Ian, Something to note is that the type of grants you're talking about are the big federal-type grants which DO require a lot of planning and work to apply for. We shouldn't be scared of them, but if we ever want to pursue those, it definitely takes a lot of planning and eligibility checklist examining. You raise a good point about corporate investing and the fact that the investor usually expects to get something out of investing in the group - we'd need to examine situations like that closely to determine if it's a good match for our group.
I guess I should have been more clear in my last email that the type of grants I was talking about were through orgs closer to home like the Winnipeg Arts Council, for instance. I can't name other groups because I'm not too familiar with them, but there must be other similar groups that are Winnipeg-based that we might align with? -Justin On 1 March 2014 18:53, Ian Trump <[email protected]> wrote: > HI Everyone, > > I’d like to make a few points here. In order to apply for a grant you > need to have a plan on what you want to do with the money. Generally, > grant’s are not given to organizations in our case a private “club”, > without a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic and Time > Based) objective of what were going to do with the grant. SkullSpace has > always been challenged with planning – it is not in the nature of an > organic Hackerspace to agree on a direction. People join, contribute, > particpate and ultimately leave for a variety of reasons. Our diversity > gives us membership resiliency however, it makes it difficult to “row” in a > specific direction. A brief review of discuss will easily identify a wide > variety of opinion. > > What all of you may be interested in is the level of effort required to > apply for grants, and I will add government grants are extremely risk > adverse. If you have significant corporate support the government may > “match” this; it is very unlikely a government will be first in with grant > money. Assent works success in this regard (getting grant money) was due in > a large part by significant contributions of the Board of Directors > companies and relationships coveted over years at the federal and > provincial level with the “right” people in the halls of power. This takes > a significant amount of time, research and meetings – especially on the > ground in Ottawa for federal grants. > > Lastly, private grants are given for projects (very rarely operational > expenses) which further the objectives of the granting body. An example > would be a corporate investor who wants to do something specific with > education of youth at risk. In order to apply for the grant you have to put > in details, a lot of details about what your going to do and frequently the > organization also wants to see broader support from industry and government > – truly a catch 22 scenario. This is what I believe the “strings” are that > folks were talking about – private grants have reporting requirements with > in many cases “significant” consequences for failure to use the money > appropriatly. > > Grants and external funding are a lot of work – I believe the limited > bandwidth of the volunteer board is better suited to dealing with the > immediate operational concerns. > > Ian > > > > > > > > From: Justin Lacko <[email protected]> > Reply-To: Discuss SkullSpace <[email protected]> > Date: Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 11:23 > To: Discuss SkullSpace <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [SkullSpace-Discuss] Grants and funding > > Siu, > > I think it is important to refute a few of the points you made > concerning grants and SkSp in general. > > Not all grants require the applicant to be an entrepreneurship or > traditional business offering a service. I think SkSp falls under the > category of a community organization in the best way possible - we offer > services to the community and support our basic operating costs through a > membership program that offers additional benefits. I'm not aware of any > specific grants, but I'm sure our organization would be eligible for at > least a few, if we can root them out. I don't really think it matters that > our most popular events may be the gaming events; we are still providing > programming for the community at large through public events. It is worth > mentioning that we also have a number of technology-related events that > help fill an important niche in Winnipeg - notably programming groups. We > are very much a "serious" group, as you doubted. As an organization, SkSp > is dedicated to bringing together like-minded people in the pursuit of > collaboration and knowledge-sharing. > > Some aspects of SkSp are private, but our public face is more prominent, > which is how it should be. I would propose that there be an internal member > list available with a name and an email address - with additional > information available if a member wishes to provide it. I don't think it is > a good idea as an organization to not keep a "members directory" - it > serves to allow people to contact each other and work together. The idea of > someone joining our organization under the condition that their name be > withheld from