Grants:Förderprogramme/Gemeinschaftsfonds von Wikimedia
Who?
Individuals, groups, Wikimedia affiliates or organisations from Wikimedia movement
What?
For annual or strategic plans that require sustained support and for larger projects and programs.
When?
4 months processing time, 2 rounds in a year
How much?
On average 10,000 - 300,000 USD of unrestricted funding[1]
How to apply
- Read about what we fund and who can apply below.
- Required step: Contact the Regional Program Officer as you start to think about your application. They will help to understand what round to apply for and will support you in the process.
- For new applicants: In the upcoming round 2 of fiscal year 2023-24, we only accept applications from new grantees in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Middle East & North Africa (MENA), East, Southeast Asia, & Pacific (ESEAP) and North America (NA) regions.
- For returning applicants: Please note that we may not be able to guarantee requested budget increases, and advise having a conversation with your Program Officer to establish what budget range may be feasible.
- Go to Wikimedia Foundation Grantee Portal (Fluxx) and log in.
- If you do not have an account, click Register Now and provide the requested information. You will receive confirmation of your registration within one working day.
- Select the Apply for General Support Fund button on the main page. Click Save and Continue or Save and Close to save the application.
- Follow the instructions on the application form. Click Submit to submit the application for review.
- We accept applications in any language. We will support translation for applications and discussions as needed.
- Applications will be published to Meta-Wiki automatically within two days. This is done for community review and feedback.
- You can prepare the application offline. Make a copy of the application form, answer the questions and copy the text to Fluxx.
What we fund
- Annual, multi-year and strategic plans of groups, Wikimedia affiliates and organisations
- Larger projects and programs of individuals, groups, Wikimedia affiliates and organisations
- Proposals supporting the achievement of Wikimedia’s mission and strategic direction
- Education projects
- Kultur- und Kulturerbeprojekte, die den Beitrag von Inhalten, die Kuration der Inhalte und die Förderung der Zugänglichkeit dieser Inhalte unterstützen.
- Gender and diversity projects
- Community support and engagement projects
- Coordination of global campaigns.
- Public policy advocacy projects that aim to influence legal and regulatory environments (at the national, regional or international level) in order to protect the people, model and the values of the free knowledge movement. These projects could target national legislation, trade agreements, human rights frameworks, and any other regulations and norms set by governments and lawmakers.
- Arbeitsräume, Dienstleistungen, Preise, Öffentlichkeitsarbeit und andere allgemeine Kosten, die zur Unterstützung von Edit-a-thons, Wettbewerben, Fotowalks und Werbekampagnen erforderlich sind.
- Datenkosten zur Unterstützung des Zugangs zu Online-Veranstaltungen
- Entschädigung für klar definierte Aufgaben, die keine Freiwilligentätigkeit ersetzen, einschließlich (aber nicht beschränkt auf) Grafikdesign, Schulungen, Kinderbetreuung, Übersetzung, Projektmanagement und Wikimedian-in-Residence-Aufgaben.
- Learning or training expenses - costs related to learning or training for community members or affiliate staff.
- Reisen für Veranstalter/innen und Teilnahme
- Indic MediaWiki Developers UG 2024 Annual Plan (Indien, Südasien)
- Wikimedia Korea Strategic Annual Plan 2024 (Südkorea, East, Southeast Asia, & Pacific)
- GOIF 2024 Annual Grant (Ghana, Subsahara-Afrika)
- Wikimedia MA Multi Annual Grant 2024-2026 (Marokko, Middle East & North Africa)
- Wikimedia DC: Sustaining and Growing Chapter Programs and Partnerships in 2023-24 (Vereinigte Staaten, Nordamerika)
- Wiki Editoras LX 2024-2026 multi-year plan (Northern & Western Europe)
- Developing Free Knowledge in Georgia, 2023 (Georgien, Central & Eastern Europe & Central Asia)
- Plan 2024-2025 de estrategias y acciones para Wikimedistas de Uruguay (Uruguay, Latin America & Caribbean)
- Plan annuel 2023-2024 Haiti (Haiti, Latin America & Caribbean)
- 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 large-scale software development are not eligible for review. Smaller-scale software development projects may be eligible for review in the Rapid Fund pending review from Community Resources and Technology department staff.
