Benjamin Webb wrote:
On 26/03/06, Ray Saintonge saintonge@telus.net wrote:
Robert Scott Horning wrote:
Or more to the point, I think that starting a geneology project is actually going to be a significant source of revenue for the Wikimedia Foundation rather than being a drag on the resources.
Probabably so, and by charging very modest fees at that. The question to ask then, given the massive number of genealogical websites out there, what can we do that will make our site more desirable than all the others.
Surely the Wikimedia Foundation isn't going to charge fees, I thought it was non-profit. Have I misunderstood what you are saying?
The implication here (speaking for myself and not Ray) is that bottom line finances are just as important to non-profit groups like the Wikimedia Foundation as they are to for-profit organizations as well. Perhaps more so because the number of potential sources of income is restricted in a number of ways.
I am not advocating that any direct fees be required for access to this or any Wikimedia project. I'm just pointing out that there is money available from a great many people, and the current donation system for the Wikimedia Foundation would be almost ideal for financing a project of this nature. If presented in the right context and explained properly, there would be many voluntary donations from a great many people to help support an on-line geneological project. Precisely what the Wikimedia Foundation needs to maintain its tax-exempt status.
Or if it is rejected by the board, there would be money available to finance it, but it would require financial controls that the Wikimedia Foundation has already established.