Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/General Support Fund/lt
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
- Cultural and heritage projects that support contribution of content, curation of the content and promote accessibility of that content.
- 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.
- 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 organisation 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 organisers.
- Indic MediaWiki Developers UG 2024 Annual Plan (Indija, Pietų Azija)
- Wikimedia Korea Strategic Annual Plan 2024 (Pietų Korėja, East, Southeast Asia, & Pacific)
- GOIF 2024 Annual Grant (Gana, Užsachario Afrika)
- Wikimedia MA Multi Annual Grant 2024-2026 (Marokas, Middle East & North Africa)
- Wikimedia DC: Sustaining and Growing Chapter Programs and Partnerships in 2023-24 (Jungtinės Amerikos Valstijos, Šiaurės Amerika)
- Wiki Editoras LX 2024-2026 multi-year plan (Northern & Western Europe)
- Developing Free Knowledge in Georgia, 2023 (Gruzija, Central & Eastern Europe & Central Asia)
- Plan 2024-2025 de estrategias y acciones para Wikimedistas de Uruguay (Urugvajus, Latin America & Caribbean)
- Plan annuel 2023-2024 Haiti (Haitis, 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.
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 criteria
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.
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.
- Works and contributions must be able to be published under ethical, open access agreements
- Applications must be for future, planned work
- 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.
- Applicant must follow the Universal Code of Conduct and Friendly Space Policies
- Applicants must be in compliance with all requirements and in good standing for any current activities funded through the Wikimedia Foundation
- 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 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.
Youth Safety Policy must be in place for any activity that involves underage community members
- 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 process
We work together to be strategic thought partners with applicants. The funding decisions are based on eligibility and committee deliberation.
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.
Timeline
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)
vasario 9 d. - 2024 m. kovo 1 d.
Applicant support and eligibility check
2024 m. kovo 1 d.
Submission deadline
kovo 4 d. - 2024 m. kovo 29 d.
Review and translation
kovo 29 d. - 2024 m. balandžio 19 d.
Review feedback and applicant engagement
2024 m. gegužės 3 d.
Decision announced
gegužės 17 d. - 2024 m. gegužės 31 d.
Agreement and first payment
2025 m. sausio 15 d.
Midpoint conversation
2025 m. liepos 31 d.
Final or first year report due
2024 m. vasario 15 d. - 2024 m. kovo 14 d.
Applicant support and eligibility check
2024 m. kovo 14 d.
Submission deadline
kovo 15 d. - 2024 m. balandžio 22 d.
Review and translation
balandžio 22 d. - 2024 m. gegužės 6 d.
Review feedback and applicant engagement
2024 m. gegužės 23 d.
Decision announced
2024 m. birželio 6 d. - 2024 m. birželio 30 d.
Agreement and first payment
2025 m. sausio 15 d.
Midpoint conversation
2025 m. rugpjūčio 15 d.
Final or first year report due
vasario 16 d. - 2024 m. kovo 8 d.
Applicant support and eligibility check
2024 m. kovo 8 d.
Submission deadline
kovo 8 d. - 2024 m. balandžio 12 d.
Review and translation
balandžio 12 d. - 2024 m. gegužės 3 d.
Review feedback and applicant engagement
2024 m. gegužės 17 d.
Decision announced
gegužės 31 d. - 2024 m. birželio 14 d.
Agreement and first payment
2025 m. sausio 15 d.
Midpoint conversation
2025 m. liepos 31 d.
Final or first year report due
vasario 16 d. - 2024 m. kovo 8 d.
Applicant support and eligibility check
2024 m. kovo 8 d.
Submission deadline
kovo 8 d. - 2024 m. gegužės 6 d.
Review and translation
gegužės 6 d. - 2024 m. gegužės 20 d.
Review feedback and applicant engagement
2024 m. gegužės 31 d.
Decision announced
birželio 14 d. - 2024 m. birželio 28 d.
Agreement and first payment
2025 m. sausio 15 d.
Midpoint conversation
2025 m. liepos 31 d.
Final or first year report due
vasario 20 d. - 2024 m. kovo 14 d.
Applicant support and eligibility check
2024 m. kovo 15 d.
Submission deadline
kovo 25 d. - 2024 m. balandžio 14 d.
Review and translation
balandžio 15 d. - 2024 m. gegužės 25 d.
Review feedback and applicant engagement
2024 m. gegužės 25 d.
Decision announced
gegužės 25 d. - 2024 m. birželio 2 d.
Agreement and first payment
2025 m. sausio 15 d.
Midpoint conversation
2025 m. liepos 31 d.
