One of my user groups met this past week and had a discussion about what we need, and Mehrdad in the Strategy Team was able to join us. One thing became very clear — there is a short timeframe remaining for affiliates to identify areas of need and interest
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Strategy/Wikimedia_movement/2018-20/Transition/List_of_Initiatives and submit requests for funding next year. There are various regional efforts in process to help move this along, but we are thematic and non-regional, so may otherwise fall through the cracks so to speak if we do not somehow identify 2 or 3 needs we have, aligned with the Movement Strategy, that could benefit from funding over the next 12-18 months.
It seems if affiliates do not use this time to actively identify needs and request funds, we will miss out on them through this process.