Open call to participate in  Regional Fund Committees

The Community Resources team would like to invite community members to join the regional fund committees for three of our eight regions: LATAM and the Caribbean, Northern & Western Europe and North America. The call for candidates is open from August 1 to August 15. 

The community members will support the Community Resources team in making funding decisions for grant applications using their knowledge about the region and the movement. 

Why is it important to participate in this process? 

In alignment with the strategy recommendation 2030 strategic direction, the movement strategy recommendations, and the Grants Strategy, the Regional Committees are structures that thrive on the principles of participatory decision-making and subsidiarity. The primary role of every  committee is to contribute as thought partners in strategic thinking to understand the complexities of every region and to make funding decisions for applications, providing expertise and experience to applicants to support the effective functioning of the movement’s activities.

Having a committee from the region ensures that resourcing community efforts in the movement is diverse, equal and inclusive. 

Who can participate in the committees? 

• Members of the Wikimedia community (both newcomers and experienced contributors welcome).
• Volunteer board members of Wikimedia affiliates.
• Members of mission-aligned organisations.
• Individuals working or having expertise in regions of interest.

Who is not eligible to participate in the committees?

• Anyone receiving compensation as a staff member through a Wikimedia affiliate or current General Support Fund, Wikimedia Alliances Fund or Research Fund grant project. (This excludes grantee partners requesting Rapid Funds, Events and Conference Funds and Movement Strategy Funds).
• Staff of mission-aligned organisations that collaborate in projects funded by the Foundation Wikimedia.
• Anyone receiving compensation for a paid role with the Wikimedia Foundation.

What skills and expertise are we looking for?

Each region requests different skills according to the current committee composition. Some desired skills and expertise can range from:

• strong ability to participate effectively in collaborative decision-making and thought partnership in a committee context (e.g. good talking and listening boundaries, able to give and receive honest feedback in non-conflictual way, able to think strategically at a high level, open to changing your mind, able to receive help, empathetic and kind)
• alignment with the values of the 2030 strategic direction and the movement strategy recommendations. 
• alignment with the trust-based philanthropy values and understanding of or willingness to learn about participatory grant-making.
• a demonstrated commitment to sharing skills and experience, and helping others grow.
• professional and/or volunteer experience and skills related to committee review work, such as budget management and review skills, experience with governance of non-governmental organizations, background in common programmatic areas like Culture and Heritage, Education, etc.
• experience with Wikimedia programs, in addition to contributions to the online projects.

If you want to be part of this amazing experience, check the call for applicants for North Western Europe here, for North America here, and for Latin America and the Caribbean here.