Final or first year report due
| SSA and MENA | SA | ESEAP | LATAM | CEECA | NA | NWE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant proposal support starts | 2024 m. vasario 9 d. | 2024 m. vasario 15 d. | 2024 m. vasario 15 d. | 2024 m. vasario 16 d. | 2024 m. vasario 16 d. | 2024 m. vasario 16 d. | 2024 m. vasario 20 d. |
| Eligibility check | vasario 9 d. - 2024 m. kovo 1 d. | vasario 16 d. - 2024 m. kovo 14 d. | vasario 16 d. - 2024 m. kovo 14 d. | vasario 16 d. - 2024 m. kovo 8 d. | vasario 16 d. - 2024 m. kovo 8 d. | vasario 16 d. - 2024 m. kovo 8 d. | vasario 23 d. - 2024 m. kovo 14 d. |
| Submission deadline | 2024 m. kovo 1 d. | 2024 m. kovo 14 d. | 2024 m. kovo 14 d. | 2024 m. kovo 8 d. | 2024 m. kovo 8 d. | 2024 m. kovo 8 d. | 2024 m. kovo 15 d. |
| Application translation support | kovo 4 d. - 2024 m. kovo 8 d. | kovo 15 d. - 2024 m. balandžio 5 d. | kovo 15 d. - 2024 m. balandžio 5 d. | kovo 8 d. - 2024 m. kovo 12 d. | kovo 8 d. - 2024 m. kovo 12 d. | kovo 8 d. - 2024 m. kovo 12 d. | kovo 15 d. - 2024 m. kovo 24 d. |
| Review starts | 2024 m. kovo 11 d. | 2024 m. kovo 18 d. | 2024 m. kovo 18 d. | 2024 m. kovo 12 d. | 2024 m. kovo 18 d. | 2024 m. kovo 18 d. | 2024 m. kovo 25 d. |
| Feedback received | 2024 m. kovo 29 d. | 2024 m. balandžio 22 d. | 2024 m. balandžio 22 d. | 2024 m. balandžio 12 d. | 2024 m. gegužės 6 d. | 2024 m. gegužės 6 d. | 2024 m. balandžio 15 d. |
| Engaging with feedback | kovo 29 d. - 2024 m. balandžio 19 d. | balandžio 22 d. - 2024 m. gegužės 6 d. | balandžio 22 d. - 2024 m. gegužės 6 d. | balandžio 12 d. - 2024 m. gegužės 3 d. | gegužės 6 d. - 2024 m. gegužės 20 d. | gegužės 6 d. - 2024 m. gegužės 20 d. | balandžio 15 d. - 2024 m. gegužės 5 d. |
| Decision announced | 2024 m. gegužės 3 d. | 2024 m. gegužės 23 d. | 2024 m. gegužės 23 d. | 2024 m. gegužės 17 d. | 2024 m. gegužės 31 d. | 2024 m. gegužės 31 d. | 2024 m. gegužės 25 d. |
| Agreement signed | 2024 m. gegužės 17 d. | 2024 m. birželio 6 d. | 2024 m. birželio 6 d. | 2024 m. gegužės 31 d. | birželio 14 d. | birželio 14 d. | 2024 m. birželio 2 d. |
| First payment sent | gegužės 17 d. - 2024 m. gegužės 31 d. | birželio 7 d. - 2024 m. birželio 30 d. | birželio 7 d. - 2024 m. birželio 30 d. | gegužės 31 d. - 2024 m. birželio 14 d. | birželio 14 d. - 2024 m. birželio 30 d. | birželio 14 d. - 2024 m. birželio 30 d. | birželio 14 d. - 2024 m. birželio 30 d. |
| Midpoint learning conversation | 2025 m. sausio 15 d. | 2025 m. sausio 15 d. | 2025 m. sausio 15 d. | 2025 m. sausio 15 d. | 2025 m. sausio 15 d. | 2025 m. sausio 15 d. | 2025 m. sausio 15 d. |
| Final report due | 2025 m. liepos 31 d. | 2025 m. liepos 31 d. | 2025 m. liepos 31 d. | 2025 m. liepos 31 d. | 2025 m. liepos 31 d. | 2025 m. liepos 31 d. | 2025 m. liepos 31 d. |
| Yearly report due for multi-year funds | 2025 m. liepos 31 d. | 2025 m. rugpjūčio 15 d. | 2025 m. rugpjūčio 15 d. | 2025 m. liepos 31 d. | 2025 m. liepos 31 d. | 2025 m. liepos 31 d. | 2025 m. rugpjūčio 29 d. |
Round 1 (2023-24)
| SSA and MENA | SA | ESEAP | LATAM | CEECA | NA | NWE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant proposal support starts | 2023 m. rugpjūčio 11 d. | 2023 m. rugpjūčio 11 d. | 2023 m. rugpjūčio 11 d. | 2023 m. rugpjūčio 25 d. | 2023 m. rugpjūčio 18 d. | 2023 m. rugpjūčio 25 d. | 2023 m. rugsėjo 1 d. |
