About the Organization
The Wikimedia Foundation supports individuals and organizations around the world to increase the diversity, reach, quality, and quantity of free knowledge. We promote knowledge equity aligned with the strategic direction of the Wikimedia movement. Our funding programs are focused on decentralized decision-making, regional committees, and reaching underrepresented communities.Our people-centred approach is built on the principles of equity & empowerment, collaboration & cooperation, and the promotion of innovation and learning. We have four funding programs which support individuals and organizations: the Wikimedia Community Fund, Wikimedia Alliances Fund, Wikimedia Research and Technology Fund, and Movement Strategy Implementation Grants.About the GrantThe Research Fund provides support to individuals, groups, and organizations with interest in conducting research on or about Wikimedia projects. We encourage submissions from across research disciplines including but not limited to the humanities, social sciences, computer science, education, and law.We prioritize supporting applicants who have limited access to research funding, are in regions of the world where the Wikimedia research community has less representation, are proposing work in coordination or collaboration with Wikimedia affiliates, and/or are proposing work that has potential for direct, positive impact on their local communities or the global Wikimedia communities.We welcome two types of submissions:
- In-depth research proposals to contribute to generalizable knowledge that has the potential to improve and expand our understanding of the Wikimedia projects and their impact, introduce technical and socio-technical solutions that can enhance the technology in support of the Wikimedia projects, and advance the Wikimedia Movement towards the 2030 strategic direction.Proposals that focus on strengthening, expanding and diversifying the community of researchers studying Wikimedia projects.
Eligibility
- Individuals, groups, and organizations may apply. Any individual is allowed three open grants at any one time. This includes Rapid Funds. Groups or organizations can have up to five open grants at any one time.Requests must be over USD 2,000. Maximum request is USD 50,000.Funding periods can be up to 12 months in length. Proposed work should start no sooner than June 1, 2024 and end no later than June 30, 2025.Recipients must agree to the reporting requirements, be willing to sign a grant agreement, and provide the Wikimedia Foundation with information needed to process funding.We expect all recipients of the Research Funds to adhere to the Friendly space policy and Wikimedia’s Universal Code of Conduct.Applications and reports are accepted in English and Spanish.Potential applicants should not submit a proposal if at least one of the following holds true:At least one applicant has been an employee or contractor at the Wikimedia Foundation in the last 24 months;At least one applicant has had an advisee/advisor relationship with one or more of the Research Fund Committee Chairs or members of the Wikimedia Research team;At least one of the applicants is a current or has been a former Formal Collaborator of the Research team at the Wikimedia Foundation in the last 24 months;At least one applicant has co-authored a scientific publication with the Research Fund Committee Chairs within the last 24 months.
How to ApplyStage I application submission deadline: December 15, 2023Detailed submission instructions will be shared by November 15, 2023. For a sample of last year’s stage I submissions, please check the archive.Please direct questions to research_fund@wikimedia.org.
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