2015 ANNUAL REPORT

Knowledge is joy 28% of people alive today have never known a world without .

2 ANNUAL .WIKIMEDIA.ORG Knowledge is joy

From the moment we learn to speak, we ask questions. “Why is the sky blue?” Ever curious, we build telescopes to explore the stars, and submarines to visit the bottom of the ocean. We make art, music, poetry, and prose to explore our world. We crave knowing—the challenge of learning something impossible, or taking that knowledge and creating something never seen before. We delight in the achievement, the discovery, the spark of recognition. Wikipedia was born 15 years ago. It springs from our need to know, learn, and share amazing things. It is created by people, for people. It belongs to each of us. And now 28% of people alive today have never known a world without Wikipedia.

We celebrate these 15 years by inviting you to share the joy and meaning Wikipedia holds for you.

Let’s celebrate the progress we’ve made: the knowledge we’ve shared, the community that has made this possible, the readers who learn with us, and the joy created every day on Wikipedia. Knowledge is joy!

Jimmy Wales board of trustees wikimedia foundation

3 What does Wikipedia mean to you?

Jyoti, India Michael, Zambia Vaibhaw, India “It’s the most important source of “Wikipedia is like an old man “It is the first thing that pops in my knowledge whenever I am in need. that has been to all the corners of the earth head when I ponder about what we have Thank you so much, Wikipedia.” full of wisdom and knowledge.” done in past decades to make the planet a better place”

Rudi, Indonesia Ali, United States “I rely so much on the neutrality point “Wikipedia is why, even though I spent of view that wikipedia offers. I’m 17 now, most of my adult life out of school as a refugee, and Wikipedia has been my friend when I finally got to a safe place and into since I was 10 years old.” a university, I was able not only to compete with my peers, but to excel.”

4 ANNUAL .WIKIMEDIA.ORG Sharvil, India Shirley, United States Lilit, Armenia “Wikipedia is like “Wikipedia means knowledge “Wikipedia has become our way of living, an all-knowing grandpa.” about anything anyone would ever want the idea which unites all the editors to look up or know about.” around the world!”

Ayman, United States Ayunda, Philippines Irene, Sweden “It is the greatest proof that humans “It is accessible everywhere. The true “Wikipedia is an essential ingredient are collaborative social beings.” nature of knowledge is priceless.” in the world we must build to ensure a prosperous and sustainable future.”

Jeewantha, Sri Lanka J.V., Philippines Bilal, Syria “I make sure to check out the front “Wikipedia is my return to the “It is my world of knowledge; it is my startup page page of Wikipedia at least once a day. purest motivation for learning which in my browser. Wikipedia is when you move Wikipedia symbolizes everything is curiosity—innocent, fragile, naive, from reading to editing, from consuming a free world should be.” and youthful curiosity.” information to producing it. I’m so glad to be part of this great community.”

5 15 interesting things about Wikipedia since it was launched in 2001.

Millions of people have Researchers can predict People who work on Wikipedia are gathered all of this the spread of illness from called “Wikipedians.” knowledge by working data on Wikipedia. Building the world’s largest database of information together from everywhere Researchers from Los Alamos with people from all over can be challenging. around the world. National Laboratory were able Wikipedians write rules, guidelines and essays to to make extremely accurate forecasts about the spread help other people understand being a Wikipedian. Ward Cunningham designed the wiki, the first internet of dengue fever in Brazil and flu in the U.S., Japan, For example, “No angry mastodons” means that you platform that allowed many people to work on a Poland and Thailand by examining three years’ worth shouldn’t edit when you’re hungry or intoxicated. document at the same time. He named it ‘wiki,’ a of Wikipedia search data. Hawaiian word that means ‘quick.’ (There is even The first photo ever a wiki-wiki shuttle in Honolulu.) The first Wikipedia exhibition opened uploaded to Commons You know the , but there’s on March 17, 2006. was a pair of quail. so much more. It was held at the Göttingen University Library in Speaking of birds and photos, Germany and documented the first five years of have you heard of pigeon photography? “A homing Did you also know there’s a free dictionary, free Wikipedia. pigeon was fitted with an aluminium breast harness to textbooks, quotes, learning tools, a travel guide, which a lightweight time-delayed miniature camera and more? Wikipedia became one of could be attached.” the top 10 websites in the world in 2007. It’s the only non-profit anywhere near the top.