Regionale Ausschüsse haben Flexibilität bei der Finanzierung von Projekten und Kosten, die für Antragsteller/innen auf der Grundlage ihres spezifischen Kontexts und ihrer Bedürfnisse der jeweiligen Situation anfallen, und können zusätzliche Anfragen unterstützen, die hier nicht beschrieben sind.
Auswahlkriterien
Any General Support Fund applicant must be in contact with their Program Officer at least one month before the deadline for application. If you have not had a conversation with your Program Officer about applying for General Support Funding, you will need to apply in the subsequent rounds of funding.
Die folgenden grundlegenden Kriterien müssen von allen Antragstellern/innen des Gemeinschaftsfonds von Wikimedia erfüllt werden, damit ein Vorschlag überprüft werden kann:
- Proposed programs and activities are aligned with the mission of the Wikimedia Foundation.
- Arbeiten und Beiträge müssen unter ethischen Open-Access-Vereinbarungen veröffentlicht werden können
- Anträge müssen für zukünftig geplante Arbeiten sein
- Applicants that are organisations must be designated as a Wikimedia affiliate, or must be an organisation with a demonstrable history and primary focus related to the mission of the Wikimedia Foundation, such as improving Wikimedia projects and supporting its volunteer contributors.
- Der Antragsteller / Die Antragstellerin muss den Richtlinien des Universellen Verhaltenskodex und den Richtlinien zur Gewährleistung eines freundlichen Umfelds zustimmen
- Die Antragsteller/innen müssen alle Anforderungen erfüllen und für alle aktuellen Aktivitäten, die durch die Wikimedia Foundation finanziert werden, gut qualifiziert sein.
- Der Antragsteller / Die Antragstellerin befindet sich in einem Land, das auf der Grundlage von Gesetzen zum Senden und Empfangen von Geldern in die / aus den Vereinigten Staaten und in/aus ihrem Land legal Fördermittel für die beschriebenen Aktivitäten und Kosten erhalten kann.
- Applicant does not appear on the United States Department of Treasury Specially Designated Nationals And Blocked Persons List (SDN)
- Applicants receiving funding must not be Wikimedia Foundation staff members or contractors working more than part time (more than 20 hours per week).
- Applicant must provide all information and documents needed to receive the funding from Wikimedia Foundation.
Für alle Aktivitäten, die minderjährige Mitglieder der Gemeinschaft betreffen, muss eine Richtlinie zur Sicherheit von Kindern und Jugendlichen gelten.
- 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.
Antragsverfahren
Die Programmbeauftragten der Foundation und die partizipativen Ausschüsse arbeiten zusammen, um Antragstellern/innen mit strategischem Wissen zur Seite zu stehen. Die Förderentscheidungen basieren auf der Eignung des Antragstellers / der Antragstellerin und den Ergebnissen der Beratung des Ausschusses.
Here's the summary of the application and review process:
- Applicant submission: Applicants submit their proposal.
- Due diligence: Program Officers and Grant Administrators organise the proposals and supporting documents for committee review.
- Regional Fund Committee review: Committee members review the proposals and supporting documents individually based on a series of criteria and questions.
- Initial feedback: Committees may publish questions to clarify any aspects of the proposal. Community members may also be posting comments, questions or feedback that applicants should respond to.
- 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 share their 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.
- 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: Applicants are informed of the funding decision via email, Fluxx and Meta-Wiki. If approved, grant administration process begins.
Multi-year funding process
Multi-year grant funding is available for returning applicants if appropriate to the goals and objectives of the applicant for a 2- to 3-year grant period and if approved by the Regional Funds Committee. For multi-year applications, the Regional Funds Committee will evaluate potential increases for years 2 and 3 on a case-by-case basis once the budgets for the upcoming fiscal years are known.
