Jump to content

Wikimedia Foundation: Difference between revisions

From ICANNWiki
← Older editNewer edit →
VisualWikitext
Marie Cabural (talk | contribs)
9,082 edits
Caterina (talk | contribs)
14,326 edits
No edit summary
Line 20: Line 20:
| twitter        =  
| twitter        =  
| keypeople      = '''Ting Chen''', Chairman <br> '''Jan-Bart de Vreede''', Vice Chair <br>  
| keypeople      = '''Ting Chen''', Chairman <br> '''Jan-Bart de Vreede''', Vice Chair <br>  
}}
}}


The '''Wikimedia Foundation''' is non-profit organization which was established by [[Jimmy Wales]], co-founder of [[Wikipedia]]. Based on the Bylaws of the foundation, it's main objective is to collect, develop and disseminate educational content under a free license worldwide.<ref>[http://wikimediafoundation.org/w/index.php?title=Wikimedia_Foundation_bylaws&oldid=20641#ARTICLE_II_-_STATEMENT_OF_PURPOSE Bylaws of the Wikimedia Foundation]</ref> The organization's headquarter is located in San Francisco, California.
The '''Wikimedia Foundation''' is non-profit organization established by [[Jimmy Wales]], co-founder of [[Wikipedia]]. Based on the Bylaws of the foundation, its main objective is to collect, develop and disseminate educational content worldwide under a free license.<ref>[http://wikimediafoundation.org/w/index.php?title=Wikimedia_Foundation_bylaws&oldid=20641#ARTICLE_II_-_STATEMENT_OF_PURPOSE Bylaws of the Wikimedia Foundation]</ref> The organization's headquarter is located in San Francisco, California.


Based on its 2010 Annual Report, the Wikimedia Foundation is serving more than 400 million users every month, with 100,000 volunteer writers and editors who made 177 million edits and the foundation received $9 million dollars in donations.<ref>[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/AR_web_all-spreads_24mar11_72_FINAL.pdf Wikimedia Foundation Annual Report 2009-2010]</ref>
Based on its 2010 Annual Report, the Wikimedia Foundation is serving more than 400 million users every month, with 100,000 volunteer writers and editors who had made 177 million edits, and with $9 million dollars received in donations.<ref>[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/AR_web_all-spreads_24mar11_72_FINAL.pdf Wikimedia Foundation Annual Report 2009-2010]</ref>


==Background==
==Background==
On June 20, 2003, Jimmy Wales announced the estblishment of Wikimedia Foundation as non-profit organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Florida. All assets of Nupedia and Wikipedia including copyrights of software and articles of Bomis, Inc were transferred to the foundation.<ref>[http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikipedia-l/2003-June/010743.html Jimmy Wales Announces Wikimedia Foundation]</ref> According to Jimmy Wales, Wikimedia Foundation has only two employees, the rest are volunteers and its revenue comes from donation and grants provided by companies like Yahoo!.<ref>[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-eworld/article2203973.ece?ref=archive Growing on Volunteer Power]</ref> The term Wikimedia was suggested in 2003 by Sheldon Rampton, an American author.<ref>[http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikien-l/2003-March/001887.html Wikipedia English Mailing List Message]</ref>
On June 20, 2003, Jimmy Wales announced the estblishment of the Wikimedia Foundation as a non-profit organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Florida. All assets of Nupedia and Wikipedia, including copyrights of software and articles under Bomis, Inc, were transferred to the foundation.<ref>[http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikipedia-l/2003-June/010743.html Jimmy Wales Announces Wikimedia Foundation]</ref> According to Jimmy Wales, Wikimedia Foundation has only two employees, and the rest are volunteers. Its revenue comes from donation and grants provided by companies like Yahoo!.<ref>[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-eworld/article2203973.ece?ref=archive Growing on Volunteer Power]</ref> The term Wikimedia was suggested in 2003 by Sheldon Rampton, an American author.<ref>[http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikien-l/2003-March/001887.html Wikipedia English Mailing List Message]</ref>