6 ANNUAL .WIKIMEDIA.ORG One of the first articles One of the Wikipedians keep lists of ever written was for competition entries controversies and hoaxes the standard poodle. for a new Wikivoyage logo was a snake on Wikipedia. It simply said, “A dog by on a magic towel. One hoax claimed that Lord Byron which all others are measured.” Wikivoyage is the free, worldwide travel guide that kept a crocodile and a honey The page anyone can edit. We thought the snake was super cute badger as pets. It would not be for poodle is now more than even though it didn’t win. easy to uncover this hoax—during his lifetime, 5,000 words, and includes the in addition to numerous cats, dogs and horses, many names that people have invented for poodles British army officer Byron kept a fox, monkeys, an eagle, a crow, a falcon, crossed with other dog breeds: Labradoodle, Sir Adrian Carton de peacocks, guinea hens, an Egyptian crane, a badger, Poochon, Cockapoo, Spoodle, Maltipoo, Goldendoodle, geese, a heron, and a goat. He took a bear to college Schnoodle, Pekapoos, Cavapoo, and Bernedoodle. Wiart’s Wikipedia when he found that dogs were not allowed. article has been Wikipedia helps keep the Internet retweeted more than Behind the scenes, bots do some of open and free. 3,500 times. the repetitive tasks so that volunteers In 2012, the Wikipedia communities blacked out the “Lieutenant General Sir Adrian don’t have to. site to protest Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), an Act Paul Ghislain Carton de Wiart There are almost 2,000 bots approved for use on that free culture advocates believed would negatively VC, KBE, CB, CMG, DSO (5 May 1880–5 June 1963) the English Wikipedia alone, and they even have impact freedom of speech online. was a British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria names. PhotoCatBot helps people find articles that Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for need images. The second-most-edited valour ‘in the face of the enemy’ in various Common- wealth countries. He served in the Boer War, First English Wikipedia It would take over 16 years to read all World War, and Second World War; was shot in the of Wikipedia. article of all time is face, head, stomach, ankle, leg, hip, and ear; survived about pro wrestling. two plane crashes; tunnelled out of a prisoner-of-war And that’s if you didn’t take any breaks, and never slept. From the history, the subculture, camp; and bit off his own fingers when a doctor the characters, the gimmicks, all refused to amputate them. Describing his experiences the way to the “dramatic elements” in the First World War, he wrote, ‘Frankly I had and rules... the article has it all. enjoyed the war.’”

7 People make Wikimedia great.

Whether it’s writing whole articles, correcting tiny typos, making small donations, or just using Wikipedia for research, millions of people around the world unite around Wikimedia’s mission of making it possible for everyone to freely share in the sum of all knowledge.

The people behind the Wikimedia projects come from many cultures, have many backgrounds, but share one simple mission. Here are just some of the tens of thousands of editors, across hundreds of languages, who take pride in developing the Wikimedia projects and helping others in doing the same.

8 ANNUAL .WIKIMEDIA.ORG National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut Terry Virts (left) and European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, attired in training versions of their Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuits, participate in a spacewalk training session in the waters of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL). The EVA team at NASA uses MediaWiki, the same software that runs Wikipedia. MediaWiki is developed and supported by the Wikimedia Foundation.

9 “Wikipedia is for people who have always loved little-known facts, and who get a kick out of documenting things and putting them on a platform like this. It isn’t something that just gets put away.”

10 ANNUAL .WIKIMEDIA.ORG Alice Backer

Sharing all knowledge with every person means working to ensure Alice has been involved with the free culture and knowledge more voices are included in the . New movements since 2005, first as part of Global Voices Online, Yorker Alice Backer has made it her mission to bring in the voices where she covered goings-on in African and Caribbean countries. of underrepresented people on Wikipedia. “The notion of making sure that underrepresented communities Alice runs AfroCROWD editing are better heard online, that’s already workshops at the Brooklyn Public something that’s a passion,” she says. Library. She encourages people to edit Born in Haiti Wikipedia writers have historically Wikipedia to help address biases and lacked diversity. But the editing work- gaps in coverage on topics relating to Joined Wikipedia in 2014 shops she runs also have high rates of people of African descent. female attendance. “People concerned Alice is originally from Haiti, and with cultural preservation, which has been a lawyer for more than ten years. includes language, which includes She became involved with Wikipedia in memory of the important personalities in December 2014, founded AfroCROWD the cultural group… those cultural in February (known in the U.S. as Black organisations tend to be run by women,” History Month), and is now a member she says. of the board of Wikimedia New York City. For Alice, the most important aspect “[AfroCROWD was set up] to bring of these events is including as many more people of African descent to the Favorite article is voices as possible. Even their mission Wikimedia movement through edit-a- statement uses many descriptors to cover thons, through training, and through Alice Garoute as wide a range as they can. support,” she explains. “[The events “[Wikipedia is] the first thing that target] subgroups of people of African pops up when you want to Google descent by making it very clear that their language is on Wikipedia, something. That’s the most important thing that I start the trainings and that they can work in that language when they come to our with,” she says. “It’s for people who have always loved... lit- edit-a-thons if they wish.” tle-known facts, and who get a kick out of documenting things and putting them on a platform like this. [It] isn’t something that just gets put away.”