Learn more about multi-year funding process 
Renewal process
Details about renewal process and other upcoming changes are published at: Wikimedia Community Fund/Proposed changes to General Support Fund in 2023-24.
Zeitplan
General Support timeline is different based on the applicant's funding region. See below for the regional calendar. If you don't know your funding region, look for it at find your region page.
Round 2 (2023-24)
9. Februar - 1. März 2024
Applicant support and eligibility check
1. März 2024
Submission deadline
4. März - 29. März 2024
Review and translation
29. März - 19. April 2024
Review feedback and applicant engagement
3. Mai 2024
Decision announced
17. Mai - 31. Mai 2024
Agreement and first payment
15. Januar 2025
Midpoint conversation
31. Juli 2025
Final or first year report due
15. Februar 2024 - 14. März 2024
Applicant support and eligibility check
14. März 2024
Submission deadline
15. März - 22. April 2024
Review and translation
22. April - 6. Mai 2024
Review feedback and applicant engagement
23. Mai 2024
Decision announced
6. Juni 2024 - 30. Juni 2024
Agreement and first payment
15. Januar 2025
Midpoint conversation
15. August 2025
Final or first year report due
16. Februar - 8. März 2024
Applicant support and eligibility check
8. März 2024
Submission deadline
8. März - 12. April 2024
Review and translation
12. April - 3. Mai 2024
Review feedback and applicant engagement
17. Mai 2024
Decision announced
31. Mai - 14. Juni 2024
Agreement and first payment
15. Januar 2025
Midpoint conversation
31. Juli 2025
Final or first year report due
16. Februar - 8. März 2024
Applicant support and eligibility check
8. März 2024
Submission deadline
8. März - 5. April 2024
Review and translation
5. April - 26. April 2024
Review feedback and applicant engagement
10. Mai 2024
Decision announced
24. Mai - 1. Juni 2024
Agreement and first payment
15. Januar 2025
Midpoint conversation
31. Juli 2025
Final or first year report due
20. Februar - 14. März 2024
Applicant support and eligibility check
15. März 2024
Submission deadline
25. März - 14. April 2024
Review and translation
15. April - 25. Mai 2024
Review feedback and applicant engagement
25. Mai 2024
Decision announced
25. Mai - 2. Juni 2024
Agreement and first payment
15. Januar 2025
Midpoint conversation
31. Juli 2025
Final or first year report due
| SSA and MENA | SA | ESEAP | LATAM | CEECA | NA | NWE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant proposal support starts | 9. Februar 2024 | 15. Februar 2024 | 15. Februar 2024 | 16. Februar 2024 | 16. Februar 2024 | 16. Februar 2024 | 20. Februar 2024 |
| Eligibility check | 9. Februar - 1. März 2024 | 16. Februar - 14. März 2024 | 16. Februar - 14. März 2024 | 16. Februar - 8. März 2024 | 16. Februar - 8. März 2024 | 16. Februar - 8. März 2024 | 23. Februar - 14. März 2024 |
| Submission deadline | 1. März 2024 | 14. März 2024 | 14. März 2024 | 8. März 2024 | 8. März 2024 | 8. März 2024 | 15. März 2024 |
| Application translation support | 4. März - 8. März 2024 | 15. März - 5. April 2024 | 15. März - 5. April 2024 | 8. März - 12. März 2024 | 8. März - 12. März 2024 | 8. März - 12. März 2024 | 15. März - 24. März 2024 |
| Review starts | 11. März 2024 | 18. März 2024 | 18. März 2024 | 12. März 2024 | 18. März 2024 | 18. März 2024 | 25. März 2024 |
| Feedback received | 29. März 2024 | 22. April 2024 | 22. April 2024 | 12. April 2024 | 5. April 2024 | 5. April 2024 | 15. April 2024 |
| Engaging with feedback | 29. März - 19. April 2024 | 22. April - 6. Mai 2024 | 22. April - 6. Mai 2024 | 12. April - 3. Mai 2024 | 5. April - 26. April 2024 | 5. April - 26. April 2024 | 15. April - 5. Mai 2024 |
