by working with mission-aligned organizations. It is estimated that this would make up approximately 10% of the overall grants budget. This is primarily a new category of grant funding, although a few current Project Grant recipients from mission-aligned organizations would fall into it. We will work closely with communities to adapt the program to their contexts.
Scope of Proposals | Initial Considerations | Relation to current grant programs |
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Increase local awareness and readership through collaboration with mission-aligned organizations in emerging communities. |
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Engagement with diverse content, increase local collaboration |
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Support initiatives that will lead to a sustainable, healthy and diverse global movement |
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Grant Program Focus Area: Improved Technology, Tools, and Research to Respond to Wikimedia Needs
[edit]Software and research grantees funded through the current Project Grants program would be moved into a dedicated new program focused on technical grants. This will allow for more coherent and tailored support for technical grantees. The scope of this new program will be clearly defined, with specific criteria to be established. The budget for this program focus will modestly increase from current spending levels, at approximately 10% of the overall grants budget.
Scope of Proposals | Initial Considerations | Relation to current grant programs |
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Proposals primarily focused on software development |
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Project Grants for software grant recipients |
Proposals primarily focused on research with a clear use-case in mind |
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Project Grants for research grant recipients |
Broader considerations for implementation
[edit]Participatory decision making: Decentralization and power sharing
[edit]We are fully committed to the idea of decentralization and power sharing through participatory decision-making processes. We will review our eligibility criteria to determine what needs to be maintained (such as good community standing and commitment to the Universal Code of Conduct (UCOC), and what can become more flexible. To increase power sharing, we want to work towards guiding principles for grant programs that allow committees the flexibility needed to adapt to the realistic and adapted needs of community members to achieve their goals.
Regional and thematic committees
[edit]The strategic direction moves us towards a regional focus. Regional and thematic committees will be created that aim to account for the full complexities of the world and the movement. And that recognizes the diversity in programming, cultures and languages within regions and globally. Committee composition will be a key conversation during the implementation phase.
Budget
[edit]We will request an overall increase in the available budget based on the estimated needs to support the proposed strategy in its first year. We do not have the exact budget yet, but we are working on a request this quarter as we enter the Foundation’s annual planning process.
We have a strong commitment to equitable funding distribution. We will increase investment in emerging communities. We will make access to funding more flexible across all programs by adopting a less conservative risk policy.