[Osmf-talk] Seeking your input on the Microgrant program

Mon Oct 1 10:16:23 UTC 2018

I would suggest taking a step back. 

I'm on the record ( multiple times) of suggesting that the OSMF should take a more active role in improving the infrastructure for OSM contributors. I don't believe that a grant scheme is a good vehicle for that (the work that needs to be done is not particulary glamorous, the grant amounts too small, and the OSMF is/ should be the project driver, just to mention a couple of the reasons).

Budgeting £20 '000-50 '000 annually for such work is likely to acheive more. It would require that the OSMF has a way to initiate and run such projects, but that is not more of a challenge than overseeing a half a dozen grants. 

Now outside of that there might be room for a grant scheme as envisioned, it does need to be more clearly scoped and a mechanism devised that the funds are actually used. The history of such schemes in OSM is rather dismal in the sense that such support has rarely been called upon and as a result they've been disbanded (hack weekend support for example).

Simon

Am 30. September 2018 11:43:36 MESZ schrieb Heather Leson <heatherleson at gmail.com>:
>Thank you for the comments and questions.
>Simon, truly, it is time for people to decide more on what they want
>from
>the OSMF board. Since I joined, I have been told time and time again
>that
>all the major decisions and activities must be driven by the community.
> We
>prepared this document to start that conversation. It seems to me that
>the
>best way forward is to 'build with'. Since OSMF lacks a "Community
>Working
>Group" which would normally shepherd this type of activity in an open
>organization, we did need to start somewhere. I truly welcome further
>discussion and movement.
>
>For Pete, OSMF has some money donated which we want to give back to the
>membership. We also are inspired by the ways that this type of activity
>has
>helped other open organizations. Your questions are great.
>
>The next steps are really about a shared dialogue and way forward.
>Thus, we
>decided to start this in the open knowing that it would take time for
>us to
>move it together.
>
>Thanks again for all the input. Step by step.
>
>Heather
>
>Heather Leson
>heatherleson at gmail.com
>Twitter/skype: HeatherLeson
>Blog: textontechs.com
>
>
>On Sun, Sep 30, 2018 at 10:40 AM Pete Masters
><pedrito1414 at googlemail.com>
>wrote:
>
>> Hi Mikel and all,
>>
>> I'd be interested to know what prompted the OSM microgrants
>initiative? I
>> don't mean this in a challenging way, but it would be easier to think
>about
>> if I know what problem the initiative is trying to solve or what
>barrier
>> it's trying to remove...
>>
>> I run an internal innovation fund [1] within MSF and so have some
>thoughts
>> on how these things can work. In this case the make up of the
>committee is
>> pretty important. Because it's an early stage innovation thing, the
>> committee needs to include decision makers (to make sure that, if a
>project
>> is successful, there is some buy in for resourcing further
>development or
>> scaling), and subject matter experts (to be able to assess the
>feasibility,
>> potential impact and ambition of proposals). However, it is also
>important
>> that in those selection discussions, the 'softer' aims of the fund
>are not
>> forgotten (democratisation of opportunity, cultural change, etc). I
>am not
>> suggesting this as a model for OSM microgrants - just making the
>point that
>> the committee and the selection process need to be designed to meet
>the
>> objectives of the initiative.
>>
>> In terms of reporting, I agree this should not be laborious.
>>
>> On the admin side, I would suggest a simple template for recording
>> expenses to make sure there is transparency around where the money is
>spent
>> (this maybe just shared back with the committee).
>>
>> In terms of sharing outcomes, lessons learnt, etc I think it should
>depend
>> on what the microgrant was for. What we have learnt is that project
>leads
>> and the wider MSF community benefit more when communication happens
>> throughout the process rather than just at the end (has leveraged
>increased
>> collaboration, expertise and buy in). This is usually done through
>blogs
>> [2]. Maybe an OSM diary at the start by each grantee to set the
>scene?
>>
>> Hope that helps.... Happy to continue the conversation...
>>
>> Pete
>>
>> [1] https://www.msf.org.uk/sapling-nursery-grow-your-ideas
>> [2] http://blogs.msf.org/en/staff/blogs/msf-innovation
>>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Sep 28, 2018 at 8:32 AM Simon Poole <simon at poole.ch> wrote:
>>
>>> I'm very confused by the document.
>>>
>>> I was expecting to be able to give constructive feedback on at least
>a
>>> semi-complete plan containing a couple of high level goals and a
>rough
>>> delineation of the groups/people/projects that could be potential
>grant
>>> recipients. As is, it essentially boils down to a "somebody should
>write a
>>> Microgrant programme document for us" plea. Your e-mail has more
>substance
>>> that the document, and aiming to let manna rain in a months time is
>lets
>>> say, optimistic, based on the current state of things. You may be
>able to
>>> charter a plane for the throwing out of the window bit by then.
>>>
>>> Simon
>>>
>>> Am 20.09.2018 um 22:49 schrieb Mikel Maron:
>>>
>>> Hello
>>>
>>> The OSM Foundation Board has been exploring a new Microgrant
>program, and
>>> we are seeking your feedback on the design of this new initiative.
>>>
>>> The overall objective is to enable individuals and teams with
>actionable
>>> ideas for moving OpenStreetMap forward, but need financial support
>to fully
>>> execute those ideas. Grants could cover events, travel, development,
>>> teaching, outreach, community engagement, documentation, to give
>just a few
>>> examples. We are looking at programs like Wikimedia RapidGrants [1]
>and
>>> HOT Microgrants [2] as a model: a quick, transparent process with
>low
>>> barriers to entry, open to OSMF members. We are targeting a €50k
>total
>>> budget for the inaugural round.
>>>
>>> We have written up some of our thinking at this time on the OSMF
>wiki [3].
>>> Some topics that have generated a lot of thinking and could use more
>input
>>> are:
>>>
>>>    -
>>>
>>>    What is the composition of the selection committee? What criteria
>and
>>>    process should we use to form it?
>>>    -
>>>
>>>    What criteria and process should we use to rate and select
>proposals?
>>>    -
>>>
>>>    Is there a role for Local Chapters in the selection process?
>>>    -
>>>
>>>    What shapes can reporting on microgrants take, that is not overly
>>>    laborious but informative for the OSM Community.
>>>
>>>
>>> Look forward to reading your thoughts and ideas. The Board will be
>>> collecting feedback over the next couple weeks, and working to
>finalize
>>> guidelines over the next month. We plan to launch microgrants
>applications
>>> next month. Applications would be open for 1-2 months (tbd). Our aim
>would
>>> be to complete selection process and begin dispersals before the end
>of
>>> 2018.
>>>
>>> Thank you
>>>
>>> Mikel and OSMF Board of Directors
>>> 1) https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Project/Rapid
>>> 2)
>https://www.hotosm.org/projects/microgrants_and_community_development
>>> 3)
>https://wiki.osmfoundation.org/wiki/Microgrants_Consultation_document
>>>
>>>
>>> * Mikel Maron * +14152835207 @mikel s:mikelmaron
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> *Pete Masters*
>>
>> *@pedrito1414* <https://twitter.com/TheMissingMaps>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>

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