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MOSS: Difference between revisions
FAQ wordsmithing
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;What does it mean to “champion” a project for a MOSS Award? | ;What does it mean to “champion” a project for a MOSS Award? | ||
: Being a champion means you believe in the project and its impact. You believe that funds from a MOSS Award would make a meaningful difference in the success and effectiveness of the project. And you believe the range of funds requested in the Award proposal is appropriate. In the case of the “give | : Being a champion means you believe in the project and its impact. You believe that funds from a MOSS Award would make a meaningful difference in the success and effectiveness of the project. And you believe the range of funds requested in the Award proposal is appropriate. In the case of the “give back” category of awards you should also also believe that project has meaningful impact on Mozilla’s work. | ||
: A champion | : A champion does a few different things: | ||
* sponsors the project’s award proposal | * sponsors the project’s award proposal (it is akin to vouching for someone); | ||
* serves as the liaison between that project and Mozilla with regard to the award and hopefully ongoing interaction | * serves as the liaison between that project and Mozilla with regard to the award and hopefully ongoing interaction; | ||
* reviews the effectiveness of the award funds after an agreed | * reviews the effectiveness of the award funds after an agreed upon period, to help Mozilla improve the effectiveness and impact of the MOSS program. | ||
;What if the project I care most about doesn’t have a legal organizational home? I see this is disfavored and exceptional circumstances are required. What might count as "exceptional"? | ;What if the project I care most about doesn’t have a legal organizational home? I see this is disfavored and exceptional circumstances are required. What might count as "exceptional"? | ||
: You tell us. If a project doesn't have a legal organizational home, we will be handing a large sum of money to an individual with only limited accountability. This means a higher level of complexity and risk. So you need to describe why it's reasonable and important for us to accept that additional risk. We will listen because Mozilla is a pretty flexible organization, but we can’t promise the result will be as you hope. | : You tell us. If a project doesn't have a legal organizational home, we will be handing a large sum of money to an individual with only limited accountability. This means a higher level of complexity and risk. So you need to describe why it's reasonable and important for us to accept that additional risk. We will listen because Mozilla is a pretty flexible organization, but we can’t promise the result will be as you hope. | ||
;How can I get started while the terms of the application and evaluation process are being finalized? | ;How can I, as a Mozillian, get started while the terms of the application and evaluation process are being finalized? | ||
: Here are some things you can do immediately: | : Here are some things you can do immediately: | ||
* Do some due diligence with | * Do some due diligence with other community members. Find out if others share your sense of a project’s impact. | ||
* Identify a contact inside the project who is a good person | * Identify a contact inside the project who is a good person to talk to about such things. Not every project needs funds all the time. Explore whether there is a current need within the project that could be met with a MOSS award. If there is such a need then turn to exploring the size of the amount. Think about the impact that could occur at several different ranges of money. | ||
* If you find a project you care about has other types of needs, note that in the project list | * If you find a project you care about has other types of needs, note that in the project list above. We aren't yet thinking about non-financial support, but we may do that in the future. | ||
* If you are interested in participating in the finalization of the program criteria, join the discussion. | * If you are interested in participating in the finalization of the program criteria, join the discussion. | ||
;Can I get help with thinking about or preparing a proposal? I’m not that practiced at figuring out ranges of funding, or I’d like help in thinking about the need. | ;Can I get help with thinking about or preparing a proposal? I’m not that practiced at figuring out ranges of funding, or I’d like help in thinking about the need. | ||
: So far we have two identified mentors: | : So far we have two identified mentors: [https://blog.mozilla.org/press/bios/david-bryant/ David Bryant] and [https://mozillians.org/en-US/u/pfinette/ Pascal Finette]. David is obviously clueful about software, and he’s also signed on to assist with the topics of project needs, possible solutions and appropriate amounts. For those of you who don’t know Pascal, he launched [http://webfwd.org WebFWD] when he was a Mozilla employee and now runs Singularity University’s [http://startup.singularityu.org/accelerator/ accelerator program]. Pascal has a long history and an abiding love of working with people to build things. He has great expertise in this type of task, matching by his abiding interest in contributing to Mozilla. We’ll look into adding to this list. | ||
