Is there anything to improve in the current GraphQL grants program?

[Urigo]

[saihaj]

how does it even work? I think we need to improve on website our navigation so these things are easy to get to.

[doc-jones]

Would love to see this on the agenda for discussion.

[Urigo]

@doc-jones what would you want to discuss about it?

@benjie maybe you can share here the latest of the process and we can see if people have anything to discuss on add on top of this issue?

[benjie]

Sure! The grants program is ran by the GraphQL TSC, with a budget allocated by the GraphQL Foundation. The process of an individual application looks something like this:

1. Applicant: Read https://graphql.org/community/foundation/community-grant/ and submit your application via the form linked therein
2. Automation: The submission is sent to a GraphQL Foundation list with relevant people on it
3. Foundation: Someone will perform an initial review of the application within a reasonable period of time (this is currently typically me on the following Thursday after receiving the application), and if necessary will seek further details; otherwise...
4. TSC representative: If the grant proposal is deemed to be out of scope, it will be declined with a message explaining why, otherwise...
5. TSC representative: The application is shared with the GraphQL TSC via a discussion board on the private TSC repository, and the applicant is emailed to inform them their application is being reviewed by the TSC. The TSC are BCC'd on this email as a reminder to them to check the discussion board.
6. TSC: The TSC are given 2 weeks to provide feedback and vote. (If there are questions or concerns raised, this period may be extended, and the applicant will be kept informed.)
7. TSC representative: Once the above period has ended (or sooner if the TSC are particularly timely with their responses), the TSC representative will determine the TSC's opinion on the application and will relay this to the applicant (typically after validating their interpretation with Jory or Lee).

At this point, one of three things will happen:

1. We decline the application, typically with guidance as to how to submit a related application that is more likely to be approved.
2. We request changes to the application, for example a reduction or expansion in scope, or a change in the amount of funding requested.
3. We accept the application, and lead the applicant through the next steps (providing legal/billing details, signing contract, giving invoicing instructions, providing with any access they need, etc).

The TSC representative tasked with the grants program is currently me.

Please note: we do not commit to the timeframes above, they are our best efforts timeframes but may be impacted by illness, travel, other commitments, etc. Publicly we only commit to reviewing the applications twice a year, and responding within 2 months of review.

If you want to know anything specific about the process, please ask!

[doc-jones]

@benjie has provided the perfect starting point. Now, I'd be interested in hearing what @benjie thinks could be improved about this process.

The grant program might be another path for growing the community, if we were to put out a call for proposals that fit what the current needs are for the project, the foundation and/or the community we could attract new contributors including students. I need more time to do a proper write up on what this might look like and how it could be funded beyond the current funding model.

At a minimum, @benjie could use some help in administering the program.

[benjie]

The process itself works pretty well and is much improved since our twice-yearly grants program - we now typically acknowledge applications within a week of submission and typically have a decision within 2-3 weeks of the acknowledgement (assuming the applicant is responsive in any requests for additional information). I'm not sure there's much need for help administering the program, I can always lean on the TSC or Foundation if I wasn't able to keep up with demand due to illness or similar.

The main thing that I'd like to see is the WG/TSC actively proposing topics for application with detailed specs, much like the suggestions in #57.

The main aim of the program as I see it is to unblock people who are already contributors but lack time to achieve larger goals that the project deems important. Though the grant program could be used as a path for growing the community, I'm not sure it's the best channel to do so - as a carrot to bring outside contributors in, I feel like it would set up the expectation for these contributors to only work on the things they can get funding for, and we don't have a huge budget to support that ongoing contribution. That said, we absolutely accept applications from people who have not previously had any involvement in the GraphQL project, and I'm keen to hear what you're thinking.