We are thrilled to announce that once again the Open Knowledge Foundation is giving out mini-grants to support people hosting Open Data Day events across the world.
Open Data Day is an annual celebration of open data taking place for the eleventh time on Saturday 6th March 2021. Everyone can take part as groups from around the globe create local events to show how they use open data in their communities.
We are extremely grateful to our partners who have provided funding for this year’s mini-grant scheme. These include Microsoft, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Mapbox, Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, Latin American Open Data Initiative (ILDA), Open Contracting Partnership and Datopian.
How to apply?
The deadline to submit your mini-grant application is midday GMT on Friday 5th February 2021. Use this form to make your application.
Who can apply?
Anyone can apply for a $300 USD mini-grant.
This year we are providing mini-grants to both:
- Real world events in your location, and
- Online events to connect with community members and people around the world virtually
We understand that many people sadly will not be able to meet in person for this year’s Open Data Day due to local/national restrictions relating to the Covid-19 pandemic. But we want to help you and open data communities around the world by supporting online events and celebrations. As well as providing mini-grant funds to those running online events, we have shared our tips and advice for running great virtual sessions.
What are the criteria?
Your event or online session must fit into one of the four tracks laid out below to be in with a chance of receiving a mini-grant:
- Environmental data: Use open data to illustrate the urgency of the climate emergency and spur people into action to take a stand or make changes in their lives to help the world become more environmentally sustainable.
- Tracking public money flows: Expand budget transparency, dive into public procurement, examine tax data or raise issues around public finance management by submitting Freedom of Information requests.
- Open mapping: Learn about the power of maps to develop better communities.
- Data for equal development: How can open data be used by communities to highlight pressing issues on a local, national or global level? Can open data be used to track progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs?
What is a mini-grant?
You can only make one application for one event/online session in just one track.
A mini-grant is a small fund of $300 USD to help support groups organising Open Data Day events and online sessions.
The mini-grants cannot be used to fund government events, whether national or local.
We can only support civil society activities.
We encourage governments to find local groups and engage with them if they want to organise events and apply for a mini-grant.
The funds will only be delivered to the successful grantees after:
- The event or online session has taken place, and
- We receive a written report on your event/online session which must be delivered within 30 days of your event
In case the funds are needed before 6th March 2021, you can email opendataday@okfn.org and we will assess whether or not we can help on a case-by-case basis.
Photography and video competition
This year, we will be giving away prizes for the best Open Data Day photographs and videos. These will be used to help promote Open Data Day in the future. Check back soon for more information about how to enter the competition.
About Open Data Day
Open Data Day is the annual event where we gather to reach out to new people and build new solutions to issues in our communities using open data.
The eleventh Open Data Day will take place on Saturday 6th March 2021.
If you have started planning your Open Data Day event already, please add it to the global map on the Open Data Day website using this form. If you are running a free online session open to anyone in the world, we will publish a timetable to promote your online session.
Connect with others and spread the word about Open Data Day using the #OpenDataDay or #ODD2021 hashtags.
Alternatively you can join the Google Group to ask for advice or share tips.
To get inspired with ideas for events or online sessions, read about some of the great events which took place on Open Data Day 2020 in our wrap-up blog post.
Need more information?
If you have any questions, you can reach out to the Open Knowledge Foundation team by emailing opendataday@okfn.org or on Twitter via @OKFN. There’s also the Open Data Day Google Group where you can connect with others interested in taking part, share ideas for your event or ask for help.