11 Lionel Allorge

With millions of images available online, it’s easy to think that “Everybody was pleased with what we did, especially the sharing and using those photos ends with just a click and a people [who run the Palace],” he says. “Before, they had to pay save. But the rights to many of these photos still belong to their to use photos from the sky taken by professionals. Now, because photographer, and require permission or payment to use. This the photos [we took] have a free license, they can reuse it whenever is often true of even iconic images, such as pictures of national they want.” monuments or historical events. Lionel has more recently become That’s why Lionel Allorge, a photog- Born in France involved with “GLAM” projects, (partner- rapher and programmer from France, ships between galleries, libraries, archives, began to release his photography under Joined Wikipedia in 2006 museums, and Wikipedia). free licenses to Wikimedia Commons. “We are working with ceramic Unlike conventionally copyrighted images, factory called Sèvres near Paris, well images released under Creative Commons known for their traditional French licenses do not require permission with ceramics,” explains Lionel. “We are every use. filming the people making those ceramics “I took pictures for Wiki Loves so we can save that knowledge for Monuments, a yearly event where people future generations.” try to take pictures of places that are of He says being able to contribute historical interest,” says Lionel. “In to Wikipedia in an area that is not a part France, we are pretty rich with these of his profession has been refreshing. monuments, so it became kind of like a Favorite Wikipedia page is What’s even more exciting for Lionel game to try to take a picture of all of them.” is how wildly perceptions of Wikipedia Recently, Lionel worked with aerial photography have changed over time. ToucanWings, a team of aerial photogra- “At first, everyone was suspicious phers, to shoot the Palace of Versailles, a major French landmark, about Wikipedia, not knowing whether it’s truthful. But now most from the air. Aerial photographs of the palace exist, but those people I know trust it as the first place to go when you want to find photos were not free to use. out about something,” he says. “I think the main success factor of Wikipedia is really that it is free as in beer, and free as in freedom.”

12 ANNUAL .WIKIMEDIA.ORG “I think the main success factor of Wikipedia is really that it is free as in beer, and free as in freedom.”

13 “I believe Hindi is incomplete without , and that Urdu is incomplete without Hindi. If you want to develop one, you must also develop the other.”

14 ANNUAL .WIKIMEDIA.ORG Ahmed Nisar

Hundreds of languages are spoken in India, but there is no one In 2014, Ahmed was honored by his fellow editors for his national language. Instead, the constitution recognizes 22 languages extraordinary contributions to . The award, with official status. Wikimedians in India are passionate about titled the Komarraju Lakshmana Rao Wikimedia Puraskaram, finding a home for each of these is named after Komarraju Lakshmana languages in Wikipedia. Rao, the first modern historian of the That’s where academic Ahmed Born in India Telugu language. The honor encouraged Nisar Syed comes in. As a contributor to him to get more involved. Wikipedia in not one, but four languages— Joined Wikipedia in 2009 Ahmed has been part of outreach Urdu, Telugu, Hindi and English—Ahmed events for Wikipedia in both Telugu and edits across articles covering religion, Urdu languages across India. He has also philosophy, geography, politics, languag- developed an integrated plan for the es, and science. promotion of Persian script-based Indic Ahmed celebrates the close , such as Urdu. connection between many languages As an academic, Ahmed keeps and cultures in India, an intimacy a keen eye on classical Urdu literature reflected in the cooperation between available in several highly respected Wiki projects in Hindi and Urdu. libraries. “Talks are going on with few “I believe Hindi is incomplete without Favorite Wikipedia article is institutions [about the] digitization of Urdu, and that Urdu is incomplete their library books on Unani medicine,” without Hindi,” he explains. “If you about the universe he says. “I strongly believe that these want to develop the , kinds of projects will definitely help to you must develop the Urdu Wikipedia do some better work.” and vice versa.” He hopes that other people will contribute to Wikipedia in Ahmed was born in Madanapalle, a small city in the southeast- their native language, so that Wikipedia can become a bridge ern state of Andhra Pradesh. Today, he lives and works in Pune. between traditional cultures and modernity, preserving cultural When Ahmed started editing Wikipedia, he was one of just two heritage for generations of future knowledge seekers around active Indian editors on Urdu Wikipedia. Today, he counts fourteen the world. active editors in India and more in Pakistan.

