Dear Wikimedia Colleagues:

We are pleased to announce initial eligibility of applicants submitting a Letter of Intent for 2015-2016 Round 1 of the Annual Plan Grants / FDC process. Only applicants confirmed as eligible by 15 September 2015 may submit proposals to the Funds Dissemination Committee by the 1 October 2015 proposal deadline. We have published the initial eligibility checklist here, so that applicants may review eligibility before it is confirmed on 15 September 2015: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:APG/Eligibility/2015-2016_round1.

Of the eighteen organizations submitting Letters of Intent, thirteen are already considered eligible provided they continue to meet eligibility requirements throughout the duration of the FDC process, and three could be considered eligible if all eligibility gaps listed in this table are met by the 15 September 2015 deadline. Two organizations are not eligible to submit applications in the upcoming round.

During the next two months, FDC staff will work with all potential applicants to make sure eligibility requirements are clear and to form plans together to meet these requirements by the confirmation deadline. Once applicants are confirmed by WMF staff as eligible, they must continue to meet these requirements throughout the duration of the Annual Plan Grants / FDC process.

Please expect another update once eligibility is finally confirmed on 15 September 2015, leading up to the 1 October 2015 proposal deadline. Proposal forms will be available by 1 September 2015.

Here is a breakdown of upcoming milestones for 2015-2016 Round 1, which you may also find here: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:APG/Calendar.

* Eligibility confirmed: 15 September 2015

* Proposals due: by 1 October 2015

* Community review: 1 October 2015 - 30 October 2015

* Staff assessments published: by 8 November 2015

* FDC deliberations: middle of November 2015

* FDC recommendation published: by 1 December 2015

* Board decision: by 1 January 2016

* Start of new grant terms: 1 January 2016

We welcome your questions or comments about the Annual Plan Grants / FDC process at any time: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:APG/Comments. Feel free also to reach out to us over email at FDCstaff@wikimedia.org. We would be happy to speak with any organization about specific questions they may have about eligibility.

Best regards from FDC staff!

Winifred Olliff

Program Officer

Wikimedia Foundation