| Eligibility check | rugpjūčio 11 d. - 2023 m. rugsėjo 8 d. | rugpjūčio 11 d. - 2023 m. rugsėjo 8 d. | rugpjūčio 11 d. - 2023 m. rugsėjo 8 d. | rugpjūčio 25 d. - 2023 m. rugsėjo 29 d. | rugpjūčio 18 d. - 2023 m. rugsėjo 8 d. | rugpjūčio 25 d. - 2023 m. rugsėjo 15 d. | rugsėjo 1 d. - 2023 m. rugsėjo 29 d. |
| Submission deadline | 2023 m. rugsėjo 8 d. | 2023 m. rugsėjo 8 d. | 2023 m. rugsėjo 8 d. | 2023 m. rugsėjo 29 d. | 2023 m. rugsėjo 8 d. | 2023 m. rugsėjo 15 d. | 2023 m. rugsėjo 29 d. |
| Application translation support | rugsėjo 11 d. - 2023 m. rugsėjo 15 d. | rugsėjo 11 d. - 2023 m. rugsėjo 15 d. | rugsėjo 11 d. - 2023 m. rugsėjo 15 d. | spalio 2 d. - 2023 m. spalio 6 d. | rugsėjo 11 d. - 2023 m. rugsėjo 15 d. | rugsėjo 19 d. - 2023 m. rugsėjo 23 d. | spalio 2 d. - 2023 m. spalio 6 d. |
| Review starts | 2023 m. rugsėjo 18 d. | 2023 m. rugsėjo 18 d. | 2023 m. rugsėjo 18 d. | 2023 m. spalio 9 d. | 2023 m. rugsėjo 18 d. | 2023 m. rugsėjo 25 d. | 2023 m. spalio 9 d. |
| Feedback received | 2023 m. spalio 6 d. | 2023 m. spalio 6 d. | 2023 m. spalio 6 d. | 2023 m. spalio 27 d. | 2023 m. spalio 20 d. | 2023 m. spalio 20 d. | 2023 m. spalio 27 d. |
| Engaging with feedback | spalio 6 d. - 2023 m. spalio 27 d. | spalio 6 d. - 2023 m. spalio 27 d. | spalio 6 d. - 2023 m. spalio 27 d. | spalio 27 d. - 2023 m. lapkričio 10 d. | spalio 20 d. - 2023 m. lapkričio 10 d. | spalio 20 d. - 2023 m. lapkričio 10 d. | 2023 m. spalio 27 d. - 2023 m. lapkričio 10 d. |
| Decision announced | 2023 m. lapkričio 10 d. | 2023 m. lapkričio 10 d. | 2023 m. lapkričio 10 d. | 2023 m. gruodžio 1 d. | 2023 m. lapkričio 21 d. | 2023 m. lapkričio 21 d. | 2023 m. lapkričio 24 d. |
| Agreement signed | 2023 m. gruodžio 1 d. | 2023 m. gruodžio 1 d. | 2023 m. gruodžio 1 d. | 2023 m. gruodžio 15 d. | 2023 m. gruodžio 8 d. | 2023 m. gruodžio 8 d. | 2023 m. gruodžio 15 d. |
| First payment sent | gruodžio 1 d. - 2023 m. gruodžio 19 d. | gruodžio 1 d. - 2023 m. gruodžio 19 d. | gruodžio 1 d. - 2023 m. gruodžio 19 d. | 2023 m. gruodžio 15 d. - 2024 m. sausio 19 d. | 2023 m. gruodžio 8 d. - 2024 m. sausio 12 d. | 2023 m. gruodžio 8 d. - 2024 m. sausio 12 d. | 2023 m. gruodžio 15 d. - 2024 m. sausio 19 d. |
| Midpoint learning conversation | 2024 m. liepos 15 d. | 2024 m. liepos 15 d. | 2024 m. liepos 15 d. | 2024 m. liepos 15 d. | 2024 m. liepos 15 d. | 2024 m. liepos 15 d. | 2024 m. rugpjūčio 12 d. |
| Final report due | 2025 m. sausio 31 d. | 2025 m. sausio 31 d. | 2025 m. sausio 31 d. | 2025 m. sausio 31 d. | 2025 m. sausio 31 d. | 2025 m. sausio 31 d. | 2025 m. sausio 31 d. |
| Yearly report due for multi-year funds | 2025 m. sausio 31 d. | 2025 m. sausio 31 d. | 2025 m. sausio 31 d. | 2025 m. sausio 31 d. | 2025 m. sausio 31 d. | 2025 m. sausio 31 d. | 2025 m. sausio 31 d. |
Principles and values
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
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.
Resources
Updates
 | • 2024 m. vasario 8 d.: 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.
• 2023 m. rugsėjo 22 d.: 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
|
| Užsachario Afrika | Veronica Thamaini | ssa_fund wikimedia.org
|
| Pietų Azija | 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
|
| Šiaurės Amerika | 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.