such a directory goes against the organization's goal of > promoting connections between individuals, in my opinion. > > I think your characterization of the organization not accepting > donations/help from corporate sources (this is how I interpret your > "strings attached" comment) is untrue. It's not that we have turned down > such offers; I think it's more a case that we haven't really seen serious > offers before. I know a long time ago I proposed contacting DigiKey and > Mouser, etc. to ask about sponsorship through parts/discounts/etc. in > return for a logo or banner placed in the space. We never really got far > enough to debate situations like that because nobody ever offered us > anything because myself/others didn't write to said organizations. It > wouldn't hurt to find out what we can get, and then go to the membership > with the choice of accepting or not. > > I'm hoping you or someone else can provide some further information as > to why we couldn't apply for grants due to our bylaws. I'm not completely > familiar with them. > > Anyways, I think the right attitude is to see what is available to us, > apply to them, and then go to our membership with the results and ask for > feedback/approval. I wish I could volunteer further to look into this, but > I'm not close enough to do the calls and put the footwork into this. I hope > either way that something fruitful comes from any research into this! > > -Justin > > > >> On Fri, Feb 28, 2014 at 10:08 AM, Roswyne <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> While AssentWorks has had great success with grants, I do not believe >>>> SkullSpace should pursue them. >>>> >>>> 1) We have different goals, which are not "public oriented". We are not >>>> "growing entrepreneurs" or "improving industry". We are a private club that >>>> offers space to work in projects (mainly tables and chairs) and offer a >>>> venue where like-minded people can meet and work together. However, many of >>>> the most popular group activities are games: we are not entirely a serious >>>> group, by any means. >>>> >>>> 2) By design, SkSp is very private - to the extent that even members >>>> cannot view a list of members. Historically we've been very independent, >>>> and refused to consider taking anything that might have "strings" attached >>>> to it. Gifts usually have conditions attached - most commonly that the >>>> facilities be available to the public. Disclosure of our financial >>>> information is also likely required, as may membership information. >>>> >>>> Please do investigate what we might be eligible for, if you're so >>>> inclined. That's very kind of you to volunteer! But we may not be able >>>> to (by our bylaws) apply, or our membership may choose not to accept the >>>> conditions. >>>> On Feb 28, 2014 8:53 AM, "Brittany Postnikoff" <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Thank you Justin. I will certainly do my best. >>>>> >>>>> I have added grants and funding to the list of things to pursue. I >>>>> appreciate you reminding me of that avenue. I will keep each of these >>>>> contacts in mind! >>>>> On Feb 28, 2014 1:59 AM, "Justin Lacko" <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> A great, positive response Britt! I get the feeling SkSp is in good >>>>>> hands... I only wish I could be there to participate and help our group >>>>>> in >>>>>> whatever way I can. >>>>>> >>>>>> I think a really good idea to explore that wasn't on your list is >>>>>> funding through grants. I tried to kinda get the ball moving on this a >>>>>> while ago, but we needed a written organization plan, which never >>>>>> materialized. I think there's untapped resources we can take advantage >>>>>> of, >>>>>> and I would suggest talking directly to Mike Legary or the folks at >>>>>> RampUp >>>>>> Manitoba for ideas and support. Robert at AW is a great guy to talk with, >>>>>> or even Marnie. >>>>>> >>>>>> I'm looking forward to another year of our great organization >>>>>> flourishing and growing! >>>>>> >>>>>> Best, >>>>>> Justin >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On 28 February 2014 02:38, Brittany Postnikoff <[email protected] >>>>>> > wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Hello everyone, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> As requested by some people in the membership I would like to >>>>>>> present my goals and expectations for SkullSpace, and myself, this year. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I want to start by thanking those that voted for me for doing so, >>>>>>> and for those that didn’t, I hope my actions and representation of you >>>>>>> this >>>>>>> year will convince you to vote differently in the future. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> My goals for this year directly align with our motto of “knowledge, >>>>>>> community, and technology”. I believe these ideas really are the >>>>>>> cornerstone of who we are. