Project grants

This grants process is currently being drafted; it will be formally announced soon. Mike Peel 16:47, 8 June 2010 (UTC)

Potential uses

Travel funds to get to conferences, important events, museums, archives, libraries, etc.

Potential purposes: for outreach, to carry out research, to take photographs of specific objects, to investigate partnership possibilities (e.g. between Wikimedia and museums).
Priority for those with a history of improving the topic on Wikimedia websites (should be demonstrated), and for those with closer geographical proximity
May cover train fares, private car journeys at the cost of petrol (15p/mile), ferry journeys, etc. May also cover low-cost accommodation and registration fees.
Will not cover taxis, traveling in first class, or other subsistence costs

Purchase of books and other information sources

Potential purposes: making information in the books available in Wikipedia articles (with citations)
Rationale needed as to why they aren't available for free via libraries etc.
WMUK retains ownership of the books etc.

Purchase of enabling objects

e.g. microphones for recording audio wikipedia / wikinews / etc. articles; scanners for scanning in books and other documents; cameras for intensive work photographing collections / locations; video recorders for recording events and locations
Application should also consider insurance and extended warranties to ensure longer useful lifetimes for the objects.
WMUK retains ownership of the items.

Funds for supporting Wiki-related events

Above as examples only; very open to other ideas.

Things that won't be considered:

Should make a brief (1-2 paragraphs long) report on what the funds were used for, and what the benefits were
Should provide evidence of the benefits (e.g. link to new articles and diffs)
Useful strategic contacts with organizations/individuals should be fed back to WMUK
WMUK will do an annual audit (at the start of each calendar year) to track objects owned by it

From £5 to £100. Larger grant applicationss are also encouraged, but will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis independently of this microgrant process (i.e. out of opportunity funds)
Priority will be given to WMUK members. Or insist that you have to be a WMUK member? (precedent: the Royal Astronomical Society grants scheme is available only to RAS members)
Items can be purchased by WMUK and posted to specified addresses, or expense claims with receipts can be filed after the purchase (no advance provision of money, due to lack of accountability)
Have £1,000 allocated; should aim to spend this at a constant-ish rate (rather than leaving spending until the end of the budget, or concentrating it all at the start)
- If demand is sufficiently high, then opportunity funding can also be used, but needs whole board approval
Individuals can file as many microgrant applications as they like, but only 1(?) application should be in progress at any one time.
Should applications be restricted to UK-based individuals? Should probably restrict to GBP only due to inefficiencies in converting money to other currencies / transferring money internationally.

Applications submitted on this wiki, or by email?
Applications received and approved by 2 board members; budget delegated to them to allocate (one of which should be the treasurer, for obvious reasons)
- Could also involve members in the approval process?
If applications are novel, or if the 2 board members are unsure or disagree, then the rest of the board is involved by email, or at the next board meeting
Approvals are reported at the next board meetings
Have calls for applications at specified times (e.g. every 3 months, £250 available at each peried), or have it ongoing? Up to the board members involved, depending on whether they want a continual process of approval or approving in batches?