Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/General Support Fund
General Support Fund (Wikimedia Community Fund) offers flexible general operating support for individuals, groups, or affiliates that have developed larger projects or programs. It is also available for those who have a strategic plan that requires sustained investment over time to be able to achieve its goals. Multi-year grant funding is available if appropriate to the goals and objectives of the applicant. This program is comparable to the previous Simple Annual Plan Grant, Annual Plan Grant, and Project Grant programs.
- 3 months processing time from application to decision and payment. 2 months for grant review (application process, review, and funding decisions) and 1 month for grant administration (collection of documents, signing agreements, and payment).
- Average annual grant size varies on application proposal 10,000 - 300,000 USD.
- Unrestricted funding[1].
- Renewal process possible and under development. Details to be added soon.
- Multi-year funding optionally available for 2- to 3-year grant period. A multi-year strategic plan is required for multi-year funding requests.
Individuals, groups, organizations, and affiliates interested in applying can do so at anytime of the year. They need to contact their regional Program Officer who will support in their application interest and process. The Program Officer will also support in understanding what round of funding would be suitable to apply for.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Examples of what we fundEdit
Here are some examples of what we fund in terms of General Support Fund.
- Strategic and annual plans from Wikimedia Movement Affiliates. Common expenses supported such as (but not limited to):
- Operating expenses - working space, services, and other common costs needed for an affiliate to opereate.
- Programmatic expenses - data costs to support access to online events, prizes, outreach, and other common costs needed to support programs.
- Staff expenses - compensation for well-defined roles that do not replace volunteer activities, including (but not limited to) graphic design, training, childcare services, translation, project or organization management, and Wikimedian-in-Residence roles.
- Learning or training expenses - costs related to learning or training for community members or affiliate staff.
- Travel and participation expenses for staff and organizers.
- Cultural and heritage projects that support contribution of content, curation of the content and promote accessibility of that content.
- Coordination of global campaigns.
Regional Fund Committees have flexibility to fund projects and expenses that applicants identify based on their specific context and situational needs, and may support additional requests not described here.
Eligibility criteriaEdit
The following are basic criteria that must be met by all Wikimedia Community Fund applicants in order for a proposal to be reviewed:
- Proposed programs and activities are aligned with the mission of the Wikimedia Foundation.
- Applicant must follow the Universal Code of Conduct and Friendly Space Policies
- Youth Safety Policy must be in place for any activity that involves underage community members
- Applicant is within a country that can legally receive funding for the described activities and expenses based on laws on sending and receiving funds in the United States and their country
- Applicant does not appear on the United States Department of Treasury Specially Designated Nationals And Blocked Persons List (SDN)
- Applicants must be in compliance with all requirements and in good standing for any current activities funded through the Wikimedia Foundation
- Works and contributions must be able to be published under ethical, open access agreements
- Applications must be for future, planned work
- Proposed activities that meet the United States Internal Revenue Service definition of lobbying cannot be funded.[2]
- Applicants receiving funding must not be Wikimedia Foundation staff members or contractors working more than part time (more than 20 hours per week).
- Proposals that fit certain criteria are not eligible for review in the Wikimedia Community Fund:
- Proposals that are primarily focused on research activities should be submitted to the Wikimedia Research Fund.
- Proposals that are primarily focused on software development should be submitted to the Wikimedia Technology Fund.
- Youth Safety
- If the proposal indicates direct contact with children or youth, it also outlines compliance with international and local laws for working with children and youth, and provides documentation of the local laws in the annex.
- The proposal demonstrates how they will ensure the safe engagement of young people in all of the project’s activities.
- The proposal demonstrates that any adults who will be working in close contact with young people have been properly vetted and trained.
- The proposal outlines an action protocol in the case that incidents occur relating to the physical and psychological safety of young people.
Application processEdit
Application process involves applicants, Regional Program Officers (staff at Wikimedia Foundation), Regional Fund Committees (volunteer committees consisting of Wikimedia community members), and Grant Administrators (staff at Wikimedia Foundation). We work together to be strategic thought partners with applicants. The funding decisions are based on eligibility and committee deliberation.
