[Wikimedia-l] Fwd: FDC recommendations on funds allocation, Round 1, 2012-13

Thu Nov 15 22:28:37 UTC 2012

Hi Dariusz,

I do not doubt the seriousness and dedication of the committee. I do regret
the bad precedent set here (as a movement member) that the committee
doesn't specify in sufficient detail the reasons how these major budget
decisions have been made. If the 120% played a role, please specify that.
If there are confidential reasons (which will be sent to the board & the
applicant?), state so. Etc.

Some people told me that the other reasons were obvious if I would have
read the plans. I strongly disagree that reading the proposals should be
necessary to understand the decision of the FDC.

I sincerely hope for improvement in this area. It would be sad if the FDC
would not be as transparent in its arguments as it could be. If you're
unwilling to make this improvement at this point (since all FDC members
would probably have to agree) I at least hope you take this as feedback for
the next round.

Kind regards,
Lodewijk

2012/11/15 Dariusz Jemielniak <darekj at alk.edu.pl>

> hi Lodewijk,
>
> I think it is clear that "not trusting them with the money" was not the
> case with any of the chapters. We have not been relying just on one
> technicality of 120%, but also taking into account the size of the
> organization, the actual project (specifically, if the growth was justified
> either by extraordinary circumstances or  by the early stage of
> development, which we considered more valid than just rapid growth, which
> is often considered as as dangerous as a wind-down), the financial
> reserves, etc.
>
> In case of budget reductions, we've been very careful to make sure that
> chapters do not have to close shop, and in the cases where it seemed
> appropriate, we suggested making an exception and going for Round 2. When
> larger cuts were considered, we always had the previous annual budget in
> mind as a reference point (sometimes pro-rated per month).
>
> best,
>
> dj
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Nov 15, 2012 at 9:29 PM, Lodewijk <lodewijk at effeietsanders.org>wrote:
>
>> Hi Dariusz,
>>
>> it would probably be helpful if it were indicated when the 120% cap was
>> used as the sole reason to reduce the amount. Could you still add that to
>> the arguments? That would make it much more insightful. I was personally
>> under the impression the maximum was 150% by the way, but that information
>> might have been outdated. Then it is at least clear that a technicality is
>> the sole cause for your rejection of part of their budget (and could
>> potentially form ground for the chapter to ask the board to make an
>> exception - it would be quite different if the reasons were because you
>> didn't trust them with the money etc).
>>
>> But for example in the case of Wikimedia France I guess the 120% cap was
>> not the reason you only allocated 10% of the amount they requested. I find
>> the reasoning in their case quite poor for such a major decision which
>> could potentially mean that people get fired and the organization has to
>> scale down significantly. I'm confident that you had very good and in depth
>> discussions about this, but this is not reflected in the recommendation in
>> their specific case. I guess this might be the case for a few more
>> applications.
>>
>> I don't want to go to a specific case here, but just want to illustrate
>> why I feel the arguments are poorly presented. Since you did go into such
>> great discussion, I feel it would be a waste of your efforts if the
>> arguments are so shallow.
>>
>> I am still hopeful you will change your mind, and add more reasoning to
>> the cases.
>>
>> Kind regards,
>>
>> Lodewijk
>>
>>
>> 2012/11/15 Dariusz Jemielniak <darekj at alk.edu.pl>
>>
>>> hi Lodewijk,
>>>
>>> first, this is basically a recommendation for the Board, not the final
>>> allocation. However, regarding your specific question: We are not planning
>>> on providing further detailed responses - we have already offered a great
>>> many details in our overall recommendations in terms of process and
>>> methodology.
>>>
>>> Per the fact that some organizations "got so much less than they
>>> requested": please, keep in mind that there was a suggested 120% maximum
