Mozilla is a part of the Open Source and Free Software movement. We were born out of this movement. We prosper because of the technology and activism which comes from this movement. And we know that Open Source and Free Software remains a key part of the Internet and the online life we seek to build. We have had an ad-hoc grants program for many years. MOSS is a systematic way to provide a new level of support to this community.
The Mozilla Open Source Support program is designed to recognize and celebrate communities who are leading the way with open source projects that contribute to our work and the health of the Web. It will encompass both: a) encompasses a “give back” element for Open Source and Free Software projects that Mozilla relies on; and b(the "Foundational Technology" track) , a “give forward” element for supporting other projects where financial resources from Mozilla can make our entire community more successful. We will identify crisp names whose goals are in alignment with ours (the "Mission Partners" track), and an element for these elements as we go forwardimproving the security of the open source ecosystem (the "Secure Open Source" track).
Currently, only the "give back" element * MOSS Track 1 - [[MOSS/Foundational Technology|Foundational Technology]]* MOSS Track 2 - [[MOSS/Mission Partners|Mission Partners]] (a.k.a. "Projects Mozilla Relies On" not yet active)* MOSS Track 3 - still looking for a name) is active, and the information below relates to that.[[MOSS/Secure Open Source|Secure Open Source]]
=="Projects Mozilla Relies On"==To stay informed about and involved with this work, please join the MOSS [https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/forums/#moss discussion forum].
==Mozilla relies on [[MOSS/Projects_in_use_by_Mozilla|a number of open source and free software projects]] (please help fill out that list). In some cases the software produced by these projects is incorporated into Mozilla products. In other cases we rely on as part of our infrastructure or to get our jobs done. Champions==
===Project Criteria===For the "Foundational Technology" track, and perhaps later for other tracks, applications need to be jointly submitted by the project and a Mozilla Champion. A Champion is an established member of the Mozilla community who knows the project concerned. 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. You believe the range of funds requested in the Award proposal is appropriate. And you believe that the project and/or the task fit the award criteria for the track you are applying for.
Projects which Mozilla uses or relies on and who are in need of funds are welcome to apply for an award. Awards should be jointly submitted by the leader of A champion does a project and an established Mozillian who will champion the award. The project/people need to meet the following criteriafew different things:
* Award requests should be for the amount of financial support that helps accomplish a clear and current project goal. Projects that don’t have a need for funds at this time can be considered when such a need arises. A $10,000 award request is just as valid as a $50,000 or $100,000 request.
* The money must be used to benefit the project, but it does not have to be used on things which themselves would directly benefit Mozilla.
* The project’s home can be anywhere in the world where we can make payment without undue burden. We have a reasonably strong preference for funding legal organizations rather than individuals representing projects, although exceptional circumstances could lead to some flexibility.
* The Mozillian champion may be (but does not need to be) a project contributor to the project they are championing.
* The Mozillian champion must vouch for the usefulness of the software, commit to monitoring the project, and report on the effectiveness of the award after the money is spent (perhaps using a standardized form). They will also make themselves available to the application evaluation committee to help them assess the appropriateness of the award to the needs of the project.
We expect the vast majority of MOSS awards to be singular rather than regular - that is, support for doing a particular defined thing, rather than ongoing support for a project in general. However a previous award proposal, successful or unsuccessful, does not disqualify a project from applying again.
===Selection Criteria===
These are a work in progress; further feedback is welcome on the MOSS mailing list until November 8th. All criteria are indicative rather than determinative - that is to say, they will make us more or less likely to make an award, but none will guarantee a particular outcome.
* How reliant is Mozilla on the project's technology?
* Do others also rely on it outside of Mozilla products?
* Is the technology unique? Are they doing something different?
* What role does the project play in the open source ecosystem?
* What sort of reputation does the project have in general, if any?
** This includes reputation in technical, inclusion and other areas
** Is the project known for something besides the code we are relying on?
* Will this award make a significant impact on the project?
* Is the level of funding appropriate for the task to be accomplished?
* Does the person (or group) who will receive the money have a track record of delivering?
* What does the champion have to say? Is the case compelling?
===Selection Committee===
We have formed a selection committee of 7 participants, as follows:
* '''Current Committed Mozillians''' - they bring a good working knowledge of Mozilla's day-to-day activities and how various open source projects are used.
** [https://mozillians.org/en-US/u/bkerensa/ Benjamin Kerensa]
** [https://mozillians.org/en-US/u/laura/ Laura Thomson]
** [https://mozillians.org/en-US/u/dougt/ Doug Turner]
* '''Senior Mozilla Alumni''' - they are no longer actively involved with Mozilla on a day-to-day basis but have a deep understanding of our project and a different/outside perspective.
