Loomio
Wed 6 Sep 2017 11:13PM

An experimental mini-grant program.

JS Jon Schull Public Seen by 537

Overview

39 people participated in our previous experimental non-binding poll on how to allocate the google funds

There were 2 big winners:
* Support EnablingTheFuture (111 points)
* Establish a mini-grant Fund (80 points)

Because the mini-grant fund could Support EnablingTheFuture (among other things) I'm creating this thread to propose and hopefully implement a first mini-grant program.

Please consider the Minigrant Program Proposal first.

There are currently two Proposals. If you think they're ready for Funding by Trustees, vote Agree!
* Ready for Funding? Enable Alliance - ADOPT A SCHOOL Program
* Ready For Funding?: Enable Alliance Citizen Scientist Research and Service Project

Have an idea for another proposal? Go for it!

JS

Jon Schull
Agree
Thu 7 Sep 2017 1:40AM

I think this is worth a try. I'm sure you can improve it.

AT

Ashley Turner Thu 7 Sep 2017 12:24PM

I like the way this is put together.

JS

Jon Schull Fri 8 Sep 2017 1:39PM

While I'm enthusiastic about this proposal, I do have some concerns. (We don't necessarily have to address them in the first go-round.)

  • I'm concerned about "monetizing" and "dis-spiriting" the spirit of freely-given goodwill that is such an important part of e-NABLE.
  • We want to encourage people to define programs that the community needs
  • We want to encourage people to donate real money to sustain the fund, but I don't want to give people with discretionary money excessive influence.

These concerns might be addressed by encouraging, recognizing and honoring in-kind donations.

  • Proposers would put reasonable price tags on projects they are willing to volunteer for, while pledging to donate that price to the fund. Assuming the proposal is funded by Trustees and the deliverables delivered, the Doer becomes Trustee for that amount of money
JS

Poll Created Fri 8 Sep 2017 10:33PM

Ready For Funding?: Enable Alliance Citizen Scientist Research and Service Project Closed Sun 22 Oct 2017 10:33PM

Outcome
by Jon Schull Mon 23 Oct 2017 6:18PM

I'm happy to report that Jen's proposal for Enable Alliance Citizen Scientist Research and Service Project was approved with 17 Agrees, 0 abstentions, disagreements, or blocks.

https://www.loomio.org/p/Kemwfc9Y?set_outcome=true&utm_campaign=poll_mailer&utm_medium=email&utm_source=poll_expired_author

This is the first successful award using the new minigrant program!

New proposals are welcome!

Submitted by Jen Owen

If you think this proposal should be eligible for funding under the proposed first-attempt mini-grant program, click Agree!

Jen Owen (the designated doer) will...

Create a research project for schools, volunteers, and FIRST Robotics teams to participate in that will allow them to help grow real data about the current e-NABLE Designs and provide valuable feedback on their durability, strength and more.

This project will involve volunteers and students, doing scientific research, testing the effects of tempuratures, weight and other variables on the current and most used e-NABLE designs that will allow the global community to learn more about these devices and what they can and can't do.

To see the complete proposal - please visit:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J_UQcf2fQwuA6yeOqsT5f-19sRORF8p3ApuFVMNf2HU/edit?usp=sharing

Estimated Time to complete this project. 1-2 months.

Funds needed to support creation of this project: $2000-$2500.

Results

Results Option % of points Voters
Agree 100.0% 16 JS EL E DU JS MH PB JS AT LB JS SM AJ AT DU ELD
Abstain 0.0% 0  
Disagree 0.0% 0  
Block 0.0% 0  
Undecided 0% 18 AB JO W JL AC AD DD T GD JB B PG DM E JG RR RH AA

16 of 34 people have participated (47%)

JS

Poll Created Fri 8 Sep 2017 10:36PM

Ready for Funding? Enable Alliance - ADOPT A SCHOOL Program Closed Fri 15 Sep 2017 10:20PM

Submitted by Jen Owen

This program would connect underserved schools who do not have 3D printers of their own, with schools, volunteers and FIRST Robotics teams who do and allow those schools to be "Adopted" by the sponsors who will then create a variety of hands, tools and more to ship directly to the school in need.

