Financials

Platinum Seal Guidestar rating 98.14 Charity Navigator rating ★★★★ We received four stars from Charity Navigator—their highest rating

source: Charity Navigator

Transparency is a core principle of the Wikimedia Foundation, and we apply this to our financial reporting. We are proud to be recognized as one of the most transparent nonprofit organizations in the world. Our annual plan and operating budget are developed through open processes, subject to community feedback and board approval, and always available to the public for review.

"The Wikimedia Foundation is funded 100% by our donors. Their donations are incredibly important to the work of the Wikimedia Foundation, and we value our continuing relationship with each and every donor."

Lisa Seitz-Gruwell, Chief Advancement Officer

43% Direct support to websites 32% Direct support to communities

13% Administration and governance 12% Fundraising

43% Direct support to websites

Keeping the Wikimedia websites online is about more than just servers. It also includes ongoing engineering improvements, product development, design and research, and legal support. Wikipedia is one of the top 10 websites in the world, and it runs on a fraction of what other top websites spend.

32% Direct support to communities

The Wikimedia projects exist thanks to volunteer communities around the world that create and maintain them. We strengthen these communities through grants, programs, events, trainings, partnerships, tools to augment contributor capacity, and support for the legal defense of editors.

12% Fundraising

Wikimedia is supported entirely by donations. Fundraising technology and global payment tools enable us to receive financial support from millions of remarkable individuals and institutions around the world, that give to ensure that we have the necessary resources to continue our global mission

13% Administration and governance

We manage funds and resources responsibly to recruit and support skilled, passionate staff who advance our communities and values. Other top websites have thousands of employees. We have about 400 staff and contractors to support a wide variety of projects, making each donation a great investment in a highly-efficient not-for-profit organization.

Balance Sheet - Audited (July 1, 2019—June 30, 2020)

source: 2019 - 2020 financial statements

Assets

Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	71,223,962
Current portion of contributions receivable	300,000
Short-term investments	95,302,300
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	3,821,590
Total current assets	170,647,852
Restricted cash	870,575
Property, plant, and equipment, net	7,451,015
Long-term investment	12,293,520
Total assets	191,262,962

Liabilities and net assets

Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	1,570,288
Accrued expenses	7,690,014
Other liabilities	1,686,935
Total current liabilities	10,947,237

Net assets:
Unrestricted	178,247,468
Temporarily restricted	2,068,257
Total net assets	180,315,725
Total liabilities and net assets	191,262,962

Statement of Activities - Audited (July 1, 2019—June 30, 2020)

Unrestricted net assets

Support and revenue:
Donations and contributions	120,446,591
In-kind service revenue	407,711
Foreign currency gains	480,531
Other income, net	804,779
Investment income, net	5,512,480
Release of restrictions on temporarily restricted net assets	2,543,297
Total support and revenue	129,234,327

Expenses:
Salaries and wages	55,634,912
Awards and grants	22,893,806
Internet hosting	2,400,286
In-kind service expenses	407,711
Donation processing expenses	4,857,199
Professional service expenses	11,670,125
Other operating expenses	10,047,127
Travel and conferences	2,309,068
Depreciation and amortization	1,951,405
Special event expense, net	317,758
Total expenses	112,489,397
Increase in unrestricted net assets	16,744,930

Temporarily restricted net assets

Contributions	472,667
Release of restrictions on temporarily restricted net assets	(2,543,297)
Increase (decrease) in net assets with donor restrictions	(2,070,630)
Increase in net assets	14,674,300
Net assets at beginning of year	165,641,425
Net assets at end of year	180,315,725