[Grants] OSGeo Oceania - grant application decision

[Jonathan Woithe]

OSGeo Oceania - John Bryant

The Linux Australia Council considered this grant application at its meeting
on Tuesday 10 September 2019.  After much discussion council voted against
funding the grant.  The vote was not unanimous.

The stated aim of OSGeo Oceania to build the open data geospatial community
in Oceania is certainly within Linux Australia's remit.  Concern was raised
about the legal framework under which this is being carried out.  It was
pointed out that a company - even a not-for-profit one - costs a lot more
money to maintain than does an incorporated body or organisation.  The
question was asked why it was necessary to establish a company to support
the open geospatial community, rather than something closer to the US 501(c)
model used by the parent OSGeo Foundation.  Was this a requirement of the
parent OSGeo organisation?

As written, the grant application seems to be for the funding of company
expenses rather than activities directly linked to the community itself.  It
was acknowledged that overseeing conferences across the Oceania region will
create financial complexities, but it wasn't clear why these complexities
needed to be addressed before any events were planned outside of Australia
and New Zealand.

Ultimately, the Linux Australia council did not feel that the funding of
company expenses would bring a tangible benefit to the community and this
was the primary reason why the grant was declined.  On the other hand, a
grant application which requested assistance for an activity or event - the
running of a conference such as FOSS4G SotM Oceania for example - would have
a clear connection with the community and therefore would be more likely to
garner support.

You are more than welcome to contact myself or the Linux Australia Council
if you have any questions or would like further clarification.

Regards

Jonathan