We encourage all applicants to reach out to their Regional Program Officer as they are developing their proposal and before submitting a final application. This is especially recommended for first time applicants. We want to ensure everyone understands and is supported throughout the process.
Here's the summary of the application and review process:
- Applicant submission: Applicants submit their proposal through the new grantee portal, these are available on Meta for general community review and comments.
- Due diligence: The Community Resources team organises the proposals and supporting documents for committee review.
- Regional Committee review: Committee members take some time to review these proposals and supporting documents individually based on a series of criteria and questions. The categories and questions that can be reviewed below.
- Initial feedback : During this phase, committees may publish questions on meta so that applicants can clarify any aspects of their proposal. Community members in general may also be posting comments, questions or feedback that applicants should respond to via meta.
- Structured feedback from Regional Committee: The whole committee meets to discuss each project to consolidate a unified feedback document that will be sent to applicants.
- Staff feedback shared with committee: Program Officers also share their Staff review of each proposal with Committee members.
- Committee/Applicant meetings: In certain cases, committee members may request a live session with the applicants to discuss this feedback and ask questions. Program Officers may also organise these spaces to provide applicants with support to review this feedback.
- Applicant responses and revisions: Applicants have a set time to make necessary adjustments or clarifications. These should be done directly on Fluxx as the final proposal.
- Deliberations: Committee members hold a second round of formal deliberation sessions to make their final decisions on the funding. In this stage they take into consideration all the recommendations and adjustments, as well as the overall budget for the region.
- Committee funding decision and remarks: The applicants are informed of the funding decision via email, Fluxx and Meta-Wiki and, if approved, begin the grant administration process.
TimelineEdit
General Support timeline is different based on the applicant's funding region. See your regional page for a more detailed regional calendar. If you don't know your funding region, look for it at find your region page.
2022-23 fiscal year timelineEdit
| Funding region | Round | Application due | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle East and Africa | 1 | Friday September 9, 2022 | Thursday November 17, 2022 |
| 2 | Friday March 10, 2023 | Thursday May 11, 2023 | |
| CEE and Central Asia Community | 1 | Friday September 9, 2022 | Thursday November 17, 2022 |
| 2 | Friday March 10, 2023 | Thursday May 22, 2023 | |
| United States and Canada Community | 1 | Thursday September 8, 2022 | Thursday November 17, 2022 |
| 2 | Friday March 10, 2023 | Thursday May 22, 2023 | |
| Latin America and The Caribbean Community | 1 | Thursday September 29, 2022 | Thursday December 8, 2022 |
| 2 | Thursday March 2, 2023 | Thursday May 11, 2023 | |
| Northern and Western Europe Community | 1 | Thursday September 29, 2022 | Thursday December 8, 2022 |
| 2 | Thursday March 2, 2023 | Thursday May 18, 2023 | |
| ESEAP (East Asia & Pacific) Community | 1 | Thursday September 29, 2022 | Thursday December 8, 2022 |
| 2 | Thursday March 16, 2023 | Thursday May 18, 2023 | |
| South Asia Community | 1 | Thursday September 29, 2022 | Thursday December 8, 2022 |
| 2 | Thursday March 16, 2023 | Thursday May 18, 2023 |
Round 2 (2022-23)Edit
| MEA | LATAM | CEECA | USCA | SA | ESEAP | NWE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant proposal support starts | February 6, 2023 | February 6, 2023 | February 6, 2023 | February 6, 2023 | February 16, 2023 | February 16, 2023 | February 20, 2023 |
| Eligibility check | February 6 - February 10, 2023 | February 6 - March 10, 2023 | February 6 - March 10, 2023 | February 6 - March 10, 2023 | February 16 - March 16, 2023 | February 16 - March 16, 2023 | February 20 - March 24, 2023 |
