Endowment and Legacy

The Wikimedia Endowment in 2021-2022: A Year of Big Achievements

The Wikimedia Endowment continued to make notable progress in the 2021-2022 fiscal year — first by surpassing $100 million and expanding its Board leadership, then by obtaining 501(c)(3) status, which means the Endowment can now be established as its own nonprofit organization. These achievements embody the ideals that the Wikimedia Foundation had for the Endowment in 2016, when the Foundation envisioned a permanent fund that would be a safety net for the future of Wikipedia and the Foundation’s other free knowledge projects. To summarize: 

• The Endowment Surpassed $100 Million: In September 2021, the Wikimedia Foundation announced that the Endowment had surpassed $100 million through the generosity of Endowment donors. 

• The Endowment Added Important Board Leadership: We also announced in September 2021 that the Wikimedia Endowment Board added three new members who have important community and movement experience as well as expertise in nonprofit management: Phoebe Ayers, Patricio Lorente, and Doron Weber (detailed biographies of all Board members).

• The Endowment Obtained Its Own Nonprofit Status: At the fiscal year’s end, the Internal Revenue Service granted the Wikimedia Endowment 501(c)(3) status, which means that the Endowment is its own separate 501(c)(3) organization that’s governed by the Wikimedia Endowment Board. As a next step, this allows us to transition endowment funds out of the Tides Foundation to the separate 501(c)(3) entity. The Endowment’s new status will help solidify the independence of the Wikimedia Endowment.

We’re continuing to grow and bolster the fund as we establish the policies and procedures to operate the Endowment as an independent 501(c)(3). Thank you to the Endowment benefactors whose support is making sure the Wikimedia projects exist for generations to come. We invite you to view the full list of Endowment benefactors at wikimediaendowment.org.

Help Ensure Wikipedia’s Future

GIVING TODAY

The Wikimedia Endowment is a safety net that helps protect Wikipedia now and into the future. Making a gift today is the simplest way to ensure that Wikipedia remains strong and stable, always there when you need it. To learn more, visit wikimediaendowment.org.

GIVING TOMORROW

Legacy gifts to the Wikimedia Endowment make an impact for years and years. By including Wikipedia in your will, estate planning, retirement plan, or insurance policy, you can leave a beautiful legacy for the next generation of Wikipedia users.  To learn more, email legacy@wikimedia.org.