==Mission==
==Mission==
Line 35: Line 34:
==Projects==
==Projects==
The Wikimedia Foundation maintains different projects including:<ref>[http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Home Projects of the Wikimedia Foundation]</ref>
The Wikimedia Foundation maintains different projects including:<ref>[http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Home Projects of the Wikimedia Foundation]</ref>
* '''Wikipedia'''- is a free encyclopedia developed by volunteer writers worldwide which is available in 273 different languages. This project started on January 2001. At present, Wikipedia has a collection of more than 10 million articles.
* '''Wikipedia''', a free encyclopedia developed by volunteer writers worldwide. It is available in 273 different languages, and at present, Wikipedia has a collection of more than 10 million articles. This project started on January 2001.
* '''Wikibooks'''- contains a collection of e-books from textboks, manuals, annotated public domain books and many more.Available in 100 languages, this project was launched on October 2010.
* '''Wikibooks''', which contains a collection of e-books of textboks, manuals, annotated public domain books, and many more. Available in 100 languages, this project was launched on October 2010.
* '''Wikiversity'''-created on August 15, 2006, this project provides resource materials for all levels.Available in 12 languages and currently it has 30,000 learning materials.
* '''Wikiversity''', which provides resource materials for all levels. Available in 12 languages and currently it has 30,000 learning materials. It was created on August 15, 2006.
* '''Wiktionary'''- This project started on December 2002. It contains definition of words available in 150 languages.
* '''Wiktionary''', which contains definition of words available in 150 languages. This project started on December 2002.
* '''Wikiquote'''-initiated on July 2003, this project is a collection of quotes by famous individuals or taken from books, films and other relevant materials.
* '''Wikiquote''', initiated on July 2003. This project is a collection of quotes by famous individuals or taken from books, films and other relevant materials.
* '''Wikispecies'''-provides a database of Taxonomy which started in 2010.
* '''Wikispecies''', which provides a database of Taxonomy. It was started in 2010.
* '''Wikinews'''- Implemented in 2004, this project is dedicated in providing news stories in different areas.
* '''Wikinews''', implemented in 2004. This project is dedicated in providing news stories in different areas.
* '''Wikisource'''-Started in 2003, this project is a multilingual collection of more than 880,000 hypertext sources.
* '''Wikisource''', a multilingual collection of more than 880,000 hypertext sources. Started in 2003.
* '''Wikimedia Commons'''-This project was launched in 2004 and contains a collection of more than five million free multimedia files from photographs, diagrams, maps, videos etc.
* '''Wikimedia Commons''', launched in 2004. It contains a collection of more than five million free multimedia files from photographs, diagrams, maps, videos etc.
* '''MediaWiki'''-is a software used by wikimedia projects and other websites. It was released under a General Public License (GPL).
* '''MediaWiki''', a software used by Wikimedia projects and other websites. It was released under a General Public License (GPL).


==Board of Trustees==
==Board of Trustees==
Under Article 1V Section 1 of the Wikimedia Foundation, the Board of Trustees of the foundation is composed of ten trustees. Its' current members include:<ref>[http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Board_of_Trustees Board Of Trustees]</ref>
Under Article 1V Section 1 of the Wikimedia Foundation, the Board of Trustees of the foundation is composed of ten trustees. Its current members include:
* Jimmy Wales, Founder
* Jimmy Wales, Founder
* Ting Chen, Chair  
* Ting Chen, Chair  
Line 57: Line 56:
* Samuel Klein  
* Samuel Klein  
* Arne Klempert  
* Arne Klempert  
* Kat Walsh  
* Kat Walsh<ref>[http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Board_of_Trustees Board Of Trustees]</ref>


==Chapters==
==Chapters==
As of March 2011, Wikimedia Foundation Chapters include:<ref>[http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Local_chapters Local Chapters]</ref>
As of March 2011, Wikimedia Foundation Local Chapters include:
* Wikimedia Argentina
* Wikimedia Argentina
* Wikimedia Österreich (Austria)
* Wikimedia Österreich (Austria)
Line 84: Line 83:
* Wikimedia Philippines
* Wikimedia Philippines
* Wikimedia Polska (Poland)
* Wikimedia Polska (Poland)
* Wikimedia Portugal
* Wikimedia Portugal
* Викимедиа РУ (Wikimedia Russia)
* Викимедиа РУ (Wikimedia Russia)
* Wikimedia Србије (Serbia)
* Wikimedia Србије (Serbia)
Line 90: Line 89:
* Wikimedia Taiwan
* Wikimedia Taiwan
* Вікімедіа Україна (Wikimedia Ukraine)
* Вікімедіа Україна (Wikimedia Ukraine)
* Wikimedia New York City
* Wikimedia New York City<ref>[http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Local_chapters Local Chapters]</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
__NOTOC__
__NOTOC__
[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:Organizations]]

Revision as of 08:26, 19 October 2011


Type: Non-Profit
Industry: Internet
Founded: 2001
Founder(s): Jimmy Wales & Larry Sanger
Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
Country: USA
Website: wikimediafoundation.org
Key People
Ting Chen, Chairman
Jan-Bart de Vreede, Vice Chair

The Wikimedia Foundation is non-profit organization established by Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia. Based on the Bylaws of the foundation, its main objective is to collect, develop and disseminate educational content worldwide under a free license.[1] The organization's headquarter is located in San Francisco, California.