| Submission deadline | March 10, 2023 | March 2, 2023 | March 10, 2023 | March 10, 2023 | March 16, 2023 | March 16, 2023 | March 24, 2023 |
| Application translation support | March 10 - March 17, 2023 | March 10 - March 17, 2023 | March 10 - March 17, 2023 | March 10 - March 17, 2023 | March 17 - April 7, 2023 | March 17 - April 7, 2023 | March 24 - March 31, 2023 |
| Review starts | March 27, 2023 | March 17, 2023 | April 10, 2023 | April 10, 2023 | March 17, 2023 | March 17, 2023 | March 31, 2023 |
| Feedback received | April 13, 2023 | March 31, 2023 | April 24, 2023 | April 24, 2023 | April 21, 2023 | April 21, 2023 | April 14, 2023 |
| Engaging with feedback | April 13 - April 28, 2023 | March 31 - April 21, 2023 | April 24 - May 8, 2023 | April 24 - May 8, 2023 | April 21 - May 5, 2023 | April 21 - May 5, 2023 | April 14 - May 5, 2023 |
| Decision announced | May 11, 2023 | May 11, 2023 | May 22, 2023 | May 22, 2023 | May 25, 2023 | May 25, 2023 | May 25, 2023 |
| Agreement signed | May 5 - May 19, 2023 | May 5 - May 19, 2023 | May 22 - June 1, 2023 | May 22 - June 1, 2023 | June 8, 2023 | June 8, 2023 | May 19 - June 2, 2023 |
| First payment sent | May 19 - June 1, 2023 | May 19 - June 1, 2023 | June 1 - June 13, 2023 | June 1 - June 13, 2023 | June 8 - June 30, 2023 | June 8 - June 30, 2023 | June 2 - June 15, 2023 |
| Midterm report due | January 15, 2024 | January 15, 2024 | January 15, 2024 | January 15, 2024 | January 15, 2024 | January 15, 2024 | January 15, 2024 |
| Final report due | July 31, 2024 | July 31, 2024 | July 31, 2024 | July 31, 2024 | July 31, 2024 | July 31, 2024 | July 31, 2024 |
| Yearly report due for multi-year funds | August 15, 2024 | August 15, 2024 | August 15, 2024 | August 15, 2024 | August 15, 2024 | August 15, 2024 | August 15, 2024 |
Principles and valuesEdit
The principles that are foundational and underline the Wikimedia Foundation Funds' strategy are based directly on the Movement Strategy Principles:
- Subsidiarity & Self Management
- Equity & Empowerment
- Collaboration & Cooperation
- People Centeredness - listening and reflection
- Efficient Data & Iterative Practices - promoting innovation and learning
Renewal processEdit
Some returning grantee partners will be eligible to apply for a renewal process soon. The renewal process will include a more lightweight application process and possibility to renew the recent funding if certain criteria are met. The process is under development and more details will be published soon.
We will host co-thinking sessions, where we will host a 90-minute discussion with Wikimedia affiliates and General Support applicants to build ideas for a simplified renewal process for General Support Fund applications.
- March 2023, 1, 14:00 - 15:30 UTC: Zoom link (Interpretation will be available in French and Spanish)
- March 2023, 3, 4:30 - 6:00 UTC: Zoom link (Interpretation will be available in Chinese and Japanese)
- March 2023, 3, 19:00 - 20:30 UTC: Zoom link (Interpretation will be available in Portuguese and Spanish)
Reporting requirementsEdit
General Support grantee partners who are not multi-year applicants have the following reporting requirements:
- Midterm learning report (reporting form)
- Midterm conversation between PO and grantee partners (reporting form)
- Final learning report (reporting form)
- Final conversation between PO-grantee partners (reporting form)
Multi-year grantee partners have the following reporting requirements:
- Yearly learning report[3] (reporting form)
- Yearly conversation between PO-grantee partners (reporting form)
| General information | Midterm learning report | Midterm conversation between Program Officers and Grantee Partners | Final or yearly learning report (Yearly for multi-year funds)[3] |
Final or yearly conversation between Program Officers and Grantee Partners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is it required? | Obligatory for grantee partners required to present this report. If payments are in installments the payment will be made after the presentation of this report and the conversation with Program Officers within 2 weeks of this submission. | Obligatory for grantee partners required to present this report. | Obligatory for grantee partners required to present this report.