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> When I think of SkullSpace or explain it to those interested, the >>>>>>> first thought I try to convey is “community”. The idea of community in >>>>>>> this >>>>>>> sense is not only the great connections available within SkullSpace and >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> things we offer, but also the outreach we have done with the businesses >>>>>>> and >>>>>>> other groups around us. I believe this is vital to SkullSpace’s >>>>>>> identity and sustainability. It is wonderful to see groups such as >>>>>>> Winnipeg.rb, PHPUG, Winnipeg Android, and others in our space and >>>>>>> enjoying >>>>>>> their experience. This shows that we can be welcoming, supportive, and >>>>>>> above all else a good resource for many in our community. We are doing >>>>>>> well >>>>>>> with this, but I would really like to see more engagement with new faces >>>>>>> when they walk in, more support for our community groups and businesses, >>>>>>> and more activities with the members we already have. I hope to achieve >>>>>>> these community goals by holding more socials and group >>>>>>> outings/fundraisers, increasing the amount of small services we offer or >>>>>>> make them more apparent, make booking our space easier, and help >>>>>>> everyone >>>>>>> learn different ways to engage new members. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Learning and knowledge is also a big part of why SkullSpace is >>>>>>> important in our community. It is impressive how many amazing people we >>>>>>> have in our membership, the type of skills spread over each of these >>>>>>> people, and the resources we have in the space for anyone to use. Part >>>>>>> of >>>>>>> our identity can be expressed through our hack-a-thons, CTFs, books, >>>>>>> projects, and conversation (even if it is off-topic, raunchy, or >>>>>>> completely >>>>>>> silly). At our present point we do not have as many hack-a-thons, talks, >>>>>>> projects, or other events compared to when I joined a little over a year >>>>>>> ago. To solve this issue I hope to focus on engaging the people in our >>>>>>> membership to be more involved with setting these types of events up. In >>>>>>> order to do this I will be willing to help plan, organize, and come up >>>>>>> with >>>>>>> ideas for future events. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The last point to highlight is technology. SkullSpace has many >>>>>>> different technologies all in one place. We have every type of user >>>>>>> ranging >>>>>>> from inexperienced and only one device to those with years and years of >>>>>>> knowledge and so many devices that we could have an impressive >>>>>>> technology >>>>>>> collection with each piece being completely different. This is >>>>>>> supported by >>>>>>> the gaming consoles, projects, 3D printer, public use computers, and a >>>>>>> variety of other devices available at the space. This is a great start. >>>>>>> In >>>>>>> the next year I would like to improve the number of projects we have to >>>>>>> display at conventions, the infrastructure we have available to members, >>>>>>> and invest in new devices for all to enjoy. To achieve this I am hoping >>>>>>> to >>>>>>> talk to members to find out what wants are, hold fundraising events to >>>>>>> buy >>>>>>> items the membership has expressed interest in, and improve our current >>>>>>> infrastructure. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> If anyone has any suggestions for things I can do to help make their >>>>>>> experience with SkullSpace more enjoyable or have projects for me to >>>>>>> tackle, email me directly, or the board at [email protected] >>>>>>> . >>>>>>> >>>>>>> In closing, SkullSpace has allowed me to become friends with a >>>>>>> variety of people that I probably would never have met any other way. I >>>>>>> hope to meet many more people this year and can only wish that we have >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> same positive effect on them as SkullSpace has had on me. >>>>>>> --Brittany Postnikoff >>>>>>> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>>> SkullSpace Announce Mailing List >>>>>>> Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Announce >>>>>>> Archive: >>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-announce-archive/ >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >>>>>> Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >>>>>> Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >>>>> Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >>>>> Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >>>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >>>> Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >>>> Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >>>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >>> Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >>> Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List >> Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss >> Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >> > > > _______________________________________________ > SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List > Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss > Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/ >
_______________________________________________ SkullSpace Discuss Mailing List Help: http://www.skullspace.ca/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List#Discuss Archive: https://groups.google.com/group/skullspace-discuss-archive/