15 The Goodall family from Tierra del Fuego are globetrotters. The family has been chronicling their adventures on their website, and say that using Wikipedia has been an integral part of their journey.

16 ANNUAL .WIKIMEDIA.ORG The Museo Soumaya is the most visited museum in Mexico City. It is also the site of the longest continuous Wikimedia edit-a-thon ever recorded.

17 “If grandmothers, mothers edit Wikipedia, they feel how important the work is that they do, and how important it is to make a heritage for future generations.”

18 ANNUAL .WIKIMEDIA.ORG Susanna Mkrtchyan

Susanna Mkrtchyan is a grandmother on a mission: She’s working Susanna realized Wikipedia could create an environment for to give Armenian students the same educational opportunities as scientists inside Armenia and abroad to collaborate and resolve students who live in the United States—and she’s using Wikipedia problems. to do it. She attended 2011 in Haifa, Susanna is a professor in the field of Israel, and talked with Wikimedia database and system research. Two years Born in Armenia Foundation representatives about starting ago, she started using the English she a chapter in Armenia. learned as a student to translate English Joined Wikipedia in 2010 Soon after, Susanna began organiz- Wikipedia into Armenian and Russian. ing activities to meet with the Armenian On the Armenian Wikipedia, she focuses and editors. on Armenian history and education. Not only did she help found the Wikimedia From the capital city Yerevan, Armenia chapter, she is its first president. Susanna incorporates editing Wikipedia “Now we have a more or less active group into her life, finding time between her and we all help each other to make the professional calling and taking care of her Armenian Wikipedia better.” She hopes family. “When I’m not stirring the soup, more people will consider offering their I’m working on Wikipedia.” talents to Wikipedia Armenia. Her twin grandsons used to bring “Wikipedia, editing in Wikipedia her articles about basketball to edit on Favorite Wikipedia article is helps you to better organize your speech,” Wikipedia, so she told them, “Create an The 7 Habits of Highly says Susanna. She also believes it teaches account and edit yourself.” And Susanna tolerance for other people. was the perfect teacher to show them Effective People “If grandmothers, mothers edit the ropes. Wikipedia, they feel how important the “I want our young people to have high education because, work is that they do, and how important it is to make a heritage for after the collapse of the Soviet Union, our education collapsed, future generations,” she said. too, a little,” she says. “That’s why I want to take Wiki projects into universities and schools.”

19 Emna Mizouni

In 1991, Tunisia became the first nation in Africa to connect to the Emna, along with other community members from Northern internet. Today, it is one of the most connected countries in the Africa, have organised three editions of the annual contest in Middle East and North Africa, with a thriving community of digital Tunisia since 2013. The contest has attracted thousands of images activists and free culture advocates. One of these is Wikimedian from volunteers, ten of which are selected as winners every year. Emna Mizouni. “I fell in love with Wikimedia Emna works for Carthagina, projects, and I tried to spread the word,” a non-governmental organization Born in Tunisia she says. “I joined now, so I can contrib- in Tunis that raises awareness about ute and I see the importance of contribut- Tunisian history and heritage. She Joined Wikipedia in 2013 ing. It’s aligned with the objective of my helps make images of Tunisia available NGO, I have to do it. It’s a must-do thing.” to the public through community Emna says the Wikimedia projects projects like can even be used as a form of advocacy, on Wikimedia Commons, the world’s for example to express opposition largest freely-licensed media repository. to terrorism that has taken place in “I’m very concerned about the the area. When Tunisia’s Bardo National heritage and history, so this is an Museum was attacked in 2015, volun- important thing for me,” she says. teers contributed images of the museum, “To promote Tunisian heritage through and expanded related Wikipedia articles. [this] photo contest... [our] monuments, Favorite Wikipedia article is “We’re resisting by doing this,” she historical sites, cuisine, tradition, explains. “It’s not only Tunisia who is customs, everything.” Ramadan Bey Square. concerned with the terrorism. Tunisia Wiki Loves Monuments is a is joining the league of other countries, volunteer-led international photo occidental countries.” contest that encourages people to contribute freely-licensed It’s been a challenging few years for the country, which played images of local historical monuments and heritage sites in their a key role in 2011’s Arab Spring—also documented on Wikipedia. region. According to the Guinness Book of Records, it holds the Emna sees free knowledge as a positive way to move forward. world record for largest photography competition. Each year, “Everyone is aware about the importance of having this more than 300,000 photos are added through the contest. information on Wikipedia, so we are trying to contribute as much as we can,” she says. “We are delivering a new image [of ] Tunisia. We are showing the world the real Tunisia.”

