Common determination responses
The following language is high-level response language used for determinations as they move through our decision process.
Thank you for your application to Reset and your patience as we concluded our review process. Upon evaluation of your application, we have decided that Reset is not able to provide the requested financial support at this time. You can find more information on our review process at https://guide.reset.tech/for-applicants/fund-guidelines.
At the end of this message, we have provided additional feedback from our review. If you have any questions or comments, please respond via our submission platform or reply to this email with your input. We very much welcome a continued discussion. We encourage you to re-apply in the future if you feel your project has addressed our stated concerns or if you have other project ideas.
We also encourage you to explore alternative sources of support. As a resource to help you find additional funding, we are sharing a link to the Open Technology Fund’s compiled list of relevant alternate sources of support: https://guide.opentech.fund/appendix-iv-alternative-sources-of-support
Again, we apologise for adding additional uncertainty and delays in these already uncertain times. We cannot express enough our appreciation for your submission and your patience while we completed our evaluation process. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavours.
We very much appreciate the application you submitted to Reset for consideration. Upon evaluation of your submission, we have decided to solicit more information from you before making a determination. We have been reviewing many applications and appreciate your patience during the process.
At the end of this message, we have provided feedback from our determination for your review. Included are specific questions for you to respond. Please provide your responses by accessing your application and submitting a private comment. If you do not yet have an account on the submission platform, please click the application link to be redirected to a login page where you can click the forgot password link to create one. A password reset e-mail with a one-time login link will be sent to this email address. When you click the link in this new e-mail you will be prompted to set a new password and should then be able to access your application and submit your response. Should you have files you would like to include, you can share them by replying to this message. You can also get in touch should you experience any challenges in accessing your application. Please respond no later than the stated deadline . Early responses are welcome. We very much look forward to the discussion.
Upon evaluation of your proposal, we have decided to solicit more information from you before making a determination. We have been reviewing many applications and appreciate your patience during the process.
At the end of this message, we have provided feedback from our determination for your review. Please provide your responses by updating your application no later than the stated deadline. This can be done by clicking the edit icon in the upper right of the submission details tab. We very much look forward to the discussion.
We very much appreciate your submission to Reset for consideration. Upon evaluation of your submission, we have decided to send your application to the Reset Network Investment Council. Please review any questions below and provide responses by updating your application no later than the stated deadline. This can be done by clicking the edit icon in the upper right of the submission details tab. Meeting the deadline is essential for ensuring your submission is included in the next round of applications going before the Network Investment Council for review.
We very much appreciate your detailed responses to our questions. Upon evaluation of your submission, we have decided to send your application to the Reset Network Investment Council. We will inform you on the outcome upon completion of Council review.
We very much appreciate your submission to the Reset for consideration. Upon Network Investment Council evaluation of your application, we have decided to solicit more information from you before making a final determination.
At the end of this message, we have provided feedback from our determination for your review. Please provide your responses by updating your proposal no later than the stated deadline.
Activities described within this application do not clearly fit within the scope of our goals, which aims to advance research into the ways technology is harming democracy and opportunities for mitigation, foster development of technologies to combat surveillance commerce and digital threats to democracy, and advance a global public policy agenda that sets fair rules and standards for Big Tech companies. However, if the scope of your project should change and fits within these goals and principles, we encourage you to reapply.
Your application raises an important issue, however, it is unfortunately not directly within the aim of our goals. Where your application addresses critical issues, the proposed project was not considered adequately tied to surveillance capitalism or one of the other interrelated obstacles Reset is working to overcome. Reset is focused on advancing research into the ways technology is harming democracy and opportunities for mitigation, fostering development of technologies to combat surveillance commerce and digital threats to democracy, and advocating for a global public policy agenda that sets fair rules and standards for Big Tech companies. While this focus area provides Reset with considerable latitude in funding determinations, it also defines the limits. Reviewers did not identify an adequate connection as to how the proposed project would address specific problems related to these issues. If you consider this determination inaccurate, you are welcome to re-apply and more explicitly highlight how your idea squarely aligns with our mission.
While the proposed project was found to be consistent with the mission of Reset, a number of ongoing efforts exist to address the stated issues. Reviewers did not identify an adequate number of unique traits that would be specific to this project. The applicant is welcome to re-apply with a stronger demonstration of how the project is distinct from others.
