Dear Wikimedians,
In the past year we have witnessed some changes in the way we gather as a movement. We have also heard from communities about the growing needs and the desire for more in advance planning, flexibility and resources beyond funding. As a result, beginning in September 2024, *the Conference and Event Fund program will introduce 3 updates and changes* regarding: 1. A more predictable cadence of conferences to allow for pPredetermined timeline and long term planning; 2. The submission and planning process for Regional events, focusing on community led decision making process for Regional gatherings; 3. And a new Wikimedia Foundation structured support system and additional offered areas of support. == Predictable cadence and 3 years pre-approved funding plan == The Conference Fund program is now introducing a new funding pathway and allowing regional event organizers to submit their conference proposals up to 3 years in advance. We are now accepting submissions for the Fiscal Years 2025-2026; 2026-2027; 2027-2028. If you are interested in only applying for the coming year, please follow the standard timeline[1] and submission process. Interested communities do not necessarily need to have a venue selected, contracts drafted or sponsors lined up. The Wikimedia Foundation staff are here to help you! If a Wikimedia affiliate, group or community in a region [2] is interested in hosting the regional event, please express interest by submitting an entry [3] and placing it under the category. Please make sure to read carefully through the criteria and pay special attention to the requirement for a public evidence of a community agreement/alignment/decision on the hosting location/affiliate. == Community-led decision mechanism == Continuing with our ambition to bring our regional communities closer to the regional decision making process, we would like to work more on enhancing regional connections and alignment, by asking that decisions on hosting countries/affiliates will be made collaboratively within regional communities. Starting September 2024, as part of the reviewing process, and in order to be eligible to a 3 year in advance approval, we will ask that as part of the proposal, you will submit a public evidence of a community agreement/alignment/decision on the hosting location/affiliate. This can be presented and facilitated as a public community discussion; a vote; a ‘bidding process’ ; a village pump discussion or steering committee/hub’s decision, and can be conducted in any language. If you do not currently have a regional hub, a steering committee or any other form of regional leadership structure, and would like our help in facilitating such a decision, please reach out to us. == Structured WMF support system with additional offerings == We know that organizing a community led conference requires a lot of time, effort and resources – far beyond funding. That is why we will start incorporating a more holistic support system for organizers, by Wikimedia Foundation’s regional and programmatic teams. Some of the additional support offered to regional event organizers will include Communication support; Travel arrangements; Partnership support etc. Please review the full update and details here.[4] If you have any questions or need support in understanding the changes, please reach out to us at [email protected] Chen Almog, on behalf of the Conference and Event Fund program team. [1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Conference#Timeline [2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Regions [3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Conference/Expressions_of_Interests_for_Regional_Conferences#Create_expression_of_interest_for_regional_conferences [4] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Conference/Updates/September_2024 -- Chen Almog (she/her) · חן אלמוג Lead Program Officer, Global Programs Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/>
_______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l Public archives at https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/message/UXSNV3RPN7NZKYOQPD3DJACJQ5YD3WUG/ To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected]
