Micro grants for sponsoring local chapter startups

Thanks for the invitation. And thanks for starting this thread.

Thanks for the invitation as well. I look forward to any discussions that take place.

I too look forward to the discussions that start here. I would also be interested should it take that turn.

As someone who has started up with zero funding, I think funding materials like a printer or filament for established businesses is more reasonable rather than administrative costs to start up. I would refer to regional and university support for that. That being said, a competition may incentivize a prize to deal with establishing a new business.

Thanks Chad, you touch a very important point. Regional funding should be the main means for supporting the chapters. However, more often than not, getting it requires the formality of a registered organization. So back to square one.

As we know, e-NABLE has no central location and is made up of chapters that operate in a self-sustaining manner. Our cause is noble and there is often no shortage of willing sponsors for local chapter operation. Problem is, for most government or private sector grant requests, a degree of formality is required. This varies from location to location, but basically it requires a formal registration as a not-for-profit organization, and others such as tax-exemption status or similar.

Going through the registration procedures is expensive, and it may seem counterproductive that in order to qualify for funding, you need to have funds first!

The scope of this discussion is not about buying printers or hardware for these chapters.
These local organizations would have the means and responsibility to get operational expenses through local funding after being kickstarted by the e-NABLE mini grant.

Disclaimer : My chapter is stuck in this situation. Cant get any funding without formal registration/cant register because it takes funding to do so.

Forming a chapter involves many administrative considerations.
http://enablingthefuture.org/?s=Chapter+formation . Although this link is a start to a guideline it does not set criteria to be eligible for funding. We all have right intent, but to reduce the bumps in the road a certain amount of familiarity with business should be associated when funding. Each state has unique regulations involving requesting and accepting charity or grants..
1- In my opinion the primary issue is that the person forming the chapter has the reasonable track record of some experience in e-NABLE before forming a chapter.
2- If the president of a chapter if going to incorporate or apply as a charity he/she should show that they have Articles of Organization that meet the state and federal rules.
3- The administrative members (officers) should be documented.
4- There should be a “Definition of Purpose”.
5- An accounting of the organization budget or administrative fees and equipment, possibly rent, etc. should be formulated.
These are just a start of, in my opinion, the requirements Loomio voters should require when contributing funding.

It not just states in the US that have unique regulations, consider that each global region has different requirements. That would make #2 very hard to enforce by us.
However its not an issue as this is a self-fulfilling requirement. Chapters intending to incorporate will certainly have to met this requirement since their local government officer will make sure they do.

The scope of approved funding for chapters should also be predefined.
I do believe there is already a precedent where it has been decided not to fund the purchase of 3D printers, is that right @jonschull ?

Recurring operational expenses such as rent are out of the scope of this thread.
The whole point is helping them become eligible for regional funding so they are self-sustaining. Other that this, I do agree with @richb

Funding regarding Materials and Equipments is much appreciated to start a chapter or to support a chapter.