This will create an opportunity for mentorships, collaborations, global innovation and provide a way for volunteers that are waiting for recipients, to participate in e-NABLE in a way they may not have thought of previously, but that is just as valuable and rewarding as being matched to an individual recipient.

For more information on this proposal - please go here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ftZNlRktiKECW44r7JuMEWcmAFYH76AOEqoMMe4adnA/edit?usp=sharing

Doer: - Jen Owen

Estimated Time to complete this project. 1-2 months.

Funds needed to support creation of this project: $2000-$2500.

Results

Results Option % of points Voters
Agree 100.0% 7 JS EL E JS MH AT SM
Abstain 0.0% 0  
Disagree 0.0% 0  
Block 0.0% 0  
Undecided 0% 14 AB DU JO W JL AC PB AD LB JS T GD AJ JB

7 of 21 people have participated (33%)

MH

Michael Howland
Agree
Sun 10 Sep 2017 1:33AM

I was going to experiment with some of this on my own. Then share the data by creating test pieces & fixtures to test layer strength, joint strength, different materials, etc. By printing and deliberately breaking them in a controlled environment.

EL

Everton Lins
Agree
Sun 10 Sep 2017 2:41AM

Deliverable 5 - We have medical volunteers in Brazil that can help giving input about the data they need about the devices.

EL

Everton Lins
Agree
Sun 10 Sep 2017 2:43AM

Deliverable 6 - To help the volunteers get scholarships a lot of aspects like the guidelines for writing a research paper need to be taken into consideration. Will be a lot of work, but it will generate really valuable badges for sure.

E

ebubar
Agree
Mon 11 Sep 2017 6:43PM

Might have missed this, but inclusion of testing protocols for enable devices would be cool to see as well (grip strength, heat testing, etc).

JS

Poll Created Thu 7 Sep 2017 1:38AM

A proposal for a first attempt at a minigrant program. Closed Thu 14 Sep 2017 1:03AM

Introduction

Google.org has donated $50,000 in support of the e-NABLE community.

I propose that we invest $2500 in an experiment to develop a process for funding e-NABLE-Appropriate projects:

"accountable projects that can advance a global network of volunteers developing open source assistive devices for underserved populations"

The experiment is a first attempt at defining a process that is "EFTA"

  • Exemplary: a potentially sustainable model for future endeavors
  • Fair: collaboratively determined funding of, by, and for the e-NABLE community
  • Transparent: processes are openly observable.
  • Accountable: accountable projects have clearly defined goals, deliverables, timelines, and "Doers"

Basic proposal

As a first experiment, I propose that Approximately Fifty Trustees be given control of $50 apiece.
* All Community Members can propose projects and  comment on proposals.
* Some community members are designated Trustees. They control $50 apiece.
* When the community judges a proposal to be "Accountable," it becomes a fundable "bucket".
* Then, Trustees fund proposals by putting the funds they control into the "buckets" they like.

Who can be a Trustee?

For this first experiment, I propose that
* Anyone can be a Trustee who either
* Voted in the initial non-binding poll
* Or is voted into the Trustee pool by a plurality of existing Trustees
* Or donates $50 to the fund
* and agrees
* To only fund e-NABLE-Appropriate projects
* To not fund projects that will put the money they control into their own pockets.

Implementation

  • Proposals are developed in Loomio. After a week of community review and comment, they become fundable if a majority of at least 10 community members votes the proposal "Accountable"
  • Accountable Proposals become fundable "buckets" in co-Budget, where Trustees put their money in the buckets they like.
  • Funded doers request real money via OpenCollective:

    • They submit receipts, evidence of deliverables, etc.
    • A small committee of Trustees reviews and approves the submission
  • Use it or lose it clause:

    • Trustees lose control of funds they don't allocate within 6 weeks. (Let's learn quickly!)
    • Because some Trustees may not have time to review proposals responsibly, they can delegate control to other Trustees.

Please vote, comment, and suggest revisions.

If you haven't already, please join this e-NABLio Loomio group to participate.

Results

Results Option % of points Voters
Agree 100.0% 9 JS EL JS JO MH PB AT JS SM
Abstain 0.0% 0  
Disagree 0.0% 0  
Block 0.0% 0  
Undecided 0% 12 AB E DU W JL AC AD LB T GD AJ JB

9 of 21 people have participated (42%)

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