Grants talk:Simple/Applications/GLAM Macedonia/2018

Eligibility

GLAM Macedonia User Group is eligible to apply for a 12-month grant starting 1 January 2018, for a grant up to 20,000 Euro, and with no staff. Eligibility is pending the resolution of any past due requirements listed on this page, which must be resolved before this grant is officially approved. Winifred Olliff (WMF Program Officer) talk 18:23, 3 November 2017 (UTC)

Simple Annual Plan Grant Committee Recommendation

Committee recommendations

Funding recommendations: We recommend that GLAM Macedonia receive 10,000 EUR + 10% contingency fee, or 11,000 EUR total. Specifically, we would like this group to maintain their education work and reduce expenses in the following areas: Wikipedian in Residence: We will fund one residency for a period of 6 months, or both residencies for a period of 3 month each. These should not be funded in an ongoing way using Wikimedia Foundation funds, but rather aimed at achieving longer term results within the host organization. Eliminate funds for edit-a-thons and competitions. We are concerned with activities that seem to overlap with what the other active User Group in Macedonia is doing, without adequate coordination between the two groups. Before the next application cycle (for 2019 funding), both groups will need to agree on the scopes of their funded activities, as a condition for their eligibility for the Annual Plan Grants process. We are providing the following rationale: This organization is building a good track record in the area of education, and this work seems to have potential. The group appears to be building on good practices in this area, that have been tested by other groups. This is a large amount of money devoted to a relatively small community of contributors and volunteers, and impact is locally focused. We are concerned that there is no plan to make these funded residencies sustainable in the long term, in which case we think they should be financed by local partners rather than with Wikimedia Foundation funding. We do not want to see this program expand further until this is addressed.

Comments on the next year's plan: This plan contains several programs that are similar to those being conducted by the other group, including the Wikipedian in Residence programs and a WikiCamp; however, these program ideas are distinct in some important ways. For example, the GLAM Macedonia User Group models their WikiCamp after Wikimedia Armenia’s successful model, and treats it as part of an ecosystem including other initiatives in the field of education. The Wikipedian in Residence model adopted by this group may not be sustainable. It is unclear what impact these residencies will have at the institution that will extend beyond the period of residency. These residencies should not be perpetually funded by Wikimedia Foundation.

Comments on the current year's focus and achievements: This is a first-time applicant to Simple Annual Plan Grants.

Other considerations: The GLAM Macedonia User Group is a first-time applicant to the Simple Annual Plan Grants program. This is one of two active groups operating in Macedonia, which has a small community of contributors and volunteers, as well as a small potential pool of institutional partners. Some programs seem to overlap with what the other group is doing (WikiCamp, Wikipedian in Residence), and yet these two groups are not working together to define their scopes.

Comments on the next year's focus: This group will need to work on building a group decision-making and working structure that does not rely too much on a single individual, so that group leadership and responsibilities are shared broadly. This group is operating at a basic level of program design and goal-setting. While this may be acceptable at the current funding level, we will work to help this group build capacity in these areas as they work on strengthening their organization in 2018. Both groups in Macedonia will need to clarify their scopes if they are to operate effectively in the same region.

On behalf of the Simple Annual Plan Grants Committee. --Kai (talk) 12:49, 2 December 2017 (Pacific)

Decision from WMF

Funding decision: This grant is approved in the amount of 11,000 Euro, or 10,000 Euro to be spent according to a revised budget approved by WMF prior to the start of the grant period and a 10% contingency fee for unanticipated expenses to be used only with the approval of WMF. The grant term will begin on 1 January 2018, and will end on 31 December 2018. A midpoint report covering the first 6 months of the grant term should be submitted by 15 July 2018, and a final report covering the entire 12 months should be submitted by 30 January 2019. Please submit a revised budget to WMF as soon as possible so that we can be sure to approve it before the grant start date. This revised budget should incorporate the recommendations of the committee regarding changes to the Wikipedian in Residence program and events. Congratulations to the GLAM Macedonia team on receiving your first Annual Plan Grant! Best, Winifred Olliff (WMF Program Officer) talk 02:04, 9 December 2017 (UTC)

Revised budget approved

Hello, all! Noting here that the revised budget submitted by GLAM Macedonia includes the committee's recommendations and comes in under the approved grant amount, and is hereby approved by WMF, in time to start the new grant on 1 January. Winifred Olliff (WMF Program Officer) talk 17:14, 22 December 2017 (UTC)