Friends of Inkscape - A program for individuals and small businesses who want to promote Inkscape
There has been an increase in people within the project wanting to give back to Inkscape in the form of donating a percentage of their earnings from Inkscape courses, tutorials, artwork sales, etc.
It's my opinion that we should support this, however like any other public sponsorship of Inkscape, I believe donations of this sort should have some rules to ensure there is no conflict of interest.
Here is a brief summary of the sponsorship rights and responsibilities which I think should take effect if the Inkscape Project will be helping with promotion of sales where a percentage is going to the project:
1. Neutrality: The Inkscape project will not play favourites amongst internal and external sponsors who join as Friends of Inkscape.
2. Transparency: In the case of promotional releases (Facebook, Twitter, G+ etc.), the Inkscape project will make clear the rules and guidelines of using the Inkscape Project's namesake for promotion, keep a tally of funds donated by the sponsor on our website.
3. Non-endorsement policy: Verbiage for press releases should make it clear that the Inkscape Project does not necesarilly endorse the content or views of the sponsor, and the sponsorship is to be treated purely as a fund-raising exercise to benefit the project. Moreover that the sponsor is solely responsible for delivering the product.
4. Quality - The Inkscape project should, before accepting any co-sponsorship agreement, ensure that the products being offered or sold is of sufficient quality, and provide real value to the Inkscape community (basically that the items are worth buying, and not just a scheme to make as much profit as possible without offering sufficient value to the buyers).
5. Commitment - The sponsor should be able to follow up on what they are selling and maintain a good customer satisfaction rating on their chosen commercial platform. The Inkscape Project should take into account the history, ratings, and reviews for products sold by the sponsor to protect Inkscape users.
6. Ongoing - If the project determines at any time that the sponsor is not keeping up with their promised delivery of goods, or the quality or content of the products being sold is not adequate, the project reserves the right to cancel at any time, and for any reason the sponsorship agreement.
7. For-Profit Only - These terms only apply to sponsors who wish the Inkscape Project to advertise these co-sponsorship deals. For example an Inkscape press release could read: "Help raise money for Inkscape, while learning from the professionals! XXXX is generously donating 50% from this professional tutorial course to fund development of Inkscape! Thanks XXXX!) These terms do not apply to folks who just want to donate without any press releases from the Inkscape Project.
8. Honesty - Obviously, we should ensure that sponsors follow up on the promise to donate the stated funds to the Inkscape Project. We can encourage this with a running-total press release, for example: "Donations from XXXX's Inkscape course just passed the £10,000.00 mark! Our next hackfest is fully funded!" etc.
9. Ending a sponsorship - When the sponsor wishes to end the sponsorship deal, it should be made clear that funds are no longer going to the Inkscape Project. This can be done with a thank you press release, like this: XXXX has raised a total of £150,000.00 for Inkscape's development. On behalf of the Inkscape Project, we'd like to thank XXXX for this generous donation and wish them good luck on future projects.
Any thoughts are welcome. :)
Thanks for your attention! -C
On Fri, Aug 10, 2018 at 10:56:27AM +0100, C R wrote:
There has been an increase in people within the project wanting to give back to Inkscape in the form of donating a percentage of their earnings from Inkscape courses, tutorials, artwork sales, etc.
It's my opinion that we should support this, however like any other public sponsorship of Inkscape, I believe donations of this sort should have some rules to ensure there is no conflict of interest.
Sorry I haven't replied earlier - on vacation this week with the fam... weddings, waterparks, lots of car driving drama.
This is a very solid proposal and very well written, great job. I haven't had a chance yet to really digest it and understand all the implications but this definitely sounds like something we should consider adopting. I'd love to see other people's thoughts on the particulars, and maybe an example of how this might be put into practice. We should of course run it by Conservancy to make sure it isn't going to run afoul of any rules on their end. Also for parts of the process that require some humans to do administrative stuff (e.g. processing requests, reviewing adherance to requirements, handling problems, etc.) we may want to brainstorm on how to staff that.
I'll try to follow up with more thoughts after other board members have given their feedback on improvements to it. Thanks again for doing this, very thoroughly written.
Bryce
Here is a brief summary of the sponsorship rights and responsibilities which I think should take effect if the Inkscape Project will be helping with promotion of sales where a percentage is going to the project:
- Neutrality: The Inkscape project will not play favourites amongst
internal and external sponsors who join as Friends of Inkscape.
- Transparency: In the case of promotional releases (Facebook, Twitter, G+
etc.), the Inkscape project will make clear the rules and guidelines of using the Inkscape Project's namesake for promotion, keep a tally of funds donated by the sponsor on our website.