| Decision announced | 3. Mai 2024 | 23. Mai 2024 | 23. Mai 2024 | 17. Mai 2024 | 10. Mai 2024 | 10. Mai 2024 | 25. Mai 2024 |
| Agreement signed | 17. Mai 2024 | 6. Juni 2024 | 6. Juni 2024 | 31. Mai 2024 | 24. Mai 2024 | 24. Mai 2024 | 2. Juni 2024 |
| First payment sent | 17. Mai - 31. Mai 2024 | 7. Juni - 30. Juni 2024 | 7. Juni - 30. Juni 2024 | 31. Mai - 14. Juni 2024 | 24. Mai - 1. Juni 2024 | 24. Mai - 1. Juni 2024 | 14. Juni - 30. Juni 2024 |
| Midpoint learning conversation | 15. Januar 2025 | 15. Januar 2025 | 15. Januar 2025 | 15. Januar 2025 | 15. Januar 2025 | 15. Januar 2025 | 15. Januar 2025 |
| Final report due | 31. Juli 2025 | 31. Juli 2025 | 31. Juli 2025 | 31. Juli 2025 | 31. Juli 2025 | 31. Juli 2025 | 31. Juli 2025 |
| Yearly report due for multi-year funds | 31. Juli 2025 | 15. August 2025 | 15. August 2025 | 31. Juli 2025 | 31. Juli 2025 | 31. Juli 2025 | 29. August 2025 |
Round 1 (2023-24)
| SSA and MENA | SA | ESEAP | LATAM | CEECA | NA | NWE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant proposal support starts | 11. August 2023 | 11. August 2023 | 11. August 2023 | 25. August 2023 | 18. August 2023 | 25. August 2023 | 1. September 2023 |
| Eligibility check | 11. August - 8. September 2023 | 11. August - 8. September 2023 | 11. August - 8. September 2023 | 25. August - 29. September 2023 | 18. August - 8. September 2023 | 25. August - 15. September 2023 | 1. September - 29. September 2023 |
| Submission deadline | 8. September 2023 | 8. September 2023 | 8. September 2023 | 29. September 2023 | 8. September 2023 | 15. September 2023 | 29. September 2023 |
| Application translation support | 11. September - 15. September 2023 | 11. September - 15. September 2023 | 11. September - 15. September 2023 | 2. Oktober - 6. Oktober 2023 | 11. September - 15. September 2023 | 19. September - 23. September 2023 | 2. Oktober - 6. Oktober 2023 |
| Review starts | 18. September 2023 | 18. September 2023 | 18. September 2023 | 9. Oktober 2023 | 18. September 2023 | 25. September 2023 | 9. Oktober 2023 |
| Feedback received | 6. Oktober 2023 | 6. Oktober 2023 | 6. Oktober 2023 | 27. Oktober 2023 | 20. Oktober 2023 | 20. Oktober 2023 | 27. Oktober 2023 |
| Engaging with feedback | 6. Oktober - 27. Oktober 2023 | 6. Oktober - 27. Oktober 2023 | 6. Oktober - 27. Oktober 2023 | 27. Oktober - 10. November 2023 | 20. Oktober - 10. November 2023 | 20. Oktober - 10. November 2023 | 27. Oktober 2023 - 10. November 2023 |
| Decision announced | 10. November 2023 | 10. November 2023 | 10. November 2023 | 1. Dezember 2023 | 21. November 2023 | 21. November 2023 | 24. November 2023 |
| Agreement signed | 1. Dezember 2023 | 1. Dezember 2023 | 1. Dezember 2023 | 15. Dezember 2023 | 8. Dezember 2023 | 8. Dezember 2023 | 15. Dezember 2023 |
| First payment sent | 1. Dezember - 19. Dezember 2023 | 1. Dezember - 19. Dezember 2023 | 1. Dezember - 19. Dezember 2023 | 15. Dezember 2023 - 19. Januar 2024 | 8. Dezember 2023 - 12. Januar 2024 | 8. Dezember 2023 - 12. Januar 2024 | 15. Dezember 2023 - 19. Januar 2024 |
| Midpoint learning conversation | 15. Juli 2024 | 15. Juli 2024 | 15. Juli 2024 | 15. Juli 2024 | 15. Juli 2024 | 15. Juli 2024 | 12. August 2024 |
| Final report due | 31. Januar 2025 | 31. Januar 2025 | 31. Januar 2025 | 31. Januar 2025 | 31. Januar 2025 | 31. Januar 2025 | 31. Januar 2025 |
| Yearly report due for multi-year funds | 31. Januar 2025 | 31. Januar 2025 | 31. Januar 2025 | 31. Januar 2025 | 31. Januar 2025 | 31. Januar 2025 | 31. Januar 2025 |
