On Sun, Nov 23, 2014 at 11:21 PM, pajz pajzmail@gmail.com wrote:
One more question on a somewhat different subject, if you allow: I was wondering about your suggestion (to WMDE in this case, or to other chapters as well?) to fund some projects (in this case Wikidata) outside of the FDC process. Is this borne out of a general strategic consideration of the FDC or is this something specific to the Wikidata project? In WMDE's case it sounds a bit, well, dangerous from the chapter's perspective (obviously if one moves the one big "success" out of the ordinary FDC process, this gives the FDC completely free hand in setting next year's allocation at no risk of endangering the continued success of Wikidata), but generally speaking it does sound like an interesting approach if you're considering this for other projects as well. I'm just asking because I haven't heard of such a funding scheme before, and it doesn't seem to fit in any of the existing grants programs of the WMF, right?
I don't think we're advocating removal of Wikidata from the FDC scheme per
se, but I myself would like for us (as a movement) to be able to target best projects and guarantee their undisturbed financing. This can definitely go through the FDC, in a multi-year funding scheme, when it is precise enough (this round we've decided that we need more detail for this to work). Ideally (and I'm talking about ideas, not a current structure), we should be able to say that part (a) of the proposal is excellent and we know for sure that should get funding for many years ahead (this could be because of operational excellence, like WIkidata, but also even for small, mundane and repeatable projects of small chapters, this would also allow them to apply e.g. every two years if they basically do the same, proven stuff), part (b) is ambiguous and we do not recommend funding it (although the chapter can do as they please), part (c) is fine, but should be part of a regular, year-to-year application, and part (d) in our view should be scratched.
best,
dariusz "pundit"
best,
dj