Based on its 2010 Annual Report, the Wikimedia Foundation is serving more than 400 million users every month, with 100,000 volunteer writers and editors who had made 177 million edits, and with $9 million dollars received in donations.[2]

Background

On June 20, 2003, Jimmy Wales announced the estblishment of the Wikimedia Foundation as a non-profit organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Florida. All assets of Nupedia and Wikipedia, including copyrights of software and articles under Bomis, Inc, were transferred to the foundation.[3] According to Jimmy Wales, Wikimedia Foundation has only two employees, and the rest are volunteers. Its revenue comes from donation and grants provided by companies like Yahoo!.[4] The term Wikimedia was suggested in 2003 by Sheldon Rampton, an American author.[5]

Mission

Under the bylaws of the Wikimedia Foundation, its primary goal 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. The foundation aims to achieve its mission by providing important infrastructure and organizational framework to a network of volunteers working in the development of free and multilingual projects worldwide.[6]

Projects

The Wikimedia Foundation maintains different projects including:[7]

  • Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia developed by volunteer writers worldwide. It is available in 273 different languages, and at present, Wikipedia has a collection of more than 10 million articles. This project started on January 2001.
  • Wikibooks, which contains a collection of e-books of textboks, manuals, annotated public domain books, and many more. Available in 100 languages, this project was launched on October 2010.
  • Wikiversity, which provides resource materials for all levels. Available in 12 languages and currently it has 30,000 learning materials. It was created on August 15, 2006.
  • Wiktionary, which contains definition of words available in 150 languages. This project started on December 2002.
  • Wikiquote, initiated on July 2003. This project is a collection of quotes by famous individuals or taken from books, films and other relevant materials.
  • Wikispecies, which provides a database of Taxonomy. It was started in 2010.
  • Wikinews, implemented in 2004. This project is dedicated in providing news stories in different areas.
  • Wikisource, a multilingual collection of more than 880,000 hypertext sources. Started in 2003.
  • Wikimedia Commons, launched in 2004. It contains a collection of more than five million free multimedia files from photographs, diagrams, maps, videos etc.
  • MediaWiki, a software used by Wikimedia projects and other websites. It was released under a General Public License (GPL).

Board of Trustees

Under Article 1V Section 1 of the Wikimedia Foundation, the Board of Trustees of the foundation is composed of ten trustees. Its current members include:

  • Jimmy Wales, Founder
  • Ting Chen, Chair
  • Jan-Bart de Vreede, Vice Chair
  • Phoebe Ayers, Executive Secretary
  • Stu West, Treasurer
  • Bishakha Datta
  • Matt Halprin
  • Samuel Klein
  • Arne Klempert
  • Kat Walsh[8]

Chapters

As of March 2011, Wikimedia Foundation Local Chapters include:

  • Wikimedia Argentina
  • Wikimedia Österreich (Austria)
  • Wikimedia Australia
  • Wikimedia CH (Switzerland)
  • Wikimedia Česká Republika (Czech Republic)
  • Wikimedia Deutschland (Germany)
  • Wikimedia Danmark (Denmark)
  • Wikimedia Eesti (Estonia)
  • Wikimedia España (Spain)
  • Wikimedia Suomi (Wikimedia Finland)
  • Wikimédia France
  • Wikimedia United Kingdom
  • Wikimedia Hong Kong
  • Wikimédia Magyarország (Wikimedia Hungary)
  • Wikimedia Indonesia
  • Wikimedia Israel
  • Wikimedia India
  • Wikimedia Italia (Italy)
  • Викимедија Македонија (Macedonia)
  • Wikimedia Nederland (Netherlands)
  • Wikimedia Norge (Norway)
  • Wikimedia Philippines
  • Wikimedia Polska (Poland)
  • Wikimedia Portugal
  • Викимедиа РУ (Wikimedia Russia)
  • Wikimedia Србије (Serbia)
  • Wikimedia Sverige (Sweden)
  • Wikimedia Taiwan
  • Вікімедіа Україна (Wikimedia Ukraine)
  • Wikimedia New York City[9]

References

Retrieved from "https://icannwiki.org/index.php?title=Wikimedia_Foundation&oldid=44703"