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Wikimedia Foundation

Annual Giving
$9.0M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.6M
Decision Time
2mo

Wikimedia Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $9+ million USD (in community grants)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months depending on program
  • Grant Range: $500 - $550,000 USD
  • Geographic Focus: International (8 regional areas worldwide)
  • EIN: 20-0049703

Contact Details

Address: 1 Sansome Street, Suite 1895, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA

Phone: +1-415-839-6885 (email or fax recommended as first option)

Fax: +1-415-347-8540

Website: https://wikimediafoundation.org

Grants Portal: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Start

General Email: info@wikimediafoundation.org

Regional Program Officers: Contact information available on regional funding pages at meta.wikimedia.org

Overview

The Wikimedia Foundation is the nonprofit organization behind Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects. With CEO Bernadette Meehan (appointed December 2025) at the helm, the foundation supports nearly 265,000 volunteers monthly who maintain Wikipedia's 65 million articles across 300+ languages. The foundation awarded over $9 million USD in grants during the last fiscal year to Wikimedia community members, affiliates, and nonprofit organizations worldwide. The Wikimedia Foundation's grant-making focuses on promoting knowledge equity aligned with the strategic direction of the Wikimedia movement, with emphasis on decentralized decision-making, regional committees, and reaching underrepresented and marginalized communities around the world. In April 2023, the foundation announced the first recipients of grant funding from the Wikimedia Endowment to support technical innovation. The foundation also created a $4.5 million Knowledge Equity Fund to advance more equitable, inclusive representation in Wikimedia projects. The foundation is described by Inside Philanthropy as "a surprisingly accessible and approachable funder."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Wikimedia Foundation operates several distinct funding programs:

Wikimedia Community Fund - Rapid Fund: $500 - $5,000 USD

  • Short-term, low-cost projects by Wikimedia community members
  • Average grant: $2,250 USD
  • Processing time: 2 months
  • Rolling cycles throughout the year (5 cycles annually)
  • Application method: Online via Meta-Wiki

Wikimedia Community Fund - General Support Fund: $10,000 - $550,000 USD

  • Flexible general operating support for individuals, groups, or affiliates with larger projects or programs
  • Average annual grant for first-time grantees (FY 2024/25): $33,000 USD globally
  • Minimum: $10,000 USD
  • Processing time: 3 months
  • Application method: Online application through scheduled rounds (Round 1 and Round 2 annually)
  • Required: Contact with Regional Program Officer at least one month before deadline

Wikimedia Research & Technology Fund - Research Fund: $2,000 - $150,000 USD

  • Type 1 & 3: Up to $50,000 USD for up to 12 months
  • Type 2: Up to $150,000 USD total ($75,000 max per year) for up to 24 months
  • Average grant (2021-2022): $32,500 USD
  • Open to individuals, groups, and organizations with expertise in research on Wikimedia projects
  • Particularly encourages submissions from researchers in Central and South America, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia

Conference & Event Fund: $10,000 - $90,000 USD

  • Average grant: $83,000 USD
  • Processing time: 3 months
  • For applicants who have received Wikimedia Foundation funds before
  • First-time applicants should contact conferencegrants@wikimedia.org

Wikimedia Hub Fund: Variable amounts (no set minimum or maximum)

  • Total of $700,000 USD available for June 2025 - June 2026 period
  • Past research initiatives funded at approximately $25,000 USD
  • For Wikimedia Movement groups composed of affiliates, unaffiliated groups, organizers, or project contributors

Priority Areas

The Wikimedia Foundation funds projects that:

  • Advance free knowledge and support Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia and sister projects)
  • Benefit underrepresented and marginalized communities worldwide
  • Promote knowledge equity aligned with the Wikimedia movement's strategic direction
  • Support editathons, outreach efforts, events, and conferences
  • Conduct research on or about Wikimedia projects
  • Develop technical innovations for Wikimedia projects
  • Build capacity for Wikimedia affiliates and community members
  • Create partnerships with cultural institutions (GLAM projects)
  • Foster community organizing and outreach
  • Support content creation campaigns

Special Focus: The foundation emphasizes reaching underrepresented communities through decentralized decision-making and regional committees operating across eight geographic regions.