Principles and values
Die Grundsätze, die grundlegend sind und die Zuschussstrategie unterstreichen, basieren direkt auf den Grundsätzen der Strategie der Bewegung:
- Subsidiarität und Selbstverwaltung
- Gerechtigkeit und Befähigung
- Kooperation und Zusammenarbeit
- Mensch im Mittelpunkt – Zuhören und Nachdenken
- Effiziente Daten und iterative Praktiken – Förderung von Innovation und Lernen
Reporting requirements
There are two types of required reports if your General Support Fund request is approved: Final report (written) and Conversation report (online meeting).
This is a written report to submit within 30 days after the grant end date.
- Go to Wikimedia Foundation Grantee Portal (Fluxx) and log in.
- Find the Reports section on the left sidebar. Select the Upcoming link and you will see all upcoming reports.
- Select the report and click Edit. Answer the questions in the form. You can write it in any preferred language.
- When the report is complete, click Submit to send it for review. The report will be published on Meta-Wiki within two working days.
You can prepare the report offline. Make a copy of the report form, answer the questions and copy the text to Fluxx.
There are two conversation reports. You will meet the Program Officer online two times in the middle of the grant implementation and after completing the grant. They will ask questions and complete the forms.
You can review the questions before the online meeting. You do not need to fill out these forms.
If you have a multi-year funding, the required reports are slightly different.
- Yearly learning report: The same form as final learning report but submitted yearly.
- Yearly conversation between PO-grantee partners: The same meeting as final conversation meeting but organised yearly.
Ressourcen
- Review submissions and reports
- Find your funding region
- Grantee Portal (Fluxx) video tutorials
- Budget of Wikimedia Foundation Funds
- Lies die Antrags- und Meldeformulare und Leitfäden durch, bevor du dich bewirbst.
- Empfehlungen für die Entwicklung von Fördervorschlägen
Updates
 | • 8. Februar 2024: General Support Fund Round 2 announcement is published with information about round timeline and budget, as well as with important updates for new and returning applicants.
• 22. September 2023: Wikimedia Alliances Fund updates are published. Due to the reduced funding, the application process is by invitation for non-profits from Sub-Saharan Africa and East, Southeast Asia, & Pacific regions. |
Contact us
If you have any questions about the General Support Fund, please reach out to your Regional Program Officer via email:
| Region | Regional Program Officer | Email address |
|---|---|---|
| Middle East & North Africa | Farida El-Gueretly | mena_fund wikimedia.org
|
| Subsahara-Afrika | Veronica Thamaini | ssa_fund wikimedia.org
|
| Südasien | Jacqueline Chen | sa_fund wikimedia.org
|
| East, Southeast Asia, & Pacific | Jacqueline Chen | eseap_fund wikimedia.org
|
| Latin America & Caribbean | Mercedes Caso | lac_fund wikimedia.org
|
| Nordamerika | Chris Schilling | na_fund wikimedia.org
|
| Northern & Western Europe | Agnes Bruszik | nwe_fund wikimedia.org
|
| Central & Eastern Europe & Central Asia | Chris Schilling | ceeca_fund wikimedia.org
|
Notes
- ↑ 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.
The Community Resources team at Wikimedia Foundation supports the Wikimedia Foundation Funds. We offer funding opportunities, guidance, and other resources to the Wikimedia Movement.