[[Please distribute widely to various language communities, projects, and chapters]]
Hi All,
I'd like to begin a conversation about the 2010-2011 Fundraiser, which isn't slated to launch for a few months, but for which we'd like to get community involvement early and often. As you no doubt are aware, the strategic plan calls for the "many small gifts" model to be the centerpiece of our funding strategy, so our community fundraiser is one of the key methods by which we finance and underwrite the operations of the projects. The fundraiser this year will probably, as in earlier years, be primarily banner driven. We're going to have a strong emphasis on testing and iterating ideas, with a defined methodological testing plan.
But the most important part of what we - all of us - are going to need to do is what this community has always been good at: thinking, researching, and iterating.
With that in mind, it's important to identify people who want to help. Of course, anyone's welcome to join in and help at any time, but there's a definite need for people who are willing to be deeply involved from now to the wrap up... people who want to be creative but rigorous, innovative but willing to learn from the past, and most of all, to serve as an active part of the team working on this fundraiser. There will, of course, be Foundation staff deeply involved in this, but there's a real need for people from the community to step up and help us design this thing.
If you're willing to help, would you add your name to http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fundraising_2010/Committee ? We'll be in contact - soon - to get things started.
Thanks, Philippe
____________________ Philippe Beaudette Head of Reader Relations Wikimedia Foundation
philippe@wikimedia.org
ofc: +1 415 839 6885 (x 643) mobile: 918 200 WIKI (9454)
Imagine a world in which every human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. Help us make it a reality!
On Fri, 2010-07-23 at 15:27 -0500, Philippe Beaudette wrote:
[[Please distribute widely to various language communities, projects, and chapters]]
I'd like to begin a conversation about the 2010-2011 Fundraiser, which isn't slated to launch for a few months, but for which we'd like to get community involvement early and often.
<snip>
But the most important part of what we - all of us - are going to need to do is what this community has always been good at: thinking, researching, and iterating.
I, likely, would not have the spare time to put my name down there; however, I'll see what I can do to help.
There is just one very, very important point to learn from the prior two overly-Wikipedia-centric fundraisers...
By plastering "Wikipedia Forever" all over sister projects, the WMF deeply offends hard-working contributors.
This was done two years running. In both instances I complained. In the fall-out surrounding criticising the WMF about this last year, I gave up my position on the Communications Committee. Is there anyone left in that <s>shadowy Cabal</s> who really represents sister projects? Will they speak up about that this time round?
Personally, I think the craftiest 'theme' for a fundraiser would be a coin-slot in project logos where that is possible. Then, instead of being directed to the project main page by clicking the logo, you get to a page that says, "A $x donation works out at 0.xxx cents per word for the article you were just reading. Help keep access free, <project-specific-slogan>".
wikinews-l@lists.wikimedia.org