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Arts, Culture, Humanities : Public Broadcasting and Media

Wikimedia Foundation

Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge

impact data icon

Impact Information is available from our partner, GlobalGiving

four stars

96.15

1 Montgomery Street Suite 1600
San Francisco, CA 94104
tel: (415) 839-6885   Web Site
EIN: 20-0049703

Board Leadership
María Sefidari
Chair

CEO
Katherine Maher
Executive Director

  Score
(out of 100)
Rating
Overall Score & Rating 96.15 four stars
  Financial 94.56 four stars
  Accountability & Transparency 100.00 four stars
This rating was published 10/01/2018 and includes data from FY2017, the most recent 990 received at that time.

The Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. is dedicated to encouraging the growth, development and distribution of free, multilingual content, and to providing the full content of these wiki-based projects to the public free of charge. The Foundation operates some of the largest collaboratively edited reference projects in the world, including Wikipedia, the fourth most visited website in the world. In collaboration with a network of chapters, the Foundation provides the essential infrastructure and an organizational framework for the support and development of multilingual wiki projects and other endeavors which serve this mission.

The Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. is dedicated to encouraging the growth, development and distribution of free, multilingual content, and to providing the full content of these wiki-based projects to the public free of charge. The Foundation operates some of the largest collaboratively edited reference projects in the world, including Wikipedia, the fourth most visited website in the world. In collaboration with a network of chapters, the Foundation provides the essential infrastructure and an organizational framework for the support and development of multilingual wiki projects and other endeavors which serve this mission.

Impact Information

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GlobalGiving Status
Leader Status
This organization has earned GlobalGiving Leader Status by demonstrating active engagement and/or effectiveness over the past year. GG Rewards is the system GlobalGiving uses to reward nonprofits that demonstrate listening to the people they serve, learning, and improving their impact. Organizations receive points which translate into their Status: 52% of organizations are Partner, 22% are Leader, and the top 26% of organizations are Superstar. GlobalGiving is a trusted Impact Information partner of Charity Navigator.
Additional Badges from GlobalGiving
Vetted
This organization has been vetted by GlobalGiving.
This impact information is current as of March 2019, when it was provided to us by GlobalGiving. At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology. Further, the availability of GG Rewards information for charities on our site has no effect on Charity Navigator's evaluation of GlobalGiving.

Financial

four stars

94.56

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

100.00

This rating was published 10/01/2018 and includes data from FY2017, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)
72.6%
  Administrative Expenses 15.9%
  Fundraising Expenses 11.4%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.08
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 1.82
  Program Expenses Growth 18.6%
  Liabilities to Assets 5.9%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Wikimedia Foundation on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Wikimedia Foundation on recent 990s filed with the IRS.

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Wikimedia Foundation (CA) 96.15 four stars
Center for Investigative Reporting (CA) 86.54 three stars
GRIST (WA) 92.82 four stars
Moving Picture Institute (NY) 93.98 four stars
Milkweed Editions (MN) 90.53 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $88,816,654
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $0
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $88,816,654
   Program Service Revenue $0
Total Primary Revenue $88,816,654
   Other Revenue $1,157,313
TOTAL REVENUE $89,973,967
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $51,426,184
   Administrative Expenses $9,551,030
   Fundraising Expenses $8,098,978
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $69,076,192
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $20,897,775
   
Net Assets $113,330,197

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Support for Wikipedia.org $29,735,582 57.8%
Grantmaking and Program Development $21,690,602 42.2%

Ratings History
Wikimedia Foundation has received 3 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2017-06 10/01/2018 96.15 four stars
2016-06 02/01/2018 94.85 four stars
2015-06 03/15/2017 93.00 four stars
2014-06 06/01/2016 89.13 three stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-06 11/01/2015 93.57 four stars
2013-06 08/01/2014 91.90 four stars
2012-06 10/01/2013 91.93 four stars
2011-06 10/01/2012 91.86 four stars
2010-06 09/20/2011 95.49 four stars
 
CN 1.0
2009-06 10/01/2010 86.50 three stars
2008-06 07/01/2009 89.13 three stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 20-0049703
Name in IRS Master File WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION INC
NTEE Code B60
NTEE Classification Adult, Continuing Education
NTEE Type Educational Institutions and Related Activities
Classification Educational Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date March, 2005
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End June
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)
(Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • June, 2017
  • June, 2016
  • June, 2015
  • June, 2014
  • June, 2013
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$307,141 0.44% Katherine Maher Executive Director
Other Salaries of Note
$390,273 0.56% Lila Tretikov Former Executive Director

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
Wikimedia Foundation (CA) 96.15 four stars
Milkweed Editions (MN) 90.53 four stars
National Review Institute (NY) 92.21 four stars
Resource Media (CA) 87.20 three stars
Graywolf Press (MN) 96.66 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

Wikimedia Foundation
1 Montgomery Street
Suite 1600
San Francisco, CA 94104
tel: (415) 839-6885
EIN: 20-0049703

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

María Sefidari
Chair

CEO

Katherine Maher
Executive Director

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