Wikimedia Foundation General Support Fund Grant

Wikimedia Foundation General Support Fund Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Wikimedia Foundation Org
Amount: US $10,000 - US $550,000
Last Updated: November 21, 2025

Summary

The Wikimedia Foundation General Support Fund empowers organizations and volunteers to enhance free knowledge globally. It supports diverse projects that align with Wikimedia's mission, focusing on knowledge equity and regional engagement. Eligible applicants include Wikimedia Movement organizations that dedicate their efforts exclusively to Wikimedia projects. Funding can cover various expenses, including operational and programmatic costs, ensuring sustainable development in underrepresented communities.

Overview

Welcome to Wikimedia Foundation Funds! The Wikimedia Foundation supports individuals and organizations around the world to increase the diversity, reach, quality, and quantity of free knowledge. We promote knowledge equity aligned with the strategic direction of the Wikimedia movement. Our funding programs are focused on decentralized decision-making, regional committees, and reaching underrepresented communities. Our people-centred approach is built on the principles of equity & empowerment, collaboration & cooperation, and the promotion of innovation and learning Mission Statement The mission of the Wikimedia Foundation is to empower and engage people around the world to collect and develop educational content under a free license or in the public domain, and to disseminate it effectively and globally. Wikimedia Foundation General Support Fund General Support Fund can fund both annual plans and more narrow but distinct projects that require more funding than Rapid Funds can support. Ideally, the minimum length of programming for a General Support Fund is 6 months of work implementation. Exceptions to this rule can be considered due to regional variances. Examples of projects we fund as part of annual plan 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. Examples of expenses we support Operating expenses - working space, services, and other common costs needed for an affiliate to operate. 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.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The General Support Fund (GSF) is open to Wikimedia Movement organizations and organized groups of Wikimedia volunteers, to support the effective programmatic work of those implementing their work in 100% of the time related to and focusing exclusively on Wikimedia projects. Organizations outside the Wikimedia Movement that occasionally collaborate with Wikimedia projects, but whose activities are not 100% of the time related to and focusing on Wikimedia projects, are not eligible for General Support Fund. Any General Support Fund applicant must be in contact with the application's Regional 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.For first-time applicantsProven track record of activity in the Wikimedia movement and on Wikimedia projects (i.e. evidence of past programming activities involving Wikimedia volunteers, documented activities on Meta-Wiki or other Wikimedia Projects). Minimum length of programming in general is 6 months of work implementation, regional exceptions might apply in Middle East & North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa for distinct projects (e.g. global campaigns or WiR programs for shorter terms). Organizational stability, existing governance structure, financial accountability. Compliance with basic eligibility rules of the Wikimedia Community Funds. Depending on the funding region, further criteria may apply: Previous experience with Wikimedia Foundation funding applications (e.g. Rapid Fund, Conference Fund).General Support Fund recipients are eligible to apply for some other Wikimedia Foundation funding programs:Wikimedia Research FundConference and Event Fund

Ineligibility

General Support Fund recipients are not eligible to apply for: Rapid Funds (see details here for specific eligibility for affiliate leaders)