[foundation-board] OKFN-DE funding proposal take two

[Laura James]

All,

The OKFN-DE team have provided a revised proposal for funds.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tGLcDNAL4eZ_FnOXEayqK6K0c48X_IV2VD-H4GLuSYM/editThey
request funds greater than the seed funding limit agreed yesterday.
In informal discussions Friedrich tells me that the individual projects in
the proposal could be funded separately, though. Nonetheless, they are keen
to secure some sort of support as before, and have asked for a quick
response one way or the other.  If the board have any questions, OKFN-DE
would be happy to have a conference call to answer them.

*personal viewpoint* Having talked through a previous version of this
proposal with the OKFN DE team, where I gave quite a lot of constructive
feedback, this proposal leaves me a little disappointed overall, as it has
not notably improved in rigour or clarity, or consideration of
sustainability and risk (eg what happens if the funding or projects are not
successful). My recommendation would be that the board agree to immediately
fund one or two specific projects (eg open government kick start E18k
possibly plus Frag Den Staat platform expansion, E6k), and that we then
attempt to work more closely with OKFN-DE to prepare a more solid looking
proposal for other elements of funds, or to support other fundraising. I
suggest those two projects because they are lower risk and well aligned
with OKFN-DE strengths, whilst also being nice ones in terms of building
capacity and interest locally which should help with further fundraising. A
quick offer of some funds should motivate the group and get things moving,
and reduce the risk that the group falls apart.

I'm aware the proposal is complex and that we could end up with a long
discussion via email. As such, I propose that the board mail me directly
with suggested resolutions/actions on this funding proposal in the next day
or two, which I can then compile into a set of options for voting.

Laura



(Further information from Friedrich:

LJ : What is "overhead of revenue" in the table of funding amounts? If it
is just a 20% cut of each project, what is that used for?

FL: It's part of Daniels somewhat weird calculation which you can see on
page 20: externally funded projects get 20% deducted, which are then
used for core functions. The rest of the core functions funding is
then requested from chapter funds. I wanted to just put 20% on the
proposals and make core overhead-only, but that didn't go through.
It's also based on the assumption that all project will get funded,
which may not hold true.  )




-- 

Dr Laura James
Foundation Coordinator, Open Knowledge Foundation

http://okfn.org
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