Multi-year grantee partners will use this format for their yearly learning reports. They should report one year at a time, rather than the cumulative multi-year period. Non-multi-year grantee partners (with funding for 1 year or less) will use this template to report on the final learning and results, including the period already reported on in the midterm learning report. |
Obligatory for grantee partners required to present this learning report |
| Who is responsible? | Grantee partners | Program Officers (POs) schedule the call and register the conversation. grantee partners will have access to the conversation report on Fluxx and will be able to edit the conversation registration. | Grantee partners | Program Officers (POs) schedule the call and register the conversation. grantee partners will have access to the conversation report on Fluxx and will be able to edit the conversation registration. |
| When?[4] | In the middle of the grant implementation. Reporting dates will depend on each grantee partner according to their project timelines. These dates are found on Fluxx. | Once the report has been analysed by the Program Officer. Between 2-4 weeks after submission. | One month after the end of the grant implementation. | Once the final (or yearly) report has been analysed by the Program Officer. Between 2-4 weeks after submission. |
| How will it be used? | This learning report is aimed at:
|
This conversation is aimed at a deeper reflection based on the analysis of the report. It is also used to give the Foundation feedback on ways to better support grantee partner's work. | This learning report is aimed at:
|
This conversation is aimed at a deeper reflection based on the analysis of the report. It is also used to give the Foundation feedback on ways to better support grantee partner's work in the future. |
| Where will it be filled out? | On Fluxx | On Fluxx | On Fluxx | On Fluxx |
| Will it be published on Meta? | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Resources and formsEdit
- Review Application and Reporting Forms and Guides before applying.
- Recommendations for developing fund proposals
Review submissions and reportsEdit
UpdatesEdit
 | • May 26, 2023: There will be new changes to the Rapid Fund (Wikimedia Community Fund) program. To support these changes, we will not accept any new Rapid Fund requests until June 7, 2023.
• May 24, 2023: Seven funding regions will be aligned to eight Wikimedia regions by July 1, 2023. See all expected changes here. • May 1, 2023: There are important proposed changes to the General Support Fund to provide a lightweight process and ensure learning and partnership. |
Contact usEdit
If you have any questions about the General Support Fund, please reach out to your Regional Program Officer via email:
| Region | Email address |
|---|---|
| Middle East and Africa | mea_fund wikimedia.org
|
| South Asia | sa_fund wikimedia.org
|
| East, Southeast Asia, and Pacific (ESEAP) | eseap_fund wikimedia.org
|
| Latin America (LATAM) and The Caribbean | lac_fund wikimedia.org
|
| United States and Canada | usca_fund wikimedia.org
|
| Northern and Western Europe | nwe_fund wikimedia.org
|
| Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Central Asia | ceeca_fund wikimedia.org
|
NotesEdit
- ↑ Unrestricted funding means that grantees are able to reallocate funding in their budget to new or existing mission-aligned activities or expenses at their own discretion during the funding period. You do not need to obtain permission from the Foundation for reallocation for these changes in your budget. For the General Support Fund and Conference & Event Fund, when reallocations exceed 20% of your total budget from the funding program, please notify your program officer of these changes. This notification would not be to request approval, but to generally inform the Community Resources team what circumstances or opportunities are prompting more significant changes in your budget.
- ↑ https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/lobbying
- ↑ a b Multiyear funding: If you have a multi-year grant agreement and will request more than a 20% increase from the pre-approved amount, the regional fund committee will need to review the request. Therefore you will need to submit a short explanation and budget for your expected increase. This can be done as early as possible yet should be completed no later than your reporting deadline.
- ↑ Note: Reporting dates will be adapted to each grantee partner according to their project timelines. Grantee partners will be able to see their proposed reporting dates on the portal on Fluxx. If you have any doubts or concerns about these dates please reach out to your Program Officer. Likewise, if you have any doubts about how to submit these reports or how they will be used.