Wikipedia Funding Criticism

The cluster revolves around debates criticizing Wikipedia's donation campaigns, arguing that the Wikimedia Foundation has ample reserves, misleadingly portrays financial needs, and spends on non-core projects rather than site maintenance.

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Keywords

washingtonpost.com IMO OP archive.is SOPA TLDR financials.html wikimedia.org LandingPage effectivealtruism.org wikipedia donate money donations wiki foundation donating need money ads costs

Sample Comments

cameldrv Feb 5, 2021 View on HN

Why don't you just donate to to something else then? Wikipedia obviously has more than enough money to keep the website running.

a-nikolaev Jan 24, 2020 View on HN

Recommending to donate is rather misleading.Most of the work on Wikipedia is done by unpaid editors.On the other hand, Wikimedia Foundation (the one that collects donations and manages the project) is accumulating donations and increasing spendings at ever-increasing rates, way above its maintenance and development needs. Just google a bit. Something like this: <a href="https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/9qqds7Z3Ykd9Kdeay/should-you-donate-to-the-wikimedia-f

dang Oct 31, 2022 View on HN

Recent and related:Wikipedia is not short on cash - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33174533 - Oct 2022 (482 comments)The Wikimedia Foundation spends Wikipedia donations on political activism - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33170710 - Oct 2022 (43 comments)<

Retric May 27, 2025 View on HN

It’s less that Wikipedia is overfunded, but rather they’re spending quite a bit on non Wikipedia projects. If you believe in their wider mission then donate, but giving them more money isn’t going to support the website if they aren’t going to use your donations for that end.

Markoff Jun 25, 2017 View on HN

you mean making huge profits from donations?https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/12...

rat9988 Jan 24, 2020 View on HN

Actually wikipedia has too much money. If anything we should stop giving it money for some time.

dpweb Jun 4, 2022 View on HN

If it stops Wikipedia asking for donations I’m all in

mehrdadn Sep 12, 2018 View on HN

Doesn't Wikipedia run on donations? Or are you saying you think that works for the majority of sites?

WalterBright Jun 15, 2023 View on HN

Wikipedia still needs money to keep the lights on.

account42 Jun 12, 2023 View on HN

Even Wikipedia begs for more money they don't really need.