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

[David Gerard]

2008/11/27 Robert Rohde <rarohde at gmail.com>:
> On Thu, Nov 27, 2008 at 1:40 PM, Thomas Dalton <thomas.dalton at gmail.com> wrote:

>> 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.


Same in Australia, really. A wider meaning for the word "charity" is
common in the UK, though.


- d.