** [http://stormyscorner.com/ Stormy Peters]
** [http://shaver.off.net/diary/ Mike Shaver]
* '''Other Open Source Experts''' - they bring knowledge of the role of different projects within the open source ecosystem.
** [http://www.rcbowen.com/ Rich Bowen]
** [https://www.cmu.edu/silicon-valley/faculty-staff/wasserman-tony.html Tony Wasserman]
==Other Tracks==
In the future, MOSS will have other tracks. We are developing one with a particular focus on providing security audit and remediation for key projects with a significant attack surface and exposure. These may have similar or different application criteria, or they may not have a public application process at all.
==How To Apply==
The application form is [https://docs.google.com/a/mozilla.com/forms/d/1Pa5IsuhT6vMUfg0HUXxr7SzrSwq5fpiZfZIJVPxN1Mc/viewform here].
==FAQs==
;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 back” category of awards you should also also believe that project has meaningful impact on Mozilla’s work.
: A champion does a few different things:
* 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;
This review process might involve answering a set of standard assessment questions at the mid-point and at the end of the award period, and giving your written opinion of the overall success of the award. The time commitment should not be massive, but it will require thoughtfulness and honesty.
;What if the project I care most ==Mentors== Some projects may want to apply for a MOSS award but be nervous about doesn’t have preparing a legal organizational home? I see this is disfavored and exceptional circumstances are requiredproposal. What might count as "exceptional"?: You tell us. If a project doesn't We have a legal organizational home, we will be handing a large sum of money identified three mentors who are willing to an individual help with only limited accountability. This means a higher level of complexity this, and risk. So you need should feel free 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.contact any of them:
;How can I* [https://mozillians.org/u/dbryant/ David Bryant]. David is Mozilla's VP of Platform Engineering, as a Mozillianso he is obviously clueful about software, get started while and he’s also signed on to assist with the terms topics of the application project needs, possible solutions and evaluation process are being finalized?appropriate amounts.* [https: Here are some things you can do immediately//mozillians.org/u/pfinette/ Pascal Finette]. Pascal launched [http:* Do some due diligence with other community members//webfwd. Find out if others share your sense of org WebFWD] when he was a project’s impactMozilla employee and now runs Singularity University’s [http://startup.* Identify a contact inside the project who is a good person to talk to about such thingssingularityu. Not every project needs funds all the timeorg/accelerator/ accelerator program]. Explore whether there is Pascal has a current need within the project that could be met long history and an abiding love of working with a MOSS award. If there is such a need then turn people to exploring the size of the amountbuild things. Think about the impact that could occur at several different ranges He has great expertise in this type of moneytask, matching by his abiding interest in contributing to Mozilla.* If you find a project you care about has other types of needs, note that in the project list above[https://mozillians.org/u/jcook/ Jim Cook]. We arenJim is Mozilla't yet thinking about non-financial supports Chief Financial Officer, but we may do that in the future.* If you are and can provide assistance for those interested in participating in the finalization financial side of the program criteria, join the discussionthings.Jim knows a lot about cost and value!
;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 three identified mentors: [https://blog.mozilla.org/press/bios/david-bryant/ David Bryant], [https://mozillians.org/en-US/u/pfinette/ Pascal Finette] and [https://blog.mozilla.org/press/bios/jim-cook/ Jim Cook]. 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. Our CFO Jim Cook will provide assistance for those interested in the financial side of things. And Jim knows a lot about cost and value! We’ll look into adding to this list.==FAQs==
;Is there an amount of an award that is expectedWhat if my project doesn’t have a legal organizational home? Or a size that I see this is too big or too smalldisfavoured, and exceptional circumstances are required. What might count as "exceptional"?: In the next week You tell us. If a project doesn't have a legal organizational home, we expect to identify will be handing a range within which we prefer the Awards proposals land, and to have some guidance what large sum of money to do if you believe an Award really should be smaller or largerindividual with only limited accountability. At the moment, we are looking at This means a minimum higher level of $10,000, 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 maximum of $250pretty flexible organization,000but we can’t promise the result will be as you hope.
;What about tax?
: Recipients are responsible to determine the tax implications of receiving an award, based on their respective countries’ tax laws and compliance requirements. Amounts applied for should be sized such that any tax or other liability that will be incurred is accounted for. Mozilla reserves the right to use different payment mechanisms or tax characterisations for different awards in the MOSS program based on a number of factors specific to the award.
;How can I stay informed and involved with this work?
: Please join the MOSS [https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/about/forums/#moss discussion forum].
