Should OAI apply to FOSS Sustainability Fund?

[handrews]

Raised by @duncanbeevers in the TDC meeting:

Should OAI apply to FOSS Sustainability Fund?
https://www.opentech.fund/funds/free-and-open-source-software-sustainability-fund/

Eligibility

Release: Software has been released for at least 3 years.
Updates: The project pushes updates at least 4 times a year.
Development: Active coding towards the software has occurred in the last 2 years.
Userbase: The project has a substantial base of active users, if it is an app or other user-facing tool.
Keystone technology: OTF aims to support projects with many dependencies, to maximize long-term impact in the broader FOSS ecosystem.

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Note that "software" here actual includes specifications according to their web site. Our most obvious difficulty qualifying would be the release cadence.

Pinging @swaldron58 as GitHub won't let me assign this to you for some reason.

[duncanbeevers]

I sent an email to the Sovereign Tech Fund to see whether they're accepting new projects, what their application process is like, and to feel out whether the OAI is a good candidate for their support.

https://www.sovereigntechfund.de/about
https://www.sovereigntechfund.de/programs/applications

[swaldron58]

Won't let me assign it to myself either. But will work on it.

[duncanbeevers]

I received some feedback from the Sovereign Tech Fund requesting a short phone call. I don't feel qualified as I'm just a regular TDC attendee, but I'm happy to facilitate connecting the Fund with someone who can describe OAI and its mission.

I can be contacted at [email protected] by a TDC member, and I'll loop in STF.

UPDATE; Stu Waldron has volunteered to have this discussion, and I've forwarded my communications.

[swaldron58]

Update, sent a 2nd note to FIONA KRAKENBÜRGER of the Sovereign Tech Fund trying to get some guidance on how to present a compelling case for a grant. The window for submitting a request starts June 17th. Hoping to get some feedback from Fiona before that.

[handrews]

KRAKENBÜRGER

Best. Name. Ever. 🐙 🍔

[swaldron58]

Very late update. Back on June 27th we received:
We very much appreciate your submission to Open Technology Fund (OTF) FOSS Sustainability Fund for consideration. Upon evaluation, we have decided that OTF is not able to provide financial support for your project at this time.

No feedback on why. I will try again at some point but have to consider how to present our case differently.