20 ANNUAL .WIKIMEDIA.ORG “The positive energies of it, the wanting to make the world better, that’s Wikipedia for me. That’s what I want to share with people.”

21 Thank you to our contributors!

Wikipedia gives us the ability to share, know, and learn with the entire Qualcomm Employee AON Foundation Employee Thomas Buhr Department of Signals and world. And it’s the generosity of people all over the world that keeps Matching Gifts Matching Gifts David Bydeley Systems, Chalmers University Rear Admiral Gametools Greg Apodaca CA Technologies Employee of Technology, Gothenburg, Wikipedia free and going strong. Donors are a rare and special few: Ed Reed Applied Materials Employee Matching Gifts Sweden about 1% of Wikipedia readers donate. We appreciate that they support RetailMeNot Matching Gifts In honor of Glen Cain Stephen & Elizabeth Detwiler Philip Rogers Maite Arango Brian Cairns Deutsche Bank Americas all of Wikipedia — from our useful everyday facts to our most magical, Bow Ruggeri Etienne Ardant Nina Callas Employee Matching Gifts obscure reaches. In memory of Jerry Saloas Dimitris Armaos Craig Campbell Dev Bootcamp Adriana Sarmiento AT&T Employee Matching Gifts Rob Capps Hester Diamond We are grateful for all donations. We give special thanks to those Selz Foundation Jesse Ausubel Timothy Carey Alex Dingle who gave over 1,000 USD this year: Shaked Family, Tel Aviv AutoDesk Employee Raul Carmenate DirecTV Employee The Shifting Foundation, in honor Matching Gifts Jason Carroll Matching Gifts MAJOR BENEFACTORS LEADING DONORS Lawrence & Elaine Irell of Samuel M. Seaman François Badelon William Cassidy Walt Disney Company Employee Apple Employee Matching Gifts John Abele Foundation Russel Simmons R & A Bandela Casual Connect and Indie Prize Matching Gifts Laura and John Arnold Brad Abernethy Susan Isabel Foundation Yael Taqqu and Jeremy Levine Andy Barcus and Cheryl True CedarCide Sibbald Doan Peter Baldwin and Lisbet Rausing Anurag Acharya and Madhuri In memory of Jizo Tradebot Ventures, Inc. Cornelia Bargmann Ian Chan In Memory of Paul L. Donoho Cards Against Humanity Chattopadhyay Steve Kass Corporate Gifts Leora Barish Nathan Chan Matthew Dorton craigslist Charitable Fund Adobe Employee Matching Gifts Takashi & Saori Kousaka Tupperware Baseline Telecom, Inc Jim Chervenak Kathleen Doster Google Employee Matching Gifts Bank of America Employee Jeffrey Lamkin Aber D Unger Foundation Douglas Bates and Mini Pathria Stuart Cheshire Michael and Denise Doyen Mary Graham Matching Gifts The Lehoczky Escobar Family Peter Wheeler and Kathy Bates James Cho and Sophia Kim Douglas Durst Humble Bundle Boeing Employee Matching Gifts Level 39 Elizabeth Munro Battelle Employee Matching Gifts Michael Choy and Mark Duttweiler and John S. and James L. 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22 ANNUAL .WIKIMEDIA.ORG David Fry Robert and Beth Hurt Lawrence Livermore Employee Steven Miller & Pat Meyer In memory of Andrew Phillips Eric Schmale David L Van Brunt Paul Funk IBM Employee Giving Matching Gifts Ryan Mills Phlebotomy Careers Aaron Schrader Jason VanWees F5 Networks Employee Carla and Philippe Ifrah Peter Large & Mandy Loomis In honor of Trudy Milne Donald R. Pieper Joshua Schripsema and Kresta Austin Hal Varian Matching Gifts IMF Employee Matching Gifts Linda Lee Dr. L. David Mirkin, MD Rahn Pitzer Shell Oil Company Employee Varian Employee Matching Gifts Kevin Gamble lmnarchitecture.com users group Yanfang Lei Jamie Molaro and Ian Reasor Ekaterina Podossinnikova Matching Gifts Genevieve Vaughan Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Inserto