Hello Arun Ganesh,

Thank you for your response. These are baby steps and without 80g exemption available, it is considered difficult to raise funds locally. Nevertheless, this is an attempt to test unknown waters and we hope for a positive outcome.

With regards to the budget, it was shared at the last AGM. As for the plan for funds raised via the fundraiser, they will be used to pay staff and hire an office. Our FAQ will be updated to reflect this.

As for the program plan, we have notified the list about an IRC, scheduled 11 Febrauary. We have planned an EC meeting in the 3rd week of February, during which we aim to finalise the plan for the upcoming financial year. Through the IRC we aim to include community ideas and suggestions.

On Sat, Feb 2, 2013 at 12:12 PM, Arun Ramarathnam <arunram25@gmail.com> wrote:
Arun,

I suggest the FAQ only talk about the what the contributions would be used for....
I think that should be adequate.

regards
Arun





On Sat, Feb 2, 2013 at 9:04 AM, Arun Ganesh <arun.planemad@gmail.com> wrote:
Karthik, could you add relevant links on what the budget and plan is to the wiki page? The only info available there is how one can donate and none on why you should donate.

For anyone who does not know what the Wikimedia India - WIkimedia Foundation - WIkipedia connection is, there is a insufficient context to motivate a person to donate.




On Fri, Feb 1, 2013 at 9:36 PM, Karthik Nadar <karthikndr@wikimedia.in> wrote:
Cross posting to reach mass, apologies if you have already read this!

Dear all,

On the second anniversary of the Chapter, we made public our intention of running our first fundraiser. Going ahead with the first phase of this plan, we will be running a central site notice on the chapter website for a period of two calendar months starting 1 February, 2013. In the second phase of this plan, we aim to approach high networth individuals and corporates in the month of March 2013. This will be done using personal and professional networks of current and past EC members, staff, volunteers among others.

Suggestions, help and support from the community on what we can do to ensure success of this fundraiser are welcome. Every drop counts :)

Donations can be made by Online Bank Transfer (NEFT/RTGS) or by sending us a Cheque through snail mail. We are unable to accept card payments at this current time. Link to the donation page on our website: http://wiki.wikimedia.in/Donate

Thanking you,
Executive Committee,
Wikimedia India.

*Reasoning* (From our public statement on 4 January, 2013)

A lot of people may ask why the chapter needs a fundraiser when it has access to WMF funding. The answer is, we are still ineligible for FDC of WMF (we hope to be eligible for the second round of funding in 2013) and would need to rely on grants, spending of which is restricted by the WMF. Since formation, the chapter has relied heavily on the Executive Committee to take on the burden of running the show. In an ideal world, the EC would like to take on the role of guiding the chapter rather than actually be responsible for operations after two years of incorporation, which should be best done by professionals rather than volunteers in their spare time.

The chapter has hired an employee (Sowmyan Tirumurti, our Executive Manager) as well as plans to lease its own office premises in Bangalore. We will need the help of those volunteers who are in a position to support us. It could be a small individual donation or in the form of a corporate donation from an institution. A small token of support from you could go a long way in helping us achieving our goals of furthering the movement in India.



--
Thanks and regards,
Karthik Nadar,
Secretary, Wikimedia India Chapter.

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Arun Ganesh

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--
Thanks and regards,
Karthik Nadar, 
Secretary, Wikimedia India Chapter.