Categories for the July 2021 CFP

The July 2021 open call for proposals requires applicants to select one of the four following categories:

Business Plans for Web Monetized Content

For the ecosystem to thrive we need dynamic, diverse, and successful content and creators who embrace Interledger-driven business models for the web. We are interested in proposals that investigate the relationship between specific content types and consumer appetites for monetization. Proposals need to make a compelling plan to generate users, build a Web Monetized community, and offer value propositions that are different from traditional web business models.

Proposals in this category should consider:

• A clear theory of how to grow and sustain a Web Monetized user base with content
• Marketing and outreach plans with specific goals and metrics to test your theory
• Demonstrating an understanding of current monetization applications with ideas for improvements
• Conveying a sophisticated understanding of your user base: what content types will they respond best to?
• How you will invite and include in your design process, people who have been historically marginalized in technology and structurally excluded from financial opportunities.
• How you will use existing tools and code to test your theory on sites with existing Web Monetization functionality.
• What problematic monetization practices do you hope to provide alternatives to?
• A clear plan for compensation to contributors and participants. Is there an opportunity to pay contributors through Web Monetization as part of this relationship?
• If your project’s technical requirements depends on third party technical features you should demonstrate a practical understanding that they will meet your needs
• Partnerships should have letters of support.
• See examples of platforms and networks built around Web Monetized content

Web Monetization API & Interledger Prototypes

For the ecosystem to thrive we need continued development of tools, code, widgets, add-ons, and other technical advancements. We are interested in proposals that have a plan to build important technical infrastructure that will advance the capabilities of Web Monetization to launch new business models for the web. Proposals need to clearly define what the work is with a realistic timeline and budget, and be focused on shipping a beta or minimum viable product.

Proposals in this category should consider:

• Using milestones, team, and budget to demonstrate capability to execute the technology build
• Grounding plans in the current technology
• Providing documented research that there's a need or market for your tool. Grant for the Web has already funded tech builds of all sizes so please ensure you’re building on existing projects – or improving them – rather than duplicating what already exists.
• A philosophy and plan for releasing open source outputs and working within relevant open technology communities.
• Advancing the development of the tech stack by contributing to a larger ILP/WM knowledge base.
• Clearly stating technical dependencies. Partnerships or collaborations to address dependencies will benefit from documented evidence or letters of support.
• Adherence to good web design principles, including the accessibility, internationalization, privacy and security areas in proposal questions, will be key in determining which projects are funded.
• If your project’s technical requirements depend on third party technical features you should demonstrate a practical understanding that they will meet your needs.
• Collaborations with platforms should have letters of support.
• See examples of tools and prototypes

Research on/with/for Web Monetization API & Interledger

For the ecosystem to thrive, a robust body of evidence, arguments, and thought leadership is needed to convince more people to adopt Web Monetization technology and practices. We are interested in proposals that can articulate a clear research question and devise a plan to investigate it with a commitment to share that learning with the wider community. Proposals need to define what the research methodology will be and assemble a team with practical and theoretical knowledge to carry it out. Outputs for this research could include whitepapers, user researcher reports, field/market research, academic papers, technical writing, and crowd-sourced community projects.

Proposals in this category should consider:

• Including a thesis statement and well-scoped and testable research question
• Communicating a clear research methodology and suitable team Demonstrated knowledge of past and/or existing web business models, including the technology that drives them
• Knowledge of existing research. A lit review would be a valuable addition to include in the supporting documents section of the application.
• A clear plan to share and distribute findings to support public learning including fair use licensing.
• How people who have been historically marginalized in technology and structurally excluded from financial opportunities will be included in your project.
• An understanding of any ethical implications of the work and plan to address.
• If your project’s technical requirements depends on third party technical features you should demonstrate a practical understanding that they will meet your needs.
• Collaborations with platforms should have letters of support.
• Read Web Monetization research papers

Advocacy and Public Education

For the ecosystem to thrive we need more participants. There is no shortage of ways to define these participants, including: Web Monetized consumers, content creators, builders, evangelists, and more. We are interested in proposals that help grow the community, make the ideas more digestible, and invite new ecosystem players to get involved. Proposals need to clearly define a plan to target communities, institutions, companies and the general public with a dynamic pathway for people to learn about and advocate for openly networked payments enabled by the Interledger Protocol and the Web Monetization API.

Proposals in this category should consider:

• Producing public and/or educational resources that advance Web Monetization, networked payments, and new business models on the web
• Using open licensing to help the community to learn and grow How you will serve communities that have typically been left out of conversations around advocacy and tech
• Describing a robust marketing and outreach plan with specific strategies, goals, and metrics for your target audience(s)
• Plans may include in-person gatherings, but should not be entirely dependent on them. Any in-person gatherings should have an alternative plan in case COVID restrictions tighten during the project period.
• A plan to Web Monetize all web-based digital outputs
• If your project’s technical requirements depends on third party technical features you should demonstrate a practical understanding that they will meet your needs
• Collaborations with platforms should have letters of support