The application appears to broadly fall within the mission of Reset. While the project described was seen as having the potential to generate impact, reviewers did not identify an adequate demonstration that it has moved beyond an initial idea, into a viable Proof of Concept Phase, or beyond. This was a result of the omission of key details in the application around the project implementation. As this project progresses, we encourage you to consider reapplying as the underlying steps of this project are more well known.
Reset-supported projects are advancing research into the ways technology is harming democracy and opportunities for mitigation. While the research described was broadly in line with our mission, reviewers did not find the proposed project to be well-grounded in rectifying the damage being caused by surveillance capitalism including efforts of generating awareness to audiences outside traditional research communities.
We found the funding amount requested to be significantly higher than what Reset is able to provide for efforts of similar scale. Reset awards at this level for first-time projects are very infrequent and come with an extremely high bar of justification. Please note that while Reset’s target support ceiling is $300,000, most supported efforts are receiving between $50,000 and $200,000. This allows us to empower a new pool of technology and community efforts that may not have been otherwise supported.
Activities described within this application appeared to fit within the scope of our goals, which aim to advance research into the ways technology is harming democracy and opportunities for mitigation, foster development of technologies to combat surveillance commerce and digital threats to democracy, and advance a global public policy agenda that sets fair rules and standards for Big Tech companies. Nonetheless, the applicant appeared to be requesting general organisational support which is not something Reset provides at this time (See also https://guide.reset.tech/for-applicants/fund-guidelines#overhead-costs). The applicant is welcome to re-apply as long as a clearly defined set of objectives and deliverables can be provided.
Activities described within this application do fit within the scope of our goals, which aim to advance research into the ways technology is harming democracy and opportunities for mitigation, foster development of technologies to combat surveillance capitalism and digital threats to democracy, and advance a global public policy agenda that sets fair rules and standards for Big Tech companies. Nonetheless, reviewers expressed skepticism that the proposed outputs would generate commensurate impact with the funds being requested (or compared to other applications reviewed at the same time), in particular, advances in policy and/or improved corporate practices for priority beneficiaries (https://guide.reset.tech/for-applicants/fund-guidelines#target-beneficiaries). The applicant is welcome to re-apply as long as a clear demonstration around how the project will assist the general public can be provided.
Reset strongly believes in the benefits of projects such as yours that provide under-served populations with Internet access and online services. Nonetheless, Reset aims to advance research into the ways technology is harming democracy and opportunities for mitigation, foster development of technologies to combat surveillance commerce and digital threats to democracy, and advance a global public policy agenda that sets fair rules and standards for Big Tech companies. While these criteria provide Reset with considerable latitude in funding determinations, it also defines the limits. Numerous other programs have the remit and associated expertise to support international information and communication technologies development projects. In many cases, this includes bringing Internet connectivity and essential services to those without it. A list of potential supporters can be found at https://guide.opentech.fund/appendix-iv-alternative-sources-of-support#information-and-communications-technologies-for-development-ict-4-d-including-deploying-internet-connectivity.
Reset strongly believes in the benefits of projects such as yours that combat surveillance by governments and other non-corporate actors. While the grave danger to human rights posed by these actors is undeniable, we aim to counter the threats posed by Big Tech companies to democratic institutions. Reviewers did not identify an adequate connection as to how the proposed project would address specific problems related to these issues. If you consider this determination inaccurate, you are welcome to re-apply and more explicitly highlight how your idea squarely aligns with our mission.
We would like to stress that online harassment is an issue that desperately needs to be tackled for the Internet to serve as a safe place for all communities. Reset’s mission is focused on advancing research into the ways technology is harming democracy and opportunities for mitigation, fostering development of technologies to combat surveillance commerce and digital threats to democracy, and advocating for a global public policy agenda that sets fair rules and standards for Big Tech companies. Reviewers did not identify a clear connection between the project and these objectives. If you consider this determination inaccurate, you are welcome to re-apply and more explicitly highlight how your idea squarely aligns with our mission.
While advancing the proposed project would clearly help individuals increase their online privacy, reset’s mission is focused on advancing research into the ways technology is harming democracy and opportunities for mitigation, fostering development of technologies to combat surveillance commerce and digital threats to democracy, and advocating for a global public policy agenda that sets fair rules and standards for Big Tech companies. Reviewers did not find your application to adequately demonstrate how the objectives would be advanced by supporting the further development of the technology being focused on. If you consider this determination inaccurate, you are welcome to re-apply and more explicitly highlight how this project squarely aligns with our mission.
Last modified 2yr ago