- Non-endorsement policy: Verbiage for press releases should make it clear
that the Inkscape Project does not necesarilly endorse the content or views of the sponsor, and the sponsorship is to be treated purely as a fund-raising exercise to benefit the project. Moreover that the sponsor is solely responsible for delivering the product.
- Quality - The Inkscape project should, before accepting any
co-sponsorship agreement, ensure that the products being offered or sold is of sufficient quality, and provide real value to the Inkscape community (basically that the items are worth buying, and not just a scheme to make as much profit as possible without offering sufficient value to the buyers).
- Commitment - The sponsor should be able to follow up on what they are
selling and maintain a good customer satisfaction rating on their chosen commercial platform. The Inkscape Project should take into account the history, ratings, and reviews for products sold by the sponsor to protect Inkscape users.
- Ongoing - If the project determines at any time that the sponsor is not
keeping up with their promised delivery of goods, or the quality or content of the products being sold is not adequate, the project reserves the right to cancel at any time, and for any reason the sponsorship agreement.
- For-Profit Only - These terms only apply to sponsors who wish the
Inkscape Project to advertise these co-sponsorship deals. For example an Inkscape press release could read: "Help raise money for Inkscape, while learning from the professionals! XXXX is generously donating 50% from this professional tutorial course to fund development of Inkscape! Thanks XXXX!) These terms do not apply to folks who just want to donate without any press releases from the Inkscape Project.
- Honesty - Obviously, we should ensure that sponsors follow up on the
promise to donate the stated funds to the Inkscape Project. We can encourage this with a running-total press release, for example: "Donations from XXXX's Inkscape course just passed the £10,000.00 mark! Our next hackfest is fully funded!" etc.
- Ending a sponsorship - When the sponsor wishes to end the sponsorship
deal, it should be made clear that funds are no longer going to the Inkscape Project. This can be done with a thank you press release, like this: XXXX has raised a total of £150,000.00 for Inkscape's development. On behalf of the Inkscape Project, we'd like to thank XXXX for this generous donation and wish them good luck on future projects.
Any thoughts are welcome. :)
Thanks for your attention! -C
Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot
Inkscape-devel mailing list Inkscape-devel@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/inkscape-devel
Free Software has never been about stopping people from earning money doing jobs related to software. We've always been careful of course, especially since the organisation is a 501.3.
But overall, just like with the website galleries etc, we're generally in favour of promoting people who use Inkscape in their work, who teach Inkscape and those who run events.
These are the general rules I would use if I were running such a business:
1. Focused: That it must be about Inkscape primarily. (see gallery rules for example)
2. Equitable: All similar projects/businesses must be given the same level of promotion for the same type of activity if they ask for it. Emphasis, placement, size or timing must not be effected any donations the business chooses to make back to Inkscape. Keeping supporting the Inkscape project separate from Inkscape reporting on businesses that use Inkscape.
4. Structured: The kind of reporting the project does must be laid out beforehand. I'd use terms of locality, size and cadence as variables to decide how and where items should be reported. For example a large event in France with an international audience, we can have a news article targeting all languages. Small event in Spain, we could still do a news article but put it out just in Spanish. Ongoing training business in Iceland? probably best to have a gallery of such local training people allowing for more people to have an equal place.
These are some of my raw thoughts.
Best Regards, Martin Owens
On Fri, 2018-08-10 at 10:56 +0100, C R wrote:
There has been an increase in people within the project wanting to give back to Inkscape in the form of donating a percentage of their earnings from Inkscape courses, tutorials, artwork sales, etc.
It's my opinion that we should support this, however like any other public sponsorship of Inkscape, I believe donations of this sort should have some rules to ensure there is no conflict of interest.
Here is a brief summary of the sponsorship rights and responsibilities which I think should take effect if the Inkscape Project will be helping with promotion of sales where a percentage is going to the project:
- Neutrality: The Inkscape project will not play favourites amongst
internal and external sponsors who join as Friends of Inkscape.
- Transparency: In the case of promotional releases (Facebook,
Twitter, G+ etc.), the Inkscape project will make clear the rules and guidelines of using the Inkscape Project's namesake for promotion, keep a tally of funds donated by the sponsor on our website.
- Non-endorsement policy: Verbiage for press releases should make it
clear that the Inkscape Project does not necesarilly endorse the content or views of the sponsor, and the sponsorship is to be treated purely as a fund-raising exercise to benefit the project. Moreover that the sponsor is solely responsible for delivering the product.
