Wikipedia wastes money. Don't donate

[ナルゴ]

Wikipedia's annual financial report for 2024 is out
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Annual_Plan/2023-2024/Finances
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/foundation/f/f6/Wikimedia_Foundation_2024_Audited_Financial_Statements.pdf

Supporting equity represents the second largest part of our programmatic work, with grants and Movement support representing the majority of the budget within the equity goal.

Budget by Goal
$86.1 M - Infrastructure
$31.2 M - Equity
$20.5 M - Safety & Inclusion
$39.2 M - Effectiveness

Aligned with Movement Strategy, we continue to grow the Foundation's direct support to the Movement. This year, we will increase overall Movement support by 15%, including funding for Wikidata, in line with the existing plan for that project, and grants by 7% compared to this year.

If you see another banner or ad from wikipedia begging you for money because they desperately need funds, then don't believe them. Their budgets are in the tens of millions and in their own financial statements, they say they have $286,759,938 in total assets.

Operating expenses:
106,793,960 - Salaries and benefits
26,820,080 - Awards and grants
3,116,445 - Internet hosting
263,476 - In-kind service expenses
7,547,718 - Donation processing expenses
13,090,040 - Professional service expenses
10,798,140 - Other operating expenses
5,824,979 - Travel and conferences

You read that right. $3.1 million to actually host the site.
The rest of the $160+ million is on things other than hosting an online encyclopedia.

If you're donating to wikipedia, you're donating to people who are whining that they don't get enough donations for whatever their "movement" is.
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Annual_Plan/2023-2024/Goals/Equity
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Annual_Plan/2023-2024/Goals/Safety_%26_Inclusion

[Tristin]

Okay.

[Devious]

Seems pretty standard for a non-profit. I don't know what you expected or what your point is.

[ナルゴ]

Originally posted by Devious:

Seems pretty standard for a non-profit. I don't know what you expected or what your point is.

Because they misrepresent themselves as desperately needing money on their ads/banners. They don't need the money. They can genuinely keep operating for years if they just cut the programmes unrelated to actually running an online encyclopedia. Hosting, salary, and other costs related to wikipedia itself. Just spend on those.
The world doesn't need another "Equity" movement

[Devious]

Originally posted by Nargo:

Originally posted by Devious:

Seems pretty standard for a non-profit. I don't know what you expected or what your point is.

Because they misrepresent themselves as desperately needing money on their ads/banners. They don't need the money. They can genuinely keep operating for years if they just cut the programmes unrelated to actually running an online encyclopedia. Hosting, salary, and other costs related to wikipedia itself. Just spend on those.
The world doesn't need another "Equity" movement

You kinda do if you're trying to run a mega-encyclopedia in multiple languages that includes articles on topics specific to non-Western countries. You need writers and editors from multiple countries. This is a situation where "equity" is absolutely warranted.

I can understand not caring about those things, but if you're trying to run a universal repository of knowledge, that falls within your project's purview.

[Vox]

Just donated, thanks OP

[Original Cast Recording]

Considering how often I use Wikipedia, I don't mind passing a couple bucks now and then.

I do find their ads annoying though.

[Original Cast Recording]

Originally posted by TANK:

Wikipedia is owned by cia. Donations is to let it appear as if it was crowdfunded and unbiased.

Oh, thank goodness. I was always afraid they just let anybody go in there and edit whatever they wanted.

[allegedly]

I think op has donated to wikipedia many times but now he understands that wikipedia is just a manipulation tool he feels like a fool and doesn't know what to do

[Top Cat]

OK OP... yada yada yada

The resident misery bleats again :-/

[ZZZZZ]

u mean the ppl dont work for free?

[Dracoco OwO]

Wikipedia always have been beggars at the worst moments, now we know they don't even use the money well, so ♥♥♥♥ them, let it die.

[Electric Cupcake]

I tilt more towards the EFF and archive.org nowadays, but the wiki foundation plays a crucial role for humanity now, as well.

[apathy]

Why do you think Steam users are contributors to wokapedia?

[ナルゴ]

Originally posted by Dracoco OwO:

Wikipedia always have been beggars at the worst moments, now we know they don't even use the money well, so ♥♥♥♥ them, let it die.

Exactly. No more money from jimmy wales. Wikipedia is just a wannabe ministry of truth

[abcd]

it's fully funded by a private corporation.

the donations are a donor benefit scam.