>>> budget growth capping, and also that WCA membership fees have been deducted
>>> for everyone (but not other WCA-related costs), as WCA may apply for FDC
>>> funding directly (or choose a different model, once it is decided, and the
>>> organization incorporated).
>>>
>>> Also, our recommendations make it very clear that smaller entities,
>>> which were making significant leaps in maturity tended to get most of what
>>> they asked for, while entities which are medium to large, staffed and
>>> already on a clear growth path, were looked at with even greater rigor in
>>> terms of sustainable and appropriate plans (also because of the budget
>>> sizes). Small entities are often going from no/part-time staff to a
>>> full-staff position, which can increase the budget (as compared to the
>>> previous year) significantly, but cannot be avoided. Larger entities can
>>> grow more harmoniously.
>>>
>>> best,
>>>
>>> dariusz
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Nov 15, 2012 at 8:05 PM, Lodewijk <lodewijk at effeietsanders.org>wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> From the arguments, I had a hard time to understand why some
>>>> organizations got so much less than they requested, and some got every
>>>> single dollar. I assume more detailed arguments will follow?
>>>>
>>>> Kind regards,
>>>> Lodewijk
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 2012/11/15 Jan-Bart de Vreede <jdevreede at wikimedia.org>
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Everyone
>>>>>
>>>>> Rather than repeat everything I would like to point you to a blog post
>>>>> created earlier today.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> http://blog.wikimedia.org/2012/11/15/fdc-process-milestone-sharing-wikimedia-movement-funds/
>>>>>
>>>>> I do want to take the opportunity to once again thank all those
>>>>> involved in this first round, including all the participating chapters. As
>>>>> expressed earlier: this is the future of our funds dissemination and we
>>>>> will refine the process, but this first round has exceeded my expectations
>>>>> on all levels. Thanks everyone!
>>>>>
>>>>> Jan-Bart
>>>>> (who now goes digging in the attic for some barn stars....)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 15 Nov 2012, at 19:38, Dariusz Jemielniak <darekj at alk.edu.pl>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>>>>> > From: Dariusz Jemielniak <darekj at alk.edu.pl>
>>>>> > Date: Thu, Nov 15, 2012 at 7:25 PM
>>>>> > Subject: FDC recommendations on funds allocation, Round 1, 2012-13
>>>>> > To: wikimediaannounce-l at lists.wikimedia.org
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> > The inaugural Funds Dissemination Committee (FDC) is pleased to
>>>>> announce
>>>>> > recommendations [1] on Round 1 of funds allocations for the year
>>>>> 2012-13.
>>>>> > The WMF Board of Trustees will make a decision on these
>>>>> recommendations by
>>>>> > December 15, 2012.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > The FDC received proposals from 12 movement entities for Round 1 for
>>>>> a
>>>>> > total requested amount of 10.4 million USD. These proposals were
>>>>> from 11
>>>>> > Wikimedia chapters and the Wikimedia Foundation. Three proposals were
>>>>> > received after the deadline of 1 October had passed, but the FDC
>>>>> decided
>>>>> > that since it was the first time for the process, the late proposals
>>>>> would
>>>>> > be accepted and discussed. Since the proposal deadline, the FDC and
>>>>> FDC
>>>>> > support staff have spent many hours reviewing and assessing these
>>>>> proposals
>>>>> > to determine a set of allocations that would best support movement
>>>>> goals.
>>>>> > This assessment included a 4-day in-person deliberation session in
>>>>> San
>>>>> > Francisco over the period October 28-31, where the FDC members
>>>>> discussed
>>>>> > the proposals in depth and determined allocation amounts for each
>>>>> applying
>>>>> > entity.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > The FDC recognizes that this is not a perfect process, and that the
>>>>> process
>>>>> > and the outcome will improve over time as we learn more about what
>>>>> works in
>>>>> > the movement and what drives impact. We invite the community to
>>>>> provide
