Wikimedia Foundation Rapid Fund Grant

Wikimedia Foundation Rapid Fund Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Wikimedia Foundation Org
Amount: US $500 - US $5,000
Last Updated: November 21, 2025

Summary

The Wikimedia Foundation Rapid Fund supports projects aimed at enhancing free knowledge and diversity within the Wikimedia community. It provides funding between $500 and $5,000 for initiatives that align with its mission, including educational workshops, local events, and cultural projects. Eligible applicants must be community members with a defined project timeline and previous contribution history. The fund emphasizes collaboration, knowledge equity, and innovation to empower underrepresented communities globally.

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 Rapid Fund Your project should support the achievement of Wikimedia's mission and strategic direction. And it should aim at improving one or more of Wikimedia projects. Examples of projects we fund: Individuals coordinating local events related to a global campaign in their community. Informal and formal community meetup Wikimedia editathons and workshops Strategic and annual plans from Wikimedia affiliates Education projects, for example, reading or editing training on Wikipedia, Wikidata or other Wikimedia projects Cultural and heritage projects that support contribution of content, curation of the content and promote accessibility of that content. Gender and diversity projects, for example, bringing in and training women and gender diverse participants and editors. Also, creating content about women, gender diverse groups, underrepresented communities and their knowledge. Small-scale software development projects Examples of expenses we support: Working space, services, prizes, outreach, and other common costs needed to support edit-a-thons, contests, photowalks, and promotional campaigns. Data costs to support access to online events Project-related travel for organizers Compensation for well-defined roles that do not replace volunteer activities, including (but not limited to) graphic design, training, childcare services, translation, project management, and Wikimedian-in-Residence roles. Funding travel and equipment: No funding for travel scholarships or conference participation. Rapid Funds are project-based resources and only fund travel related to the direct implementation of the project. Equipment purchase is allowed for groups, organizations and affiliates. Equipment-based grants need to clearly demonstrate how the equipment will be shared with other community members. An equipment log or list must be publicly available for community members and included in the application. Examples of equipment funded with Rapid Funds are: laptops, cameras and projector, routers, external drives. Funding software development: Review the Guidelines for Rapid Fund technical projects. Funding research: Applications for open access publication fees to publish completed research are not eligible at this time. We encourage researchers to review the WikiJournal User Group, which publishes a set of open-access, peer-reviewed academic journals with no publishing costs to authors.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. This fund is for you if you: Are applying for funds between 500 - 5000 USD or its equivalent in another currency at the time of the application. Funds are distributed in your local currency. Are a Wikimedia community member, or part of a group or organisation from the Wikimedia movement. Have a 1-12 months long project in mind. Projects must be for future, planned work. Are an individual who does not have any other open Rapid Funds. Before applying for a new Rapid Fund you will need to submit the report for the open Rapid Fund. In some cases, the Program Officer may request to review the report before applicant is able to submit a new grant request. The total fund amount an individual can access per fiscal year (e.g. July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024) is up to USD 10,000. Are an organisation or group with less than 2 open grants at any given time. The total fund amount an organisation or group can access per fiscal year (e.g. July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024) is up to USD 10,000. You are encouraged to have access to a joint bank account. Have current contribution history and experience on the target Wikimedia project(s) mentioned in your grant application. You also need to have organizing experience or training experience. For example, if you are planning to train newcomers on Wikidata, you must demonstrate editing and training history on Wikidata. Have informed the team members about your grant and involved the community in discussing the proposal.

Ineligibility

You are not eligible for funding if: The project you have in mind aims to improve third-party websites.The project includes lobbying activities, as per United States Internal Revenue Service definitions.[1]Works and contributions are not published under ethical, open access agreements.You are a General Support Fund grantee partner.You are a board member, leader (contacts submitted to AffCom), president, bank account signatory[2], executive director, or other paid staff or contractor of a Wikimedia affiliate/group/organisation with existing Wikimedia Foundation Fund awards (General Support Fund, Rapid Fund, Research Fund, Conference Fund, Movement Strategy Implementation Grants).When there is no significant overlap between the volunteer role (especially board members), group activities, and individual grant, the Program Officer may make exceptions to this criterion.You are an individual applying on behalf of different groups or organisations.Applications to complete proposed research related to the Wikimedia movement are not eligible. Please review the Wikimedia Research Fund for these funding opportunties.