;Is there an amount of an award that is expected? Or a size that is too big or too small? | ;Is there an amount of an award that is expected? Or a size that is too big or too small? | ||
: In the next week we expect to identify a range within which we prefer the Awards proposals | : In the next week we expect to identify a range within which we prefer the Awards proposals land, and to have some guidance what to do if you believe an Award really should be smaller or larger. At the moment, we are looking at a minimum of $10,000, and a maximum of $250,000. | ||
;What’s the evaluation process? | ;What’s the evaluation process? | ||
: That’s | : That’s being worked out. Input welcome. | ||
;What’s happening by [[Coincidental_work_weeks/2015_Orlando|Orlando]]? | ;What’s happening by [[Coincidental_work_weeks/2015_Orlando|Orlando]]? | ||
: Identification of the first set of projects we want to celebrate and fund. This way we can make the program tangible while we are together. | : Identification of the first set of projects we want to celebrate and fund. This way we can make the program tangible while we are together. | ||
;How does the $1 million work? Does it all get allocated at Orlando? How does the $1 | ;How does the $1 million work? Does it all get allocated at Orlando? How does the $1 million figure interact with the “up to 10 projects” goal? | ||
: The $1 million is the initial allocation for the MOSS Awards. We will evaluate the program as we go. It is our hope and expectation that the program provides value to the recipients and the Open Source ecosystem, and we expect to make additional allocations to the MOSS Awards in the future. | : The $1 million is the initial allocation for the MOSS Awards. We will evaluate the program as we go. It is our hope and expectation that the program provides value to the recipients and the Open Source ecosystem, and we expect to make additional allocations to the MOSS Awards in the future. | ||
: We want to focus on making up to 10 good awards, to projects we think are great, and where an award can make a real difference, and where we’ve had time to interact with the project and its leadership. More than 10 is difficult to impossible to do well before Orlando. Indeed, 10 may be more than we can | : We want to focus on making up to 10 good awards, to projects we think are great, and where an award can make a real difference, and where we’ve had time to interact with the project and its leadership. More than 10 is difficult to impossible to do well before Orlando. Indeed, 10 may turn out to be more than we can manage. | ||
: It is conceivable that the 10 awards could use the entire first $1 million allocation, but this is not a goal and unlikely. | : It is conceivable that the 10 awards could use the entire first $1 million allocation, but this is not a goal, and seems unlikely. | ||
;How can I stay informed and involved with this work? | ;How can I stay informed and involved with this work? | ||
: Please join | : Please join the MOSS [https://mail.mozilla.org/listinfo/moss public mailing list]. | ||
;This program seems unfinished right now. Why are you launching it in this state? | ;This program seems unfinished right now. Why are you launching it in this state? | ||
: The foundational elements are clear. We are going to invest in the open source and free software projects. We are going to start with a significant amount of money. We will start with open source and free software project that Mozilla is relying on. This is a crisp, clear criteria and a good way to start our larger program. We have an aggressive timeframe for a first set of grants to demonstrate we mean action. | : The foundational elements are clear. We are going to invest in the open source and free software projects. We are going to start with a significant amount of money. We will start with open source and free software project that Mozilla is relying on. This is a crisp, clear criteria and a good way to start our larger program. We have an aggressive timeframe for a first set of grants to demonstrate we mean action. | ||
: Once the foundations | : Once we got the foundations clear, we could have taken a couple of different approaches. One would have been to go off and create a fully polished program where we’ve already decided exactly how things will work. Another approach is to present the program while there is real room for your ideas, and for the cluefulness that is spread through Mozilla to make a program that represents all of us. | ||
: I | : I (Mitchell) have chosen the latter approach. The cynical of you may say “hah, time is short, and that favors announcing this before all the terms are finalized.” You are correct that time is short. However, the latter approach also reflects our view that many Mozilla activities are better when people of different perspectives and unexpected expertise and interest are involved. We hope you prove us right! | ||