Andrea I agree completely that movement monies should be invested inline with our values. We should not be invested in stuff that promotes war or surveillance for example. I would image this is currently the case but would have to verify.
J
On Tue, Aug 22, 2017 at 12:01 PM, Andrea Zanni zanni.andrea84@gmail.com wrote:
Personally I think the endowment is a great idea, stability and growth for our movement are paramount, IF, we use our money in the best way we can.
I also don't really care about how big the banner is: it's a minor inconvenience to click the "Hide" button (provided that we are able to hide automatically the button for those who actually donated: they deserve a bannerless page. I remember some complaints during the years about this).
What it's more important to me is where are we putting donors' money, both in terms of endowment and actual spending. The WMF is spending money to serve the movement, and how effective and efficient they are should be our only focus.
Regarding the endowment, the only little complaint I have is *where* we are investing those money. Reading the documentation page [1], I don't see mentioned anything regarding ethical or socially responsible investing (SRI).
There are many funds (of stocks or ETFs) that manage selected "ethical" financial products: these are also our values, and I think we should put donors' money where our mouth is. (I get that sometimes non-ethical investments yield more money, but at least we should have this discussion)
Aubrey
[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Endowment
On Mon, Aug 21, 2017 at 11:10 PM, Strainu strainu10@gmail.com wrote:
Both stability and growth come at a cost - is that cost acceptable? The way I understand it from the mid-year fundrasing report in January, the $5M were on top of the fundraising target, basically gathered by exposing our readers to more banners than needed. My opinion is that's a very high price to pay and that there should be more stringent rules regarding continuing fundraisers after their target has been reached (which in turn will probably require even better planning, including for the Endowment).
As to whether some donor influenced the Board's decision, that statement looks really far-fetched based on available information. It sounds more like an opportunity that either appeared or was created after the $5M target had been set.
Strainu
2017-08-21 23:49 GMT+03:00 James Heilman jmh649@gmail.com:
My personal position is it is critical to have a stable organization
before
growing. The WMF has achieved greater stability over the last 1.5 years
so
I think further growth is becoming again a good idea.
James
On Mon, Aug 21, 2017 at 7:48 PM, Rogol Domedonfors <
domedonfors@gmail.com>
wrote:
I'm know that the WMF has determined that it should have some form of endowment, The question is -- as is usual in question of this sort --
one
of balance: in this case, balance between current spending for the
benefit
of the projects today, and accumulating capital for the benefit of the projects tomorrow. I am asking the Board to say why they decided to
strike
that balance where they did -- given the obvious need for that support right now -- and whether it is appropriate for large donors to
apparently
influence that decision.
Reinhard
On Mon, Aug 21, 2017 at 3:02 PM, Yaroslav Blanter ymbalt@gmail.com wrote:
I am often critical of WMF, but I can only support this decision.
The
idea
of creating of an environment was widely discussed in the community, including this mailing list, and had a widespread support. WMF
merely
follows the community wish in this case, and it is great to know
that
a
donor agreed to match this amount.
Cheers Yaroslav
On Sat, Aug 19, 2017 at 12:58 PM, Vi to vituzzu.wiki@gmail.com
wrote:
Caveat: I support a definitely more frugal WMF so also the
endowment.
Try to read it from a different perspective. Before donating
*lots*
of
money donor wants to be sure WMF will be truly committed in
pursuing
the
plan of an endowment. Putting the same amount of money is a prove,
for
donors, WMF truly wants to create an endowment.
Vito
2017-08-19 10:33 GMT+02:00 Rogol Domedonfors <
domedonfors@gmail.com
:
> I was surprised to read the record > https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Resolution:Approval_ > of_Endowment_funding_(Fiscal_Year_2016-2017)_and_matching_$ > 5_million_gift_from_Peter_Baldwin_and_Lisbet_Rausing > of the decision to place $5M into the endowment. After the
anouncement
by > Lisa Gruwell on this list > https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimedia-l/2016- > December/085712.html > there was a discussion of what might be done with the funds
raised,
and a
> number of suggestions were made for how these funds could be
used
to
> directly support the work of the volunteers who contribute the
content
to
> the projects, such as > https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimedia-l/2017- January/085835.html > . > > It is disappointing that the Board has chosen not to fund
support
of
this
> kind. What is more than disappointing, but positively
disturbing
is
that
> the decision was made in the light of an offer from a donor to
match
the
> sum put into the endowment. I suggest that this was not a fair
offer,
and > the Board's decision was the wrong one. Effectively this donor
has
said
to > the Board that they will pay the Foundation not to support the volunteers, > and the Board has agreed to follow their wishes. If the donor
believes
so > strongly in the necessity to build up the mission by means of an Endowment, > why did they not simply gift the money directly into the
endowment
without > conditions? Equally, if the donor believes so strongly that
money
should
> not be spent supporting the volunteer community, then I
challenge
them
to
> say so explicitly in public and to defend their position. > > I call on the Board to explain to the community of volunteers
precisely
why > they have chosen not to offer that support to the community and
to
state
> that they will not allow future decisions of this nature to be
influenced
> by the wishes of one donor, however generous. > > "Rogol" > _______________________________________________ > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > wiki/Wikimedia-l > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/
mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=
unsubscribe>
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ wiki/Wikimedia-l New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/
mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
<mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=
unsubscribe>
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ wiki/Wikimedia-l New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/
mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
,
<mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=
unsubscribe>
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/ wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ wiki/Wikimedia-l New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
,
mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
-- James Heilman MD, CCFP-EM, Wikipedian
The Wikipedia Open Textbook of Medicine _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/
wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ wiki/Wikimedia-l
New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/ wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ wiki/Wikimedia-l New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/ wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ wiki/Wikimedia-l New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe