Donate
Donate to the
Wikimedia Foundation
Wikipedia is the world’s largest encyclopedia — and it’s yours! Every donation helps keep Wikipedia free and open for people across the globe.
Only 2% of Wikipedia readers give, so your donation really counts.
Ways to give
More ways to support our work
Give by mail
Because we know that not everyone prefers to donate online.
Donate via bank account
Find out how to donate via your bank account from anywhere in the world.
Donor-advised fund (DAF)
Unlock tax benefits by directing your donation via your Donor-Advised Fund (DAF).
Stock donation
Maximize your impact and benefit from tax savings.
Legacy gift
Make a difference for generations to come.
Individual Retirement Account (IRA)
Qualified Charitable Distributions from a tax-efficient eligible IRA.
CGA
Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs) can offer steady income and philanthropic impact.
Workplace giving
Involve your employer and increase the impact of your donation
Endowment gift
Ensure free knowledge for future generations with a gift to the Wikimedia Endowment.
Visit the Wikipedia store
From apparel to home goods, stationery, and more—find the perfect item to show your support.
Already a donor?
Thank you for your generous support. It really makes a difference. For information on how to manage your recurring donation, please click below, or contact [email protected].
What your donation makes possible
Wikipedia is not funded through advertising, and we don’t sell your data for profit. Instead, we rely on donors — people who find value in the free knowledge and resources we provide. This means Wikipedia remains neutral, trusted, and free from commercial interests. Watch our video to learn more.
Where your donation goes
Accountability and transparency are core values at the Wikimedia Foundation. We manage funds and resources to ensure that every contribution supports our mission. We have earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly GuideStar), and Charity Navigator awarded us its highest rating. You can read our most recent annual report for more information about our financial health.
Investment in Technology 45%
Nearly half of our budget goes toward supporting the technology that powers Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects. We are constantly working to enhance the user experience for both contributors and readers, improve site security, and ensure reliable access to our websites globally. This infrastructure and product support sustain one of the top ten most visited websites in the world, all at a fraction of the cost of popular for-profit websites.
Support for Volunteers 32%
The global reach of Wikimedia projects is made possible by the hard work of volunteers from across the globe. We provide grants, legal support, and other resources to help build vibrant volunteer communities. Additionally, we promote community engagement through outreach initiatives and advocate for the growth and protection of free knowledge.
General and Administrative Expenses 11%
Operational costs are essential for the smooth management and governance of the Wikimedia Foundation. These expenses help us recruit top talent and support staff around the world, empowering them to carry out the mission of the Wikimedia Foundation.
Allocation to Fundraising Efforts 12%
Donor support is crucial to sustaining Wikipedia and our other free knowledge endeavors. Our team is committed to efficient and effective fundraising throughout the year, ensuring that every contribution helps advance our mission.
Thank you
We appreciate each and every person who chooses to become a Wikimedia Foundation donor! You are the key to making this important work possible. Thank you. We also offer a special acknowledgement to our Benefactors — people who give $1,000 or more. We proudly list our Benefactors here.
“Thank you for your thoughtful approach to technology and for ensuring that people remain at the heart of Wikipedia’s mission.”
Donor
● United States of America
“It is an honour to be able to contribute to Wikipedia, which I always try to refer to as the eighth wonder of the world.”
Donor
● The Netherlands
“[Wikipedia is] one of the last bastions of free, open and collaborative internet. Keep up the good fight!”
Donor
● Brazil
“I believe that open knowledge is the foundation of true progress, and platforms like Wikipedia don’t just inform us — they empower us. That belief will stay with me forever.”
Donor
● United Kingdom
“Free knowledge for all should be our main treasure as a society… Thank you for a project that will transcend generations.”
Donor
● Colombia
Still have questions?
Please find answers to our most frequently asked questions below. If you’re unable to find what you are looking for there, you can browse our general FAQs, or get in touch using [email protected].
Are my donations tax deductible?
The Wikimedia Foundation has 501(c)(3) tax exempt status in the United States. Our tax-exempt status varies according to the laws of each country. Donations to the Wikimedia Foundation are likely not tax-deductible outside the USA. Please see our tax deductibility page for more details.
What is your donor privacy policy?
We are committed to protecting the privacy rights of our supporters and will never sell, trade, or rent your nonpublic personal information. Please see our Donor privacy policy for full details.
How secure is an online donation?
The Wikimedia Foundation donation pages are extremely secure and powered by GlobalSign. After clicking on a fundraising banner or following a donation link, the page you’re taken to is on a secured site (https); all information is encrypted and handled following the highest standard of data protection.
We would also like you to know that we neither process nor store credit card details or bank information. Instead, we work closely with third party payment processors affiliated with banks to process donations. Please also note that when you transfer to a partner site – if you are donating via Apple Pay, Google Pay, or PayPal, for example – we do not store your login credentials and the full donation process is done from your account on their secure site.
How can I update my recurring gift?
You may pause, update, or cancel your recurring donation via your donor portal. Please click here to log in with the email address you used to set up your donation.
If you donate by credit/debit card, in some cases credit card processors will notify us when card details (including expiration date) are updated, to ensure the donation is not interrupted. If you have questions about this, please contact your credit card provider for more information.
Please note that if you donate via PayPal, you may need to manage your donation directly via your PayPal account.
If you encounter any issues or have any questions, please reach out to our Donor Relations team at [email protected] and they will be happy to assist. Please do not include your credit card number or other financial information when contacting us.
Due to the volume of inquiries we receive, we use Zendesk as a donor response platform. By emailing [email protected], you understand that your information will be processed by the Zendesk Group in accordance with Zendesk’s terms. Users from the following countries should consult Section A of Zendesk’s privacy policy for more information about Zendesk’s country-specific practices: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and Singapore.
Don’t just take our word for it
Accountability and transparency are core values at the Wikimedia Foundation. We have earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (Formerly Guidestar), and Charity Navigator has awarded us its highest rating of four stars.
Photo credits
Wikimedia_UNGA_IMG_3281
Lucia Liss
Wikipedia 20 symbols by Jasmina El Bouamraoui and Karabo Poppy Moletsane