Elizabeth and Jon Leonard In memory of Carmen and Stephen Powelson skiprobert David Vaughn Employee Matching Gifts Intetics Co. Leon Levy Foundation Andrew Moore Vipul Ved Prakash Michael Shimoide Vergelijkdirect.com Gay Chemists Support Fund Intuit Foundation Employee Lincoln Loop David S Moore Bouleware Prakhar Prerak Akta Pravin Brett Simmers Verizon Foundation Employee Ken Geib Matching Gifts Gregg & Libby Lindahl Morgan Stanley Employee Precor Incorporated Simply Science, LLC Matching Gifts Genentech Employee Matching Gifts IT Works Inc. Christopher J. Lingle Matching Gifts Robert and Anna Prestezog Silicon Valley Community Foundation Visa Employee Matching Gifts Alan George Douglas Jaffe LinkedIn Employee Matching Gifts Miles Morland Steve G Privette Walter Sinnott-Armstrong Vivaxis James S George Kent Janer John Longres For Sam Mott PromoPro Verbeck Smith VMWare Foundation Employee Betty Harrell Gerlack JobDiva, Inc. Liza Loop Amy Mullen Prudential Foundation Employee Abraham & Marian Sofaer Matching Gifts John Giannandrea Dan Jones The Lowry Family N.C.W. Foundation Matching Gifts The Solera Family Ernst Volgenau Reed Gleason Jay Jones Marilyn Lucht National Instruments Marcel Przymusinski Juha Sorva In memory of Kathy Vosshall Richie Goldman Jay Jones Yonghao Luo Seth Neiman Max J Pucher P. Clark and Margaret Souers Steven Wade Robert J Gordon Shaynon MaGee Jordan Benjamin E Lutch Gregory Nelson Lawrence P. and Teresa L. Pulliam Joel Spiegel In memory of Jack Wahl J. Alex Graeffe Boyan Jovanovic MABTOOLS In loving memory of Elissa Newlander B S Ramamurtie The Spirit of the Sixties Ted Waitt Grainger Employee Matching Gifts JP Morgan Chase Employee Matthew Mackall Jerrold Newman/Willowridge Thomas and Xiaoling Rawson denise stockman Robert Wares Brad Grantham and Kris Ingram Matching Gifts William and Christina Maddox Partners, Inc. Red Hat Employee Matching Gifts David Sunderland Jim and Judy Warner Green Bicycle Fund Juniper Networks Foundation Nathan Mak Mariya Nomanbhoy RefME Squiddershins.com Rich Warner Lawrence Greenfield Employee Matching Gifts Anup Mantri Nordic Naturals, Inc. Richard and Lisa Reichman G. & M. Swaminathan Wells Fargo Matching Gifts Russ & Barbara Guard Kevin Kassing Maple Tree Fund No Starch Press Paul Resnick and Caroline Richardson The Swift River Fund Janet White and Michael Clark Mary Beth Guard James Kelley Lars Markhus Nvidia Employee Matching Gifts Stephen Revilak and Julie Rioux Steve Tak-Shu Tai & Kin-Ching Wu Zack White Linne Ha The Casey Kelsey Family Darrin Massena Lennox Olney Reynolds American Foundation Terry Tai William Wilby Alexandre Haag Kern Charitable Fund Charles Maxfield and Gloria F. 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Miller Evelien & Maarten Vaandrager Celia and Daniel Huber QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR GIVING LEVELS OR DONATING TO THE WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION? PLEASE EMAIL [email protected] 23 Financial position

5 Transparency is a core principle of the Wikimedia Foundation, 4 and we are proud to be recognized as one of the most transparent non-profit organizations in the world. Our annual plan and operating budget are developed through open processes, subject to community feedback and Board approval, and always available to the public for full review. 1 3 As with last year, we have broken down our efforts into three key areas: how donor contributions support the Wikimedia websites, the Wikimedia community, and the free knowledge ecosystem. These are supported by our administrative, governance, and fundraising efforts.

