Hi Everyone:

We are pleased to announce that the Wikimedia Foundation 2016-17 Annual Plan and Budget has now been unanimously approved by the Board of Trustees[1] and is posted on Meta-Wiki here: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Annual_Plan/2016-2017/F...

This year's plan focuses on improving support for--and consultation with--community, responding effectively to changing user needs, and addressing strategic challenges facing our movement. It goes into effect on 1 July 2016, the start of our fiscal year, and will be the Foundation's guiding document until a new plan, once again developed in consultation with the community, replaces it on 1 July 2017.

The process of creating this year's Annual Plan began in December 2015 and required the creativity and forward thinking of many dedicated people across our community.

Each Wikimedia Foundation department proposed their initial program and nonprogram initiatives and budgets. The Advancement and Finance departments worked together to make sure that projected expenses reflected our commitment to responsible and realistic growth, while not exceeding projected donations. As adjustments were made throughout the process, the Community Engagement department posted, reposted, shared, and kept up-to-date the ever changing drafts of plan while collecting and helping respond to feedback from many of you.

Community members, affiliates, and the Funds Dissemination Committee[2] (FDC) responded by providing insightful and valuable feedback to the initial draft, asking thoughtful questions and making constructive recommendations. Staff responded, making improvements or further clarifications. The FDC's feedback, developed during their annual meeting, was posted and responded to by staff on Meta-Wiki[3]. Discussions between the community and staff continued during the staff's final set of revisions to the plan in preparation for presentation to the Board at their meeting at Wikimania.

The Audit Committee[4] and the Board monitored and discussed the plan throughout the process and reviewed the final plan prepared by the staff following FDC and community feedback. The Audit Committee recommended the plan to the Board, and the Board discussed and approved the final plan via on-line vote on June 20.

Throughout the process, oversight was provided by both the office of the Executive Director and the Finance team, with guidance from the Community Engagement and Communications departments, to ensure that the 2016-17 Annual Plan was delivered on time and within the budget set by the Board.

We feel this was truly a cooperative, movement wide effort. We also recognize opportunities to improve the process, and look forward to making some adjustments in the coming year. We would like to extend our appreciation and gratitude to the community members who offered their feedback, their time, and their energy to create the 2016-17 Annual Plan.

The Wikimedia Foundation Board and staff are committed to the spirit set forth in this plan of cooperation, dialogue, facing challenges together, and creating amazing ways for the world to freely access, discover, and immerse themselves in knowledge. We look forward to the coming year and all that we will do together.

Patricio Lorente, Outgoing Board Chair Kelly Battles, Chair, Audit Committee

PS. This message is available for translation on Meta-Wiki: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/June_...

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_of_Trustees [2] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:APG/Funds_Dissemination_Committee [3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:APG/FDC_recommendations/2015-2016_rou... [4] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Audit_Committee --