Deadline: 10-Mar-23
Applications are now open for the Wikimedia Alliances Fund to support mission-aligned organizations, which work in regions and communities that are underrepresented in the movement, and can partner with the Wikimedia Movement to amplify each other’s work.
The Wikimedia Alliances Fund supports organizations that can contribute toward the strategic direction of the Wikimedia Movement, especially those that promote knowledge equity. They emphasize the need for underrepresented communities and historically marginalized communities in the movement to have access to resources they need to accomplish their goals. Programs from mission-aligned organizations and groups can focus on supporting contributors, editors, content, awareness, skill-building initiatives, advocacy efforts, strategic planning and developing stable partnerships with local Wikimedia communities and Wikimedia projects.
Types of Funding
- Rapid funds for activities that are time bound and have a clear collaboration with the local Wikimedia communities. Eg: edit-a-thons, hack-a-thons, meet-ups, celebrations, campaigns.
- Programmatic support can be towards furthering ongoing activities, programs, initiatives. It can also be used to ideate, incubate or build new systems of collaboration with the free knowledge ecosystem. Overhead expenses of up to 30% will be allowed to support the stability of partner organizations.
Types of Grantee
- Individual – grant to a person, who is at least 18 years old, and grant funds will be received in the individual’s personal bank account (i.e. non-commercial, non-organizational)
- Non-incorporated group – a group of individuals with at least one person over 18 years old receiving a grant together, and grant funds will be received in the group’s joint or dedicated multi-user bank account. Grant funds should not commingle with non-grant funds.
- Non-profit organization – a legally registered organization recognized as non-profit in their local contexts that is equivalent to the US 501(c)(3) status, and grant funds will be received in their organization’s commercial bank account
- Fiscal sponsorship – where a non-profit organization manages the fiscal responsibility for a grant on behalf of the Grantee
Eligibility Criteria
- Organizations that have missions that are aligned with the Wikimedia movement, in an underrepresented/emerging community and have a proposal to collaborate directly with the Wikimedia Community and/or Wikimedia projects.
- They are focused on working with non-profit organizations. However, they understand that some mission led organizations have adopted different organizational structures, and they want to ensure they have an opportunity to assess the fit of their proposals for impact. Please be in contact with the Wikimedia Alliances PO if you have a different status.
- In addition to the program Eligibility and Selection criteria for of each WMF’s grant programs, eligibility to be considered for grant funding includes but is not limited to the following:
- A person or organization is not listed in the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) watchlists.
- Registered organizations must be nonprofit and can provide proof of their nonprofit status.
- Returning Grantees must be in good standing.
- Wikimedia Affiliates must be in good standing, which includes up to date reporting requirements.
- A community member must not have a current ban on any of the Wikimedia projects.
- A potential organizational Grantee must be able provide financial history demonstrating previous experience in successfully administering funds comparable to the current grant/amount being requested. This is common for but not limited to Alliances Fund or Conference Fund.
Deadlines
- Latin America and The Caribbean: March 10, 2023
- CEE and Central Asia: March 10, 2023
- United States and Canada: March 10, 2023
- South Asia: March 16, 2023
- ESEAP (East Asia & Pacific): March 16, 2023
- Northern and Western Europe: March 24, 2023
For more information, visit Wikimedia Foundation.