2

1 Direct support to websites 3 Administration & governance Keeping the Wikimedia websites online is about more than Our core values include transparency and accountability. just servers and electricity. It also includes ongoing engineering We manage funds and resources responsibly, and recruit and improvements, product development, design and research, support skilled, passionate people to advance our mission. and legal support. 4 Fundraising 2 Direct support to communities Donors support the Wikimedia mission. The fundraising team The Wikimedia projects exist thanks to the communities that engages these remarkable individuals to ensure the Wikimedia create and maintain them. We strengthen these communities Foundation and communities have the resources they need. through grants, projects, and tools to build capacity of contribu- tors, and support the legal defense of editors. 5 Support of free knowledge Wikimedia is a part of a larger free knowledge movement. An estimated 3.7% of our operating expenditure supports policy, advocacy, education, and partnerships to strengthen and share our mission.

24 ANNUAL .WIKIMEDIA.ORG BALANCE SHEET STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES From July 1st, 2014–June 30th, 2015 From July 1st, 2014–June 30th, 2015 Assets Unrestricted Net Assets Current assets Support and Revenue Cash and cash equivalents 35,195,478 Donations and contributions 72,236,884 Current portion of contributions receivable 1,222,140 In-kind service revenue 235,570 Short-term investments 29,008,310 Other income, net 270,296 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,997,599 Investment income, net 445,341 Total current assets 67,423,527 Release of restrictions on temporarily restricted net assets 2,609,132 Property, plant, and equipment, net 5,089,075 Total support and revenue 75,797,223 Long-term investments 9,259,798 Noncurrent portion of contributions receivable 981,585 Expenses Total assets 82,753,985 Salaries and wages 26,049,224 Awards and grants 4,522,689 Liabilities and Net Assets Internet hosting 1,997,521 Current liabilities In-kind service expenses 235,570 Accounts payable 1,041,901 Donations processing expenses 2,484,765 Accrued expenses 3,649,116 Professional service expenses 7,645,105 Deferred revenue 7,276 Other operating expenses 4,449,764 Other liabilities 235,394 Travel and conferences 2,289,489 Total current liabilities 4,933,687 Depreciation and amortization 2,656,103 Total liabilities 4,933,687 Special event expense, net 266,552 Total expenses 52,596,782 Net Assets Increase in unrestricted net assets 23,200,441 Unrestricted 71,764,845 Temporarily restricted 6,055,453 Temporarily Restricted Net Assets Investments 23,261 Contributions 5,014,816 Total net assets 77,820,298 Release of restrictions on temporarily restricted net assets (2,609,132) Total liabilities and net assets 82,753,985 Increase in temporarily restricted net assets 2,405,684 Increase in net assets from operations 25,606,125 Foreign currency translation adjustment (1,260,848) Increase in net assets 24,345,277 Net assets, beginning of year 53,475,021 Net assets, end of year 77,820,298

25 Wikimedia Endowment

“Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely And Wikipedia is made possible by the world: by the contribu- share in the sum of all knowledge.” tions of tens of thousands of volunteer writers, and millions of generous donors. It is the only donor-sustained name among the That’s the Wikimedia vision. It inspires and informs hundreds world’s most-visited websites. It is supported by the non-profit of millions of people around the globe. To ensure future support for Wikimedia Foundation, which maintains the servers and other this vision, we are pleased to announce the creation of the Wikime- essential operations. dia Endowment. This Endowment will serve as a perpetual source of support for Wikipedia is created by people, for people. It belongs to each of Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation. It will empower people us. From humble beginnings, it has grown to more than 35 million around the world to create and contribute free knowledge, and articles in hundreds of languages, used by hundreds of millions of share that knowledge with every single human being. people all over the world. Wikipedia serves everyone on earth, age zero and up. With your support, we are only getting started. Help us ensure that Wikipedia lives forever! It is a cherished public trust, and a common good. To learn more about the Wikimedia Endowment or planned giving, please write: [email protected]

About the Endowment: The Endowment has been established, with an initial contribution by the Wikimedia Foundation, as a Collective Action Fund at Tides Foundation. Tides is a public charity with a 40-year track record of holding and managing charitable funds for nonprofit organizations. The purpose of the Wikimedia Endowment is to act as a permanent safekeeping fund to generate income to support the operations and activities of the Wikimedia projects in perpetuity. An Advisory Board, nominated by the Wikimedia Foundation and appointed by Tides, will make recommendations to Tides related to the Endowment. Tides or the Wikimedia Foundation may choose to transfer the Endowment from Tides to the Wikimedia Foundation, or other charities identified by the Wikimedia Foundation. At that point, the Endowment would continue to be a permanent, income-generating fund to support the Wikimedia projects.