>>>>> > overall feedback on these recommendations on the talk page for these
>>>>> > recommendations [2] and to provide feedback about the FDC process
>>>>> on-wiki
>>>>> > to the Ombudsperson [3], who will collect this feedback and use it
>>>>> in our
>>>>> > continuous improvement process. For formal complaints about the
>>>>> > recommendations, there is a separate process, outlined below.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > If any entity has a complaint about the FDC's recommendation, it
>>>>> should be
>>>>> > submitted by 23:59 UTC on 22 November 2012 in accordance with the
>>>>> complaint
>>>>> > process outlined in the Framework for the Creation and Initial
>>>>> Operation of
>>>>> > the FDC [4]:
>>>>> >
>>>>> >   - The complaint should be in the form of a 500-or-fewer word
>>>>> summary
>>>>> >   directed to the two non-voting WMF Board representatives on the FDC
>>>>> >   (Jan-Bart and Patricio)
>>>>> >   - The complaint should be submitted on-wiki, through the FDC
>>>>> portal page
>>>>> >   designated for this purpose [5]
>>>>> >   - These board representatives will present the complaint to the WMF
>>>>> >   Board at the same time it considers the FDC recommendation.
>>>>> >   - Formal complaints can be submitted only by the Board Chair of a
>>>>> >   funding-seeking entity.
>>>>> >   - Formal complaints must be filed within seven days of the
>>>>> submission of
>>>>> >   the FDC slate of recommendations to the WMF Board (by end of day
>>>>> UTC
>>>>> >   November 22)
>>>>> >   - Any planned or approved disbursements to the organization filing
>>>>> a
>>>>> >   complaint will be put on hold until the complaint is resolved.
>>>>> >   - If the WMF Board's consideration of the complaint results in an
>>>>> >   amendment of the FDC's recommendations (which is expected only in
>>>>> >   extraordinary circumstances), the WMF Board may choose to release
>>>>> extra
>>>>> >   funds from the WMF reserves to provide additional funds not
>>>>> allocated by
>>>>> >   the FDC's initial recommendation.
>>>>> >   - Other members of the WMF Board may participate in the
>>>>> investigation if
>>>>> >   approved by the Chair of the WMF Board.
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> > on behalf of the FDC
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Dariusz Jemielniak (Chair)
>>>>> >
>>>>> > [1]
>>>>> >
>>>>> http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/FDC_portal/FDC_recommendations/2012-2013_round1
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> > [2]
>>>>> >
>>>>> http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:FDC_portal/FDC_recommendations/2012-2013_round1
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> > [3]
>>>>> http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/FDC_portal/Appeals_regarding_FDC_process
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> > [4]
>>>>> >
>>>>> http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Funds_Dissemination_Committee/Framework_for_the_Creation_and_Initial_Operation_of_the_FDC#Complaint_submission_process
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> > [5]
>>>>> >
>>>>> http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/FDC_portal/Complaints_regarding_FDC_recommendations_to_the_board
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> > --
>>>>> >
>>>>> > __________________________
>>>>> > dr hab. Dariusz Jemielniak
>>>>> > profesor zarządzania
>>>>> > kierownik katedry Zarządzania Międzynarodowego
>>>>> > i centrum badawczego CROW
>>>>> > Akademia Leona Koźmińskiego
>>>>> > http://www.crow.alk.edu.pl
>>>>> > _______________________________________________
>>>>> > Wikimedia-l mailing list
>>>>> > Wikimedia-l at lists.wikimedia.org
>>>>> > Unsubscribe:
>>>>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> __________________________
>>> dr hab. Dariusz Jemielniak
>>> profesor zarządzania
>>> kierownik katedry Zarządzania Międzynarodowego
>>> i centrum badawczego CROW
>>> Akademia Leona Koźmińskiego
>>> http://www.crow.alk.edu.pl
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
>
> __________________________
> dr hab. Dariusz Jemielniak
> profesor zarządzania
> kierownik katedry Zarządzania Międzynarodowego
> i centrum badawczego CROW
> Akademia Leona Koźmińskiego
> http://www.crow.alk.edu.pl
>