What They Don't Fund

Eligibility Exclusions:

  • Organizations outside the Wikimedia Movement whose activities are not 100% related to and focusing on Wikimedia projects
  • Wikimedia Foundation staff members or contractors working more than part-time (over 20 hours per week)
  • Individuals or organizations appearing on the US Department of Treasury Specially Designated Nationals And Blocked Persons List (SDN)
  • Applicants located in countries that cannot legally receive funding under US law

Conduct-Based Restrictions:

  • Applicants blocked on any Wikimedia project (even if proposed work is unrelated)
  • Applicants blocked, banned, or flagged within the past year by Wikimedia Foundation staff or affiliates for violations of the Universal Code of Conduct or Friendly Space Policies
  • Applicants repeatedly blocked or flagged for the same issue on a Wikimedia project
  • Applicants not in good standing regarding ethical behavior (social, financial, or legal) within the community

Legal Requirements:

  • Only registered nonprofit organizations can receive funding (must provide proof of nonprofit status)
  • For-profit entities are not eligible

Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive Officer: Bernadette Meehan (appointed December 2025)

Governance Structure: The Wikimedia Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees that includes community-elected trustees, appointed trustees, and ex-officio members.

Grant Decision-Making: The foundation operates through Regional Fund Committees in eight geographic regions. Regional Program Officers work closely with these committees to review proposals, provide guidance to applicants, and make funding decisions. This decentralized approach ensures regional expertise and cultural understanding inform funding decisions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Wikimedia Community Fund (Rapid Fund & General Support Fund):

  1. Select your funding region and identify your Regional Program Officer via the Meta-Wiki grants pages
  2. For General Support Fund: Contact your Regional Program Officer at least one month before the application deadline (required)
  3. Create a proposal following the templates provided on Meta-Wiki
  4. Submit your application online through the Meta-Wiki grants portal
  5. Participate in community review and feedback period
  6. Regional Fund Committee makes funding decision

Research Fund:

  1. Review eligibility requirements and funding types (Type 1, 2, or 3)
  2. Submit proposal via Meta-Wiki following provided guidelines
  3. Proposals undergo review by subject matter experts
  4. Funding decisions communicated to applicants

Conference & Event Fund:

  • First-time applicants (no previous funding over $5,000 USD): Contact conferencegrants@wikimedia.org to discuss your event before applying
  • Returning applicants: Apply directly through Meta-Wiki portal

Hub Fund:

  • Applications submitted through Meta-Wiki for specific funding cycles

Important Application Requirement: The Regional Program Officer is a critical resource. According to foundation guidance, applicants should contact their Regional Program Officer as they start thinking about their application. The officer will help determine which round to apply for and support throughout the process.

Decision Timeline

Rapid Fund:

  • 2 months from submission to decision
  • 5 cycles annually with rolling deadlines (Cycle 1 deadline: July 1, 2025)

General Support Fund:

  • 3 months from submission to decision
  • 2 rounds annually with fixed deadlines
  • Decisions communicated in early January for grants covering January-December period
  • Multi-year funding follows the same timeline as General Support Fund

Research Fund:

  • Processing time varies by proposal type and complexity
  • Decisions for 12-month projects (Type 1 & 3) and 24-month projects (Type 2)

Conference & Event Fund:

  • 3 months processing time

Success Rates

Specific overall success rates are not publicly disclosed by the Wikimedia Foundation. However, examples from 2024 show:

  • The MEA Regional Committee reviewed approximately 30 funding applications totaling $80,000 for the Rapid Fund
  • The Wiki Loves Earth team led decision-making on 12 applications, amounting to $43,133
  • Not all applications receive their full requested amounts (example: one 2024 application requested €130,000 and was awarded €105,000)

In 2021-2022, the Rapid Fund distributed 363 grants, averaging $2,250 per grant.

