OpenStates.org in public beta

It's really nice to see all of this information in a format that is so easy to access, and so easy to navigate. I look forward to sharing this with my students in the fall (in Alaska).

Can you share a little about your funding model?

Re: OpenStates.org in public beta

#5

Post by dataisfun » Sat, Jul 28, 2012, 5:56 AM UTC

Fantastic. I'd love if you could tie in political contributions and voting patterns, as well as various types of patterns (which committees hold up what kinds of bills), etc.

Re: OpenStates.org in public beta

#6

Post by austinc » Sat, Jul 28, 2012, 11:09 AM UTC

japhyr wrote: post #4

It's really nice to see all of this information in a format that is so easy to access, and so easy to navigate. I look forward to sharing this with my students in the fall (in Alaska). Can you share a little about your funding model?

This is a project of the Sunlight Foundation: http://sunlightfoundation.com/about/funding/

Re: OpenStates.org in public beta

#7

Post by japhyr » Sat, Jul 28, 2012, 12:07 PM UTC

austinc wrote: post #6

japhyr wrote: post #4

It's really nice to see all of this information in a format that is so easy to access, and so easy to navigate. I look forward to sharing this with my students in the fall (in Alaska). Can you share a little about your funding model?

This is a project of the Sunlight Foundation: http://sunlightfoundation.com/about/funding/

Do you mind sharing what that funding covers? The smallest entry for "Who We Fund" [1] from the Sunlight Foundation in 2012 is $7500, and I don't see OpenStates listed. Does that mean there is very little funding, and this is mostly a volunteer effort?

I ask because I am interested in some non-profit work, and I am curious if developers on non-profit projects find ways to get paid a fair rate for their development work.

Re: OpenStates.org in public beta

#8

Post by austinc » Sat, Jul 28, 2012, 1:45 PM UTC

japhyr wrote: post #7

austinc wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a project of the Sunlight Foundation: http://sunlightfoundation.com/about/funding/

Do you mind sharing what that funding covers? The smallest entry for "Who We Fund" [1] from the Sunlight Foundation in 2012 is $7500, and I don't see OpenStates listed. Does that mean there is very little funding, and this is mostly a volunteer effort? I ask because I am interested in some non-profit work, and I am curious if developers on non-profit projects find ways to get paid a fair rate for their development wo…

I'm just a fan and not affiliated with the project in any way, so unfortunately I can't help you there.

Re: OpenStates.org in public beta

#9

Post by _delirium » Sat, Jul 28, 2012, 4:28 PM UTC

japhyr wrote: post #7

austinc wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a project of the Sunlight Foundation: http://sunlightfoundation.com/about/funding/

Do you mind sharing what that funding covers? The smallest entry for "Who We Fund" [1] from the Sunlight Foundation in 2012 is $7500, and I don't see OpenStates listed. Does that mean there is very little funding, and this is mostly a volunteer effort? I ask because I am interested in some non-profit work, and I am curious if developers on non-profit projects find ways to get paid a fair rate for their development wo…

It looks like it's an in-house project at the Sunlight Foundation, by paid staff. The primary dev (going by GitHub checkins) seems to be Paul Tagliamonte, who is a Sunlight Foundation employee: http://sunlightfoundation.com/people/ptagliamonte/

Re: OpenStates.org in public beta

#10

Post by jamesturk » Sat, Jul 28, 2012, 4:53 PM UTC

japhyr wrote: post #7

austinc wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a project of the Sunlight Foundation: http://sunlightfoundation.com/about/funding/

Do you mind sharing what that funding covers? The smallest entry for "Who We Fund" [1] from the Sunlight Foundation in 2012 is $7500, and I don't see OpenStates listed. Does that mean there is very little funding, and this is mostly a volunteer effort? I ask because I am interested in some non-profit work, and I am curious if developers on non-profit projects find ways to get paid a fair rate for their development wo…

Hi, I'm actually the lead dev (Paul works with me, but is a recent addition to the project). Glad to see the interest on here.

Our funding is down on that page under 2011, it comes from the Rita Allen foundation. We do get paid a fair rate (I'd say, granted it isn't what we could be making in some places but it isn't that far off, plus I get to write open source code all day and do something I care about.)