Grants:Glossary
List of terms
List of common terms and special words that are used in Wikimedia Foundation Funds.
Funding and values
Wikimedia Foundation Funds
Funding programs of Wikimedia Foundation. Includes three funding programs: Wikimedia Community Fund, Wikimedia Alliances Fund, and Wikimedia Research Fund. The Wikimedia Community Fund has four sub-programs: General Support Fund, Rapid Fund, Conference and Event Fund, Movement Strategy Implementation Grants.
Funding region
Wikimedia Foundation Funds is supported in eight geographical regions which are called funding regions. Each funding region has its Regional Fund Committee and Program Officer. The funding regions are: Middle East & North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, East, Southeast Asia, & Pacific, Latin America & Caribbean, North America, Northern & Western Europe, and Central & Eastern Europe & Central Asia.
Trust-based philanthropy or Trust-based approach
Main approach of Wikimedia Foundation Funds to address power imbalances in the funding process. This approach is about sharing power to have more equitable funding programs. It is done through six practices:
- Giving multi-year and unrestricted funding.
- Active learning and outreach
- Simplified process and paperwork
- Transparency and responsiveness
- Listening and improving
- Offering support beyond checks
Knowledge Equity
Wikimedia's mission is to set knowledge free. We work to ensure that everyone, everywhere has the same access to create and review information. Historically, knowledge has been kept in the hands of the few. The history and knowledge of marginalised groups have been excluded by structures of power and privilege. Wikimedia projects and Wikimedia Foundation Funds change this model and allow everyone to receive support and contribute.
Underrepresented or marginalised groups
Groups and communities that are not presented in the Wikimedia movement. They can be underrepresented because of structures of power and privilege. Their histories and knowledge are usually missing from Wikimedia projects. Examples of these groups are: women in all language communities, members of indigenous and LGBTQ+ communities.
Funding process
Wikimedia Foundation Grantee Portal, Grantee Portal, or Fluxx
Service to submit funding applications and reports. If you want to apply for a funding program, you need to do it on https://wmf.fluxx.io/.
Eligibility criteria
Requirements that must be met to receive a grant. Eligibility criteria are different for different funding programs. They are also different for individuals, groups, Wikimedia Affiliates, and organisations. You can learn more about specific eligibility criteria on the funding program pages under "Who can apply?" section.
Grantee types
Wikimedia Foundation Funds supports four types of grantees: individuals, groups, non-profit organisations, and funding with a fiscal sponsor. Requirements and documents needed for each type can be different.
Fiscal sponsor
Registered non-profit organisation that receives your funding from Wikimedia Foundation. The fiscal sponsor keeps the funds and shares them according to your instructions. It is not responsible for running projects or activities. Having a fiscal sponsor might be required, for example, when an individual wants to receive a General Support or Conference and Event Funds.
Due diligence
Process to check and confirm your eligibility and documents. It is done to make sure that you can receive funding.
Fiscal year
12-month period used by Wikimedia Foundation for financial processes and funding programs. It is different from the calendar year for the Wikimedia Foundation. It starts on July 1 and ends on June 30.
Unrestricted funding
Ability to change the budget for new or existing mission-aligned activities during the funding period without needing permission from the Wikimedia Foundation. If the changes exceed 20% of your total budget, you need to inform your Program Officer. This is not to get approval but to let the Community Resources team know the reasons or opportunities behind the changes in your budget.
Multi-year funding
Funding support for 2-3 years. It is available for returning individuals, groups, Wikimedia Affiliates and organisations of the General Support Fund.
Renewal of funding
Simpler way to re-apply for the General Support Fund to continue the same goals. Returning individuals, groups, Wikimedia Affiliates and organisations can apply for the renewal process.
Strategic plan
Document that includes your organisation's vision for the future. It shows the way your organisation wants to grow, its goals and objectives. Organisations do strategic planning to create a strategic plan. Many Wikimedia groups, affiliates, and organisations have a strategic plan. These plans are partially or fully based on the Movement Strategy.
Roles and responsibilities
Program Officer or Regional Program Officer (PO)
Wikimedia Foundation staff member who supports a funding program or funding programs in a particular funding region. They help you with your idea, project, and funding program. They support you to apply for funding, organise your activities, and learn. Program Officers are from the Community Resources team.
Grant Administrator (GA)
Wikimedia Foundation staff member who supports due diligence, documentation, and administration of Wikimedia Foundation Funds. They help you to understand if you can apply for funding and which documents are needed. They support you to sign the funding agreement and send payments. Grant Administrators are from the Finance and Administration team.
Regional Funds Committee, Regional Grants Committees or Committees (RFC or RGC)
Volunteer committees from the Wikimedia Movement. They provide guidance and support to applicants. They make decisions about how movement funds should be distributed. There are eight Regional Funds Committees, one for each of the funding regions.
Community Resources team
The team at Wikimedia Foundation that supports Wikimedia Foundation Funds. We offer funding, support, and other resources to the Wikimedia Movement to ensure free knowledge is available and accessible to anyone.
Wikimedia movement
Wikimedia Movement (the Movement)
Global community of contributors to Wikimedia projects. Includes communities of Wikimedia projects, Wikimedia Affiliates, groups, volunteers and Wikimedia Foundation. We share the same goal to make knowledge free and accessible for everyone.
What is the Wikimedia free knowledge movement?
What is the Wikimedia free knowledge movement?Wikimedia projects or Wikimedia sister projects
Wikimedia projects are all the publicly available wikis operated by the Wikimedia Foundation, including Wikipedia.
What free knowledge projects does the Wikimedia Foundation support?
What free knowledge projects does the Wikimedia Foundation support?Wikimedia Affiliates
Groups and organisations in the Wikimedia Movement that are formally recognised by Wikimedia Foundation. There are three types of Wikimedia Affiliates: Chapters, User Groups and Thematic Organisations.
Wikimedia Movement Strategy
Strategic plan of Wikimedia Movement. It shows the direction that the Wikimedia Movement should move. It includes two main goals: Knowledge as a Service and Knowledge Equity.
Wikimedia Strategy Recommendations and Initiatives
Wikimedia Movement Strategy has ten recommendations. They show the changes we need to make to achieve our strategic goals. Each recommendation consists of a few initiatives. These are the types of work we need to do for each recommendation.
Hubs
Organisational units in the Wikimedia movement. They support more than one volunteer community. They are one of the initiatives from Movement Strategy recommendations. Hubs want to bring greater efficiency when working within a region or a theme, compared to the current model centralised in the Wikimedia Foundation.
Other lists
The Community Resources team at Wikimedia Foundation supports the Wikimedia Foundation Funds. We offer funding opportunities, guidance, and other resources to the Wikimedia Movement.