COMPARATIVE REVIEW
How does Wikimedia Foundation compare to the foundations featured in our "Who Decides" report?[1] What are the operational consistencies and variations? In the following sections, we explore both the statistics and the narrative feedback we received about the WMF model, including benefits and challenges of the current methodology.
First, we found that Wikimedia Foundation grantmaking is the largest known Participatory Grantmaking Fund. WMF Grantmaking exceeds any of the eight funds documented in the "Who Decides" report.
In our original study, which did not include the WMF, the highest documented grantmaker budget was $2.37 million in 2012. In sharp contrast, the Wikimedia Foundation 2014-15 grantmaking budget is over $7 million.[2]
While Wikimedia Foundation gives much more money than most other participatory grantmakers, it receives a relatively low number of proposals.
| Wikimedia Foundation | Individual Engagement Grants | Project and Event Grants | Annual Plan Grants | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-2015 Proposed Budget | $400,000 | $1 million | $6 million | $7.4 million |
| 2013-2014 Budget | $200,000 | $700,000 | $6 million | $6.9 million |
| Median Grant Size 2013-2014 | $7,865 | $9,860 | $276,000 | $7,865 IEG $9,860 PEG $276,000 APG |
| Number of Grants Awarded 2013-2014 | 18 | 54 | 15 | 87 |
| Number of Proposals Received 2013-2014 | 57 | 67 | 17 | 141 |
| Number of Proposals Received 2012-2013 | 22 | 50 | 15 | 87 |
| Total # of Proposals Received (Last 3 Fiscal Years) | 69 | 184 | 30 | 283 |
| Total # of Grants (Last 3 Fiscal Years) | 27 | 148 | 26 | 201 |
- ↑ http://www.thelafayettepractice.com/reports/whodecides/
- ↑ Grantmaking Overview, June 2014. Page 5.
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