[Foundation-l] Site Notices Phase 2 - Annual Fundraiser 2008

[Robert Rohde]

On Thu, Nov 27, 2008 at 1:40 PM, Thomas Dalton <thomas.dalton at gmail.com> wrote:
> 2008/11/27 David Gerard <dgerard at gmail.com>:
>> 2008/11/27 Thomas Dalton <thomas.dalton at gmail.com>:
>>
>>>> "Wikipedia is a charity" ?
>>
>>> People always say "non-profit" when describing WMF, is it a charity?
>>> The two terms are different. (In the UK, the WMF would probably be
>>> considered charitable, I don't know what the requirements are in the
>>> US.)
>>
>>
>> The bottom of every page on en:wp says it's a charity!
>>
>> (I put that text there, after precise phrasing was worked out on the
>> comcom list. If it's wrong we should change it ...)
>
> And, in fact, wikimediafoundation.org says "nonprofit charitable
> organization". I don't know why people generally say "non-profit"
> instead of "charity", then - charity would be more precise and would
> probably be better perceived.

I agree that the WMF fits the legal definition of a charity, but when
one says "charity" the first thing that comes to my mind are
organizations that take donations (often including food or clothes)
for the primary purpose of redistributing most of them to the needy.
You know, the Red Cross, United Way, Goodwill, food banks, etc.
Obviously the WMF's mission and the use of their income is somewhat
different from that, even though promoting the dissemination of
knowledge is ultimately a charitable purpose.

So at least in my mind calling the WMF a charity feels less precise
and more confusing.  Just my two cents.  Your reaction may vary.

-Robert Rohde