Hello everyone,

As many of you know, in October we concluded phase 1 of the movement strategy process. The result was a final draft of the strategic direction,[1] summarizing the hundreds of conversations that took place all over the world, on wiki and off, about where we as a movement want Wikimedia to go next. Many communities and individuals have signed on to the direction, expressing their support for the guide we collectively created for our future.  

The Board recognizes the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in making this direction a reality. In the next phase of the movement strategy, we will get into more of the specifics of how to make that happen. With that in mind, we would like to share a statement setting forth our commitment to the future of Wikimedia, and a clear mandate for the Wikimedia Foundation to invest the resources necessary to support the growth and evolution required for the next chapter of Wikimedia’s future.

Our statement is included below, and on Meta-Wiki, where it has been set up for translation: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/November_2017_-_Statement_endorsing_future_resourcing_and_direction_of_the_organization

The Board greatly appreciates all of the time and energy that thousands of people have put into the movement strategy process. Special appreciation goes out to the members of the community who stepped up to help lead local, language, or global organizing efforts. We are not done yet, but what we have created is something that we should all be proud of -- for the process of how we got to this direction, as much as for the direction itself.

On behalf of the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees,

Christophe Henner, Board Chair

***

Statement

At our most recent Board meeting on the 18th of November, the Wikimedia Foundation Board focused much of our discussion on the needs and goals of the Wikimedia 2030 movement strategy process.[1] We carefully considered the next steps we as a movement, and the Wikimedia Foundation in particular, need to take to build for our future.

The Board is committed to ensuring the vision outlined in the Wikimedia 2030 process becomes a reality. To support this direction and the future of the Wikimedia movement, it is our belief that the Wikimedia Foundation must expand its resources through healthy, sustainable practices. To this end, we want to give a clear mandate for the Wikimedia Foundation to invest the resources necessary to support the growth and evolution required for the next chapter of Wikimedia’s future.

We specifically recommend that the Foundation:

• Increase investment in Foundation staffing and other means of support for the movement direction, sufficiently resourcing product, technology, and community health commitments in particular;

• Support and engage with individuals, groups, and organizations, especially within the Wikimedia movement, to further develop their capacities, including the specific needs of emerging communities;

• Support the fundraising team in raising additional funds beyond what is called for in the annual plan to prepare us for future growth;

• Increase revenue as needed to support investment and growth;

• Explore alternative revenue streams for the Foundation and movement; and

• Undertake any capacity expansion in a healthy and sustainable way that anticipates current and future needs.

Based on anticipated need and past performance, we envision an annual budgetary growth rate of 10–20% over the next several years.

The Board takes seriously its responsibility to the Foundation and by extension, to the global Wikimedia movement. We believe this mandate will better ensure we can realize the future we all have outlined as part of Wikimedia 2030. We are committed to ensuring the sustainable growth and success of our movement, and the Wikimedia Foundation’s role in supporting its future.