26 ANNUAL .WIKIMEDIA.ORG Cover image photo by Tanya Habjouqa, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO Page 11 “Alice Garoute” mark by Mule Design, public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:(2011_Education_for_All_Global_Monitoring_ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alice_Garoute.svg Report)_-Government_primary_school_in_Amman,_Jordan_-_Young_girls_reading.jpg Page 12 “Aerial photography” mark by Mule Design, public domain Page 4 photos from Facebook, used with permission https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aerial_Photography_Mark.svg Page 5 photos from Facebook, used with permission Page 13 Lionel Allorge photo by Victor Grigas, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lionel_Allorge.jpg Page 6 Ward Cunningham photo by Carrigg Photography, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ward_Cunningham_-_Commons-1.jpg Page 14 Ahmed Nisar photo by Victor Grigas, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ahmed_Nisar-3.jpg “W” mark by Mule Design, public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:W_mark.svg Page 15 “International Space Station” mark by Mule Design, public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:International-Space-Station_mark.svg quail photo by Node ue, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Two_Gambel%27s_Quail_(Callipepla_gambelii)_-_ Page 16 Goodall family photo by Simon Goodall, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia. Paradise_Valley,_Arizona,_ca_2004.png org/wiki/File:Visiting_the_Nanda_Blue_Hole,_in_the_island_of_Espiritu_Santo_(or_ just_%22Santo%22).JPG Page 7 poodle photo by B. Schoener, public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pudel_Grossschwarz.jpg Page 17 Wikimania 2015 photo by EneasMx, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wikimania_2015_-_Group_photo.jpg wrestling photo by Russell Lee (for the FSA), public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wrestling_-_Sikeston,_MO_1938_-_1.jpg Page 18 Susanna Mkrtchyan by Victor Grigas, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Susanna_Mkrtchyan_at_Wikimania_2015.jpg “snake on a magic towel” mark by Mule Design, public domain https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Towelsnake_mark.svg Page 19 “Shiny Seven” mark by Mule Design, public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shiny_Seven.svg Adrian Carton de Wiart photo by IWM Collections, public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lieutenant_Colonel_Adrian_Carton_de_Wiart.jpg Page 20 “Ramadan Bey Square” mark by Mule Design, public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ramadan_Bey_Square_Sign_Corrected.svg Lord Byron painting by Henry Pierce Bone, public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lord_Byron_by_Henry_Pierce_Bone.jpg Page 21 Emna Mizouni by Victor Grigas, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Emna_Mizouni_%27Rabbit_ “telescope” mark by Mule Design, public domain Hole%27_t-shirt_07-2015.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Telescope_mark.svg Back cover image photo by Myleen Hollero, CC BY-SA 3.0 Page 8 “Nefertiti” mark by Mule Design, public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2015-wiki-allhands-group-0004.jpg File:Nefertiti_mark.svg This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 unported license by “Shaka” mark by Mule Design, public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shaka. Mule Design. svg A web version of this document is available at https://15.wikipedia.org/ “Amelia Earhart” mark by Mule Design, public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amelia-Earhart_mark.svg A wiki version of this document is available at https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/ Wikipedia_15/Site. “EVA” mark by Mule Design, public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EVA_ Mark.svg The Wikipedia puzzle globe logo, by the authors at https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/ Wikimedia_trademarks, CC BY-SA 3.0 Page 9 NASA EVA training photo by NASA/Bill Stafford, public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Terry_Virts_and_Samantha_Cristoforetti_ The Wikimedia Foundation trademarks and logos are usually pending trademark registration spacewalk_training.jpg or are registered trademarks of the Wikimedia Foundation. For more information, please see our Trademark Policy page, https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Trademark_policy or Page 10 Alice Backer photo by Victor Grigas, CC BY-SA 3.0 contact [email protected] https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alice_Backer.jpg

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION OR WIKIPEDIA’S 15TH BIRTHDAY? PLEASE EMAIL [email protected] 27 Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge.

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