- Quality - The Inkscape project should, before accepting any co-
sponsorship agreement, ensure that the products being offered or sold is of sufficient quality, and provide real value to the Inkscape community (basically that the items are worth buying, and not just a scheme to make as much profit as possible without offering sufficient value to the buyers).
- Commitment - The sponsor should be able to follow up on what they
are selling and maintain a good customer satisfaction rating on their chosen commercial platform. The Inkscape Project should take into account the history, ratings, and reviews for products sold by the sponsor to protect Inkscape users.
- Ongoing - If the project determines at any time that the sponsor
is not keeping up with their promised delivery of goods, or the quality or content of the products being sold is not adequate, the project reserves the right to cancel at any time, and for any reason the sponsorship agreement.
- For-Profit Only - These terms only apply to sponsors who wish the
Inkscape Project to advertise these co-sponsorship deals. For example an Inkscape press release could read: "Help raise money for Inkscape, while learning from the professionals! XXXX is generously donating 50% from this professional tutorial course to fund development of Inkscape! Thanks XXXX!) These terms do not apply to folks who just want to donate without any press releases from the Inkscape Project.
- Honesty - Obviously, we should ensure that sponsors follow up on
the promise to donate the stated funds to the Inkscape Project. We can encourage this with a running-total press release, for example: "Donations from XXXX's Inkscape course just passed the £10,000.00 mark! Our next hackfest is fully funded!" etc.
- Ending a sponsorship - When the sponsor wishes to end the
sponsorship deal, it should be made clear that funds are no longer going to the Inkscape Project. This can be done with a thank you press release, like this: XXXX has raised a total of £150,000.00 for Inkscape's development. On behalf of the Inkscape Project, we'd like to thank XXXX for this generous donation and wish them good luck on future projects.
Any thoughts are welcome. :)
Thanks for your attention!
-C
Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot _______________________________________________ Inkscape-board mailing list Inkscape-board@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/inkscape-board
Very well thought out, C R !
I don't have any kind of background knowledge or experience to comment on the specifics, but I think this is a very good idea!
On the surface of it, I think the sponsor might not necessarily want their monetary level of support published. I guess generally, something like the gold, silver, platinum levels (or whatever they are) would probably be ok (although I certainly can speak for all sponsors). But just thinking about myself as theoretically a sponsor, I probably would not want the dollar amount announced. Although I can see where others would like their amount known.
Would there be some way to achieve the goals for which the amount is published, but without publishing it? Or maybe giving them a choice about it?
All best, brynn
-----Original Message----- From: C R Sent: Friday, August 10, 2018 3:56 AM To: inkscape-board ; inkscape-devel Subject: [Inkscape-devel] Friends of Inkscape - A program for individuals and small businesses who want to promote Inkscape
There has been an increase in people within the project wanting to give back to Inkscape in the form of donating a percentage of their earnings from Inkscape courses, tutorials, artwork sales, etc.
It's my opinion that we should support this, however like any other public sponsorship of Inkscape, I believe donations of this sort should have some rules to ensure there is no conflict of interest.
Here is a brief summary of the sponsorship rights and responsibilities which I think should take effect if the Inkscape Project will be helping with promotion of sales where a percentage is going to the project:
1. Neutrality: The Inkscape project will not play favourites amongst internal and external sponsors who join as Friends of Inkscape.
2. Transparency: In the case of promotional releases (Facebook, Twitter, G+ etc.), the Inkscape project will make clear the rules and guidelines of using the Inkscape Project's namesake for promotion, keep a tally of funds donated by the sponsor on our website.
3. Non-endorsement policy: Verbiage for press releases should make it clear that the Inkscape Project does not necesarilly endorse the content or views of the sponsor, and the sponsorship is to be treated purely as a fund-raising exercise to benefit the project. Moreover that the sponsor is solely responsible for delivering the product.
4. Quality - The Inkscape project should, before accepting any co-sponsorship agreement, ensure that the products being offered or sold is of sufficient quality, and provide real value to the Inkscape community (basically that the items are worth buying, and not just a scheme to make as much profit as possible without offering sufficient value to the buyers).
5. Commitment - The sponsor should be able to follow up on what they are selling and maintain a good customer satisfaction rating on their chosen commercial platform. The Inkscape Project should take into account the history, ratings, and reviews for products sold by the sponsor to protect Inkscape users.
6. Ongoing - If the project determines at any time that the sponsor is not keeping up with their promised delivery of goods, or the quality or content of the products being sold is not adequate, the project reserves the right to cancel at any time, and for any reason the sponsorship agreement.
