4 ms·

Are you saying Mozilla does _not_ have social development projects? A specific comment on part of this thread seems to indicate it's part of their charter. (or

Are you saying Mozilla does _not_ have social development projects? A specific comment on part of this thread seems to indicate it's part of their charter. (or something, not sure what to call it)

oarsinsync 7y ago
Mozilla explicitly states that they have social development projects. Mozilla is not misleading anyone. The commentor you're replying to explicitly posted[0] this a few comments up as well: > "The direct work of the Mozilla Foundation focuses on fueling the movement for a healthy internet. We do this by supporting a diverse group of fellows working on key internet issues, connecting open Internet leaders at events like MozFest, publishing critical research in the Internet Health Report, and rallying citizens around advocacy issues that connect the wellbeing of the Internet directly to everyday life." [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20876014 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20876014
- RobertRoberts 7y ago
  Thanks, that was the comment I recalled. You seemed to imply that Mozilla was being up front about where the money was being spent. Do you have any documentation on the budget inside Mozilla? Because I think this would solve the issue of transparency for many people here. If only a tiny fraction of the money went to social programs, maybe more people wouldn't care. But if it's a significant portion, then maybe they are being misleading. Either way, it would end some debate on the matter.
  - oarsinsync 7y ago
    Mozilla's financials are public.
  - Ensorceled 7y ago
    https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/about/public-records/ https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/about/public-records/ As a foundation (charity/NFP) its records are, by law, very transparent. Any issue of transparency has been invented.
    - RobertRoberts 7y ago
      Thanks for the link. Since I am not an accountant, I don't think I could look at this paperwork and determine how their budget works. Is anyone here an accountant? Or know of a summary online somewhere by an accountant? The tax paperwork for the company I work at is many hundreds of pages (if not thousands), and I know I could not determine from that paperwork how the money is spent. I'd need actual access to internal books, and even then I'd likely not be able to tell. It seems some budget clarity is in their annual reports: >"In addition to building products and technology, Mozilla also invests in people and organizations around the world who share its mission." https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/foundation/annualreport/2017/ https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/foundation/annualreport/2017/ Who are they supporting? Some real numbers from this page: >In 2017, Mozilla spent $966,365 on its agenda-setting work. >In 2017, Mozilla spent $2,733,016 to support our mobilization work. >In 2017, Mozilla spent $13,256,720 to support the Mozilla Leadership Program. This last bit is suspicious, mainly because it's the same technique used by IKEA to avoid millions in taxes and in this circumstances is a bit scam-like. (trademark royalties) >$10.1M of this revenue came from the proceeds from Firefox, which are transferred from Mozilla Corporation to Mozilla Foundation through a trademark royalty agreement. So here's a clear statement that $10.1 million dollars is moved away from Firefox development and put into the Mozilla Foundation. Why this is really odd is because Mozilla Corp is owned by Mozilla Foundation. Why is the parent organization taking funding from the corporation it's supposed to be supporting? So, it seems that many people are right about Mozilla being clear about where their money is going, but no one seems to be stating they truly understand where that is. This seems like three car monty with donations to Firefox.
Ensorceled 7y ago
It is explicitly part of their charter, that's why claiming that they are spending donations on things like diversity is "misleading" are not correct.
- RobertRoberts 7y ago
  I did a bit of digging, and I am starting to agree they are being open about where their money is going. But I'd argue you don't know where the money is going. I just found that in 2017 income from Firefox development was syphoned off to pay from Mozilla Corporation to Mozzila Foundation to pay for various programs and re-donated to others.

Are you saying Mozilla does _not_ have social development projects? A specific comment on part of this thread seems to indicate it's part of their charter. (or something, not sure what to call it)

oarsinsync 7y ago

Mozilla explicitly states that they have social development projects. Mozilla is not misleading anyone. The commentor you're replying to explicitly posted[0] this a few comments up as well: > "The direct work of the Mozilla Foundation focuses on fueling the movement for a healthy internet. We do this by supporting a diverse group of fellows working on key internet issues, connecting open Internet leaders at events like MozFest, publishing critical research in the Internet Health Report, and rallying citizens around advocacy issues that connect the wellbeing of the Internet directly to everyday life." [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20876014 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20876014

RobertRoberts 7y ago
Thanks, that was the comment I recalled. You seemed to imply that Mozilla was being up front about where the money was being spent. Do you have any documentation on the budget inside Mozilla? Because I think this would solve the issue of transparency for many people here. If only a tiny fraction of the money went to social programs, maybe more people wouldn't care. But if it's a significant portion, then maybe they are being misleading. Either way, it would end some debate on the matter.
- oarsinsync 7y ago
  Mozilla's financials are public.
- Ensorceled 7y ago
  https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/about/public-records/ https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/about/public-records/ As a foundation (charity/NFP) its records are, by law, very transparent. Any issue of transparency has been invented.
  - RobertRoberts 7y ago
    Thanks for the link. Since I am not an accountant, I don't think I could look at this paperwork and determine how their budget works. Is anyone here an accountant? Or know of a summary online somewhere by an accountant? The tax paperwork for the company I work at is many hundreds of pages (if not thousands), and I know I could not determine from that paperwork how the money is spent. I'd need actual access to internal books, and even then I'd likely not be able to tell. It seems some budget clarity is in their annual reports: >"In addition to building products and technology, Mozilla also invests in people and organizations around the world who share its mission." https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/foundation/annualreport/2017/ https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/foundation/annualreport/2017/ Who are they supporting? Some real numbers from this page: >In 2017, Mozilla spent $966,365 on its agenda-setting work. >In 2017, Mozilla spent $2,733,016 to support our mobilization work. >In 2017, Mozilla spent $13,256,720 to support the Mozilla Leadership Program. This last bit is suspicious, mainly because it's the same technique used by IKEA to avoid millions in taxes and in this circumstances is a bit scam-like. (trademark royalties) >$10.1M of this revenue came from the proceeds from Firefox, which are transferred from Mozilla Corporation to Mozilla Foundation through a trademark royalty agreement. So here's a clear statement that $10.1 million dollars is moved away from Firefox development and put into the Mozilla Foundation. Why this is really odd is because Mozilla Corp is owned by Mozilla Foundation. Why is the parent organization taking funding from the corporation it's supposed to be supporting? So, it seems that many people are right about Mozilla being clear about where their money is going, but no one seems to be stating they truly understand where that is. This seems like three car monty with donations to Firefox.

Ensorceled 7y ago

It is explicitly part of their charter, that's why claiming that they are spending donations on things like diversity is "misleading" are not correct.

RobertRoberts 7y ago
I did a bit of digging, and I am starting to agree they are being open about where their money is going. But I'd argue you don't know where the money is going. I just found that in 2017 income from Firefox development was syphoned off to pay from Mozilla Corporation to Mozzila Foundation to pay for various programs and re-donated to others.