Lisa Thurston wrote:

Further to my email about ads on Wikipedia, I want to point out some concerns I have about the current Wikimedia fundraising drive too.

Why haven't tax professionals been consulted to specify exactly what the tax-deductibility status donations to Wikipedia have in the top donor countries? It should be found out and explictly specified on the home page. I for one won't donate without knowing my donation is tax-deductible in Australia. And if, for instance, it did say "tax deductible in Australia" Aussies *would* notice it instantly seriously consider donating!

In fact, if the answer for Australia or Canada or Sweden or whatever is "not deductible" then Wikipedia should make a request for Wikipedians in those countries to form local chapters to obtain the NGO/charity status. This wouldn't just help Wikimedia out by generating more revenue, but create a stronger Wikipedian community outside US and central Europe.

While we're interested in having tax deductibility for as many donors as possible, it is not the Wikimedia Foundation's business to provide tax advice for anybody. We should stay far away from this. Even in the obvious case, plugging tax deductibility in the US is somewhat problematic because quite a few people will not realize that this is only worth something to them if they itemize their deductions. That's why the better approach is to simply say, "Donations may be tax deductible, consult a professional for details."

Incidentally, regarding the specific case, I believe Tim Starling's preliminary investigation suggested that tax deductibility in Australia may not be all that likely.

--Michael Snow