Grants talk:Project/Rapid/Changes to Rapid Fund program in FY 2023-2024

Question on org leaders

Hi @DSaroyan (WMF): Thanks for putting this list of changes together. The following item caught my eye:

Board members, leaders (contacts submitted to AffCom), presidents, executive directors, and other paid staff or contractors of Wikimedia affiliates/groups/organizations with existing Wikimedia Foundation Fund awards are not eligible for individual grant requests.

I'm currently an unpaid Board member for Wikimedia DC, which recently had its Wikimedia Community Fund grant approved. I also organize Wiki Loves Monuments in the United States (WLM-US) in an individual capacity, completely separate from my Wikimedia DC work. I've previously received funding for WLM-US via rapid grants, but if I'm reading it correctly, it sounds like I would no longer be allowed to apply for a rapid grant? Would I need to find someone else to apply for the grant on behalf of WLM-US?

I can understand not wanting overlapping funds, but I do think this is a counterproductive restriction. Many board members and leaders in our community also help organize events in an individual capacity outside of their organizations. I'd appreciate any additional insight or information about why this restriction is being put in place. Thanks, ~SuperHamster Talk Contribs 02:12, 6 June 2023 (UTC)

Hello @SuperHamster: thanks for your question. When there is no significant overlap between the volunteer role (especially board members), affiliate's activities, and individual grant, your program officer may make a decision to move forward with the request. There is a field on the application form to specify your role and engagement. In your case, because your project is completely separate from Wikimedia DC focus and activities, it should be OK and you can apply. I'll add a language to that criteria, so that it is clear that there are exceptions. Thanks, DSaroyan (WMF) (talk) 15:14, 7 June 2023 (UTC)

@DSaroyan (WMF): That's great to hear - thank you for the details and support! ~SuperHamster Talk Contribs 03:52, 8 June 2023 (UTC)

I do think it can also be counterproductive for small-scale, experimental, efforts which are really outside the scope of annual grants. I always thought that was the point of rapid grants, to take advantage of opportunities as they come up to facilitate side efforts toward the goal of Movement Strategy/Recommendations/Innovate in Free Knowledge. Obviously such a process could be abused, but it would I think be better to treat such projects with due extra scrutiny and evaluate them on an individual basis, rather than to potentially stymie innovation by an outright ban. Pharos (talk) 20:49, 2 July 2023 (UTC)