[Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia (Foundation) endowment

[Samuel Klein]

On Mon, Mar 18, 2013 at 12:53 PM, MZMcBride <z at mzmcbride.com> wrote:
> Nathan wrote:
>>To return to the endowment again as the main topic, I think there are
>>some risks we need to consider in an endowment. In general I think
>>having an endowment is a good idea for a charitable institution,

Yes and yes.

> I suggested quite recently that the Board pass a resolution creating a
> committee to examine the points you raise and additional questions
> outlined here: <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Endowment/Questions>.
>
> I continue to think that we (as a community) are still not at a place
> where we can make good judgments about whether to set up an endowment.
> There simply isn't enough information available to make a sound decision,
> in my opinion. That said, the idea of creating an endowment does seem like
> an idea that has broad support for further consideration and exploration,
> which is why I think an investigative or exploratory committee would make
> a lot of sense here and now. Thoughts?

More information is certainly needed.  It is bound up in other
strategic thinking, as others have noted.

I think we should set up a strategy committee, with a subgroup focused
on an endowment and long-term investment options.

SJ