4 ms·
> The majority of Wikimedia's money goes to software development, not keeping the lights on The majority of the money goes to grants (because they don't even k
by MagnumOpus 5y ago
> The majority of Wikimedia's money goes to software development, not keeping the lights on
The majority of the money goes to grants (because they don't even know what to do with it internally), followed by fundraising and brand building ("advancement" and "communications") which has the largest staff numbers.
Then lawyers, and technology staff and contractors are a distant fourth...
> a world where WMF spends the absolute bare minimum to keep the lights on, with no further funding to new software development, and Wikipedia is still a success
I 'member back in 2005-2008 that was the state of the world. WMF paid Brion Vibber and the bandwidth bills and Brion kept the lights on. It was the most successful time for Wikipedia with massive growth and recognition.
- metasj 5y agoThis is almost exactly backwards. Half of the staff work on tech. https://wikimediafoundation.org/role/staff-contractors/ https://wikimediafoundation.org/role/staff-contractors/ 2005-2008 was extraordinary from this standpoint, no question. A reminder of what a small group can accomplish with a vision that brings together a community ready to rewrite the world, from the ground up if need be.