Erik Moeller wrote:
They don't care about whose name is attached to the contract. They care that WMF wants this to go ahead. Many organizations will be the same way: "Oh, Wikimedia wants 5000 EUR for this project? Sure, we'll help! Oh, you want us to deal with these guys over there to keep the overhead low? Sure, can do!" We can and should define a size of contract where things cannot be handled this way anymore, of course.
I will never allow you to use the Wikimedia Foundation name to raise money for a project with no written proposal, no budget, no professionalism, just "trust us, it's a cool idea".
At the present time, this project has moved quite properly beyond that stage, with good people having reviewed it, details having been worked out, etc. Super. But short-cutting that process would not lead us to have dozens or hundreds of great projects, it would lead us to complete and total scandal and ruin, as people like Kennisnet would discover that the Wikimedia Foundation saying 'yes' to a project means no more than backscratching someone we like.
--Jimbo