Candid Platinum
Seal of Transparency
★★★★ (98/100)
Charity Navigator rating — their highest
At the Wikimedia Foundation, transparency is one of our guiding principles. For years, Candid (formerly GuideStar) has awarded us the Platinum Seal of Transparency, and Charity Navigator has given us its highest rating of four stars.
45% Technology
Wikipedia and its sister sites benefit from ongoing technology upgrades, improvements to their ease of use, and consistent attention to website security and reliability. We administer our suite of free knowledge sites efficiently — at a fraction of what many of our for-profit peers spend.
31% Direct Support to Volunteers and Readers
Wikimedia projects have global reach. This is enabled by the diverse work of volunteers from local communities around the world. We provide grants, legal support and other resources to support contributors. We back community outreach events and advocacy for growing free knowledge.
11% Fundraising
Donor support is part of the lifeblood of Wikipedia and our other free knowledge projects. Our team works year-round to ensure professionalism and efficiency in the cultivation and stewardship of all gifts, each of which helps provide resources critical to our work.
13% General and Administrative
Our core values include transparency and accountability. We manage funds and resources responsibly, and recruit and support skilled, passionate people to advance our mission.
Balance Sheet – Audited
(July 1, 2021–June 30, 2022)
| Assets | |
| Current Assets | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | $50,939,835 US |
| Current portion of contributions receivable | 700,000 |
| Short-term investments | 141,953,790 |
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 4,436,684 |
| Total current assets | 198,030,309 |
| Restricted cash | 1,372,480 |
| Long-term investments | 39,933,596 |
| Noncurrent portion of contributions receivable | — |
| Property and equipment, net | 11,629,057 |
| Total assets | 250,965,442 |
Liabilities and net assets | |
| Current liabilities | |
| Accounts payable | 3,267,306 |
| Accrued expenses | 5,697,569 |
| Other liabilities | 2,649,035 |
| Total current liabilities | 11,613,910 |
Net assets | |
| Unrestricted | 238,009,941 |
| Temporarily restricted | 1,341,591 |
| Total net assets | 239,351,532 |
| Total liabilities and net assets | 250,965,442 |
Statement of Activities – Audited
(July 1, 2021–June 30, 2022)
| Net assets without donor restrictions: | |
| Support and revenue | |
| Contributions of cash and other financial assets | $160,468,313 US |
| Contributions of nonfinancial assets and services | 420,351 |
| Foreign currency gains (losses) | (944,163) |
| Other income, net | 2,106,050 |
| Investment income (loss), net | (11,665,241) |
| Release of restrictions on temporarily restricted net assets | 4,301,211 |
| Total support and revenue | 154,686,521 |
Expenses | |
| Salaries and wages | 88,111,412 |
| Awards and grants | 14,923,242 |
| Internet hosting | 2,704,842 |
| In-kind service expenses | 405,885 |
| Donation processing expenses | 6,215,434 |
| Professional service expenses | 16,881,184 |
| Other operating expenses | 11,853,366 |
| Travel and conferences | 1,191,164 |
| Depreciation and amortization | 3,213,466 |
| Special event expense, net | 470,920 |
| Total expenses | 145,970,915 |
| Increase in net assets without donor restrictions | 8,715,606 |
| Net assets with donor restrictions: | |
| Contributions | 3,759,601 |
| Net assets released from restrictions | (4,301,211) |
| Decrease in net assets with donor restrictions | (541,610) |
| Net assets | |
| Increase in net assets | 8,173,996 |
| Net assets at beginning of year | 231,177,536 |
| Net assets at end of year | 239,351,532 |
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