7. For-Profit Only - These terms only apply to sponsors who wish the Inkscape Project to advertise these co-sponsorship deals. For example an Inkscape press release could read: "Help raise money for Inkscape, while learning from the professionals! XXXX is generously donating 50% from this professional tutorial course to fund development of Inkscape! Thanks XXXX!) These terms do not apply to folks who just want to donate without any press releases from the Inkscape Project.
8. Honesty - Obviously, we should ensure that sponsors follow up on the promise to donate the stated funds to the Inkscape Project. We can encourage this with a running-total press release, for example: "Donations from XXXX's Inkscape course just passed the £10,000.00 mark! Our next hackfest is fully funded!" etc.
9. Ending a sponsorship - When the sponsor wishes to end the sponsorship deal, it should be made clear that funds are no longer going to the Inkscape Project. This can be done with a thank you press release, like this: XXXX has raised a total of £150,000.00 for Inkscape's development. On behalf of the Inkscape Project, we'd like to thank XXXX for this generous donation and wish them good luck on future projects.
Any thoughts are welcome. :)
Thanks for your attention! -C
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most engaging tech sites, Slashdot.org! http://sdm.link/slashdot
_______________________________________________ Inkscape-devel mailing list Inkscape-devel@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/inkscape-devel
On Fri, Aug 10, 2018 at 10:56:27AM +0100, C R wrote:
There has been an increase in people within the project wanting to give back to Inkscape in the form of donating a percentage of their earnings from Inkscape courses, tutorials, artwork sales, etc.
It's my opinion that we should support this, however like any other public sponsorship of Inkscape, I believe donations of this sort should have some rules to ensure there is no conflict of interest.
Here is a brief summary of the sponsorship rights and responsibilities which I think should take effect if the Inkscape Project will be helping with promotion of sales where a percentage is going to the project:
- Neutrality: The Inkscape project will not play favourites amongst
internal and external sponsors who join as Friends of Inkscape.
- Transparency: In the case of promotional releases (Facebook, Twitter, G+
etc.), the Inkscape project will make clear the rules and guidelines of using the Inkscape Project's namesake for promotion, keep a tally of funds donated by the sponsor on our website.
- Non-endorsement policy: Verbiage for press releases should make it clear
that the Inkscape Project does not necesarilly endorse the content or views of the sponsor, and the sponsorship is to be treated purely as a fund-raising exercise to benefit the project. Moreover that the sponsor is solely responsible for delivering the product.
- Quality - The Inkscape project should, before accepting any
co-sponsorship agreement, ensure that the products being offered or sold is of sufficient quality, and provide real value to the Inkscape community (basically that the items are worth buying, and not just a scheme to make as much profit as possible without offering sufficient value to the buyers).
- Commitment - The sponsor should be able to follow up on what they are
selling and maintain a good customer satisfaction rating on their chosen commercial platform. The Inkscape Project should take into account the history, ratings, and reviews for products sold by the sponsor to protect Inkscape users.
- Ongoing - If the project determines at any time that the sponsor is not
keeping up with their promised delivery of goods, or the quality or content of the products being sold is not adequate, the project reserves the right to cancel at any time, and for any reason the sponsorship agreement.
- For-Profit Only - These terms only apply to sponsors who wish the
Inkscape Project to advertise these co-sponsorship deals. For example an Inkscape press release could read: "Help raise money for Inkscape, while learning from the professionals! XXXX is generously donating 50% from this professional tutorial course to fund development of Inkscape! Thanks XXXX!) These terms do not apply to folks who just want to donate without any press releases from the Inkscape Project.
- Honesty - Obviously, we should ensure that sponsors follow up on the
promise to donate the stated funds to the Inkscape Project. We can encourage this with a running-total press release, for example: "Donations from XXXX's Inkscape course just passed the £10,000.00 mark! Our next hackfest is fully funded!" etc.
- Ending a sponsorship - When the sponsor wishes to end the sponsorship
deal, it should be made clear that funds are no longer going to the Inkscape Project. This can be done with a thank you press release, like this: XXXX has raised a total of £150,000.00 for Inkscape's development. On behalf of the Inkscape Project, we'd like to thank XXXX for this generous donation and wish them good luck on future projects.
Any thoughts are welcome. :)
I had an idle thought -- we had talked a while back about allowing individuals on patreon to advertise their pages on Inkscape resources. It occurs to me that the rules above to deal with potential conflicts of interest for product providers possibly might address the same concerns that would exist for service providers. It'd take more thinking but maybe this would enable a sensible way to handle patreon too?
Bryce
participants (4)
-
unknown＠example.com -
Bryce Harrington -
brynn -
C R