Wikimedia Foundation kicks-off fundraising campaign in India
Recently, the Wikimedia Foundation began a fundraising campaign on Wikipedia in India, inviting anyone who relies on Wikipedia to support its future. Banners are appearing on the English Wikipedia in India, asking readers to consider contributing with a donation. The banners have generated a lot of conversation online. We wanted to address some of the….
Amid COVID-19, Wikimedia Foundation offers full pay for reduced hours, mobilizes all staff to work remote, and waives sick time
Update: On March 14, 2020, the Wikimedia Foundation announced new measures to support employees and protect general public health amid COVID-19. As part of these operational actions, we have: Closed both Foundation offices in San Francisco and Washington, DC, until at least March 31, 2020. All staff are now working remotely. Shifted to a reduced….
Amazon to help advance free knowledge for all with new $1 million gift to the Wikimedia Endowment
We are pleased to announce a new $1 million gift to the Wikimedia Endowment from Amazon to support greater access to information for everyone. This is Amazon’s second gift to the Wikimedia Endowment, a permanent fund dedicated to ensuring the long-term sustainability of Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia free knowledge projects. When Wikipedia was created….
Who are the organizers that grow Wikimedia’s communities? New research on actors that bring energy to the Wikimedia movement
The face of Wikipedia’s volunteer community is often an editor—someone who maintains, edits, and writes facts in the vast online encyclopedia. But editors aren’t the only contributors to Wikipedia, WikiCommons, and the other Wikimedia projects: there are many other volunteers who contribute by organizing events and inspiring others to join our volunteer community. Their work,….
How the Wikimedia Foundation is making efforts to go green
Update: The Wikimedia Foundation’s most recent sustainability assessment from 2019 was published on 13 August, 2020. Learn more here. We at the Wikimedia Foundation strive to ensure that our work and mission support a sustainable world. Today, we are releasing a sustainability assessment that chronicles the total carbon footprint of the Foundation’s work and commits….
Wikimedia Foundation announces $2.5 million in support from Craig Newmark Philanthropies for security of Wikipedia and organization’s other free knowledge projects
The Wikimedia Foundation is excited to announce $2.5 million in support from Craig Newmark Philanthropies that will help to ensure the security of Wikipedia, as well as the organization’s other sites and global community of volunteers. At a time of increased cybersecurity threats, this philanthropic investment from the organization of craigslist founder Craig Newmark will….
Wikimedia Foundation welcomes Robyn Arville as Chief Talent and Culture Officer
The Wikimedia Foundation is excited to announce the appointment of Robyn Arville as Chief Talent and Culture Officer (CTCO). Robyn brings 20 years of experience in human resources to the Foundation, most recently as the Head of People and Culture at the Public Library of Science (PLOS), where she worked to develop PLOS’s people strategy….
Wikimedia Foundation announces Shani Evenstein Sigalov as new Trustee, as well as leadership appointments at fifteenth annual Wikimania
Yesterday, the Wikimedia Foundation announced a new member and leadership appointments to its Board of Trustees. Shani Evenstein Sigalov, currently an EdTech Innovation Strategist and lecturer at the School of Medicine in Tel Aviv University, will be the newest member of the Board of Trustees. Nataliia Tymkiv will begin her second term on the Board….
Wikimedia Foundation welcomes Ryan Merkley as Chief of Staff to the office of the Executive Director
The Wikimedia Foundation is pleased to announce that Ryan Merkley will be joining the organization as the new Chief of Staff to the office of the Executive Director. Ryan joins the Foundation from Creative Commons, the nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding the availability, re-sharing, and accessibility of creative works, where he served for five years….
Designing ethically with AI: How Wikimedia can harness machine learning in a responsible and human-centered way
The past few years have seen an explosion of journalism, scholarship, and advocacy around the topic of ethical AI. This attention reflects a growing recognition that technology companies often fail to put the needs of the people who use machine learning (or “AI”) technology, and of society as a whole, ahead of their business goals.….