Reapplication Policy

The search results did not reveal explicit reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants. For Research Fund grants, the foundation will consider re-applications in the second year for a third year of funding extension, though this refers to extending existing grants rather than reapplying after rejection.

Applicants seeking clarification on reapplication policies should contact their Regional Program Officer directly.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Wikimedia Foundation's documented priorities and successful applications:

1. Alignment with Wikimedia's Mission The foundation funds projects that are "100% related to and focusing on Wikimedia projects." Your work must directly support Wikipedia or sister Wikimedia projects. Projects that only occasionally collaborate with Wikimedia are not eligible.

2. Focus on Underrepresented Communities The foundation explicitly prioritizes projects that "benefit underrepresented and marginalized communities around the world." Successful applications demonstrate how they will reach these communities and advance knowledge equity.

3. Strategic Messaging with Clear Narrative According to the successful 2017 Wiki Education Foundation application, strong proposals include:

  • Strategic messaging tailored to specific audiences (funders, instructors, community members)
  • A clear narrative arc that positions the work within current information challenges
  • Demonstration of how the project improves information accuracy or access

4. Integrated Approach Successful applicants present integrated plans that align research, messaging, capacity building, community engagement, and measurable results. The Wiki Education Foundation's grant helped them secure an additional $375,000 from another funder, demonstrating the multiplier effect of well-designed projects.

5. Early Engagement with Regional Program Officers The foundation explicitly requires General Support Fund applicants to contact their Regional Program Officer at least one month before the deadline. This relationship building is critical—officers help applicants understand which round to apply for and provide support throughout the process.

6. Compliance with Community Standards Applicants must be in good standing within the Wikimedia community. This includes:

  • Following the Universal Code of Conduct and Friendly Space Policies
  • No blocks on Wikimedia projects
  • Demonstrated ethical behavior (social, financial, legal)

7. Realistic Budgets and Timelines Applications should request appropriate amounts for the grant program:

  • Rapid Fund: Small, short-term projects ($500-$5,000)
  • General Support Fund: Established programs requiring sustained investment ($10,000-$550,000)
  • Research Fund: Research with clear methodologies ($2,000-$150,000)

8. Geographic Diversity The Research Fund particularly encourages submissions from researchers in Central and South America, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia. Applications from these regions may have strategic advantage as the foundation seeks to increase geographical diversity.

9. Community Review Readiness Applications undergo community review and feedback periods. Successful applicants are prepared to engage constructively with community feedback and demonstrate responsiveness to questions and concerns.

10. Documentation of Capacity For larger grants, demonstrate your organization or group's capacity to manage the proposed work, including relevant experience, track record with similar projects, and organizational stability.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Engage early with your Regional Program Officer - This is not optional for General Support Fund and strongly recommended for all programs. They provide critical guidance on application timing and strategy.

  • Demonstrate 100% commitment to Wikimedia projects - The foundation funds work that is exclusively focused on Wikipedia and Wikimedia sister projects. Occasional collaboration is not sufficient.

  • Center underrepresented communities - Applications should explicitly address how they will reach and benefit marginalized communities. This is a core strategic priority for the foundation.

  • Multiple funding pathways available - The foundation operates several distinct programs with different grant sizes. Match your project to the appropriate program (Rapid Fund for quick small projects, General Support Fund for sustained programs, Research Fund for research initiatives).

  • The foundation is approachable - Inside Philanthropy describes Wikimedia as "a surprisingly accessible and approachable funder." Take advantage of this by reaching out to program officers with questions.

  • Community standing matters - Your reputation and behavior within the Wikimedia community directly affects eligibility. Blocks, conduct violations, or ethical issues will disqualify your application.

  • Think regionally - The foundation uses decentralized regional decision-making. Understanding your region's priorities and building relationships with your Regional Fund Committee can strengthen your application.

References

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