I'm know that the WMF has determined that it should have some form of
endowment, The question is -- as is usual in question of this sort -- one
of balance: in this case, balance between current spending for the benefit
of the projects today, and accumulating capital for the benefit of the
projects tomorrow. I am asking the Board to say why they decided to strike
that balance where they did -- given the obvious need for that support
right now -- and whether it is appropriate for large donors to apparently
influence that decision.
Reinhard
On Mon, Aug 21, 2017 at 3:02 PM, Yaroslav Blanter <ymbalt(a)gmail.com> wrote:
I am often critical of WMF, but I can only support
this decision. The idea
of creating of an environment was widely discussed in the community,
including this mailing list, and had a widespread support. WMF merely
follows the community wish in this case, and it is great to know that a
donor agreed to match this amount.
Cheers
Yaroslav
On Sat, Aug 19, 2017 at 12:58 PM, Vi to <vituzzu.wiki(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Caveat: I support a definitely more frugal WMF so
also the endowment.
Try to read it from a different perspective. Before donating *lots* of
money donor wants to be sure WMF will be truly committed in pursuing the
plan of an endowment. Putting the same amount of money is a prove, for
donors, WMF truly wants to create an endowment.
Vito
2017-08-19 10:33 GMT+02:00 Rogol Domedonfors <domedonfors(a)gmail.com>om>:
I was surprised to read the record
https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Resolution:Approval_
of_Endowment_funding_(Fiscal_Year_2016-2017)_and_matching_$
5_million_gift_from_Peter_Baldwin_and_Lisbet_Rausing
of the decision to place $5M into the endowment. After the anouncement
by
> Lisa Gruwell on this list
>
https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikimedia-l/2016-
> December/085712.html
> there was a discussion of what might be done with the funds raised,
and a
> number of suggestions were made for how
these funds could be used to
> directly support the work of the volunteers who contribute the content
to
January/085835.html
> .
>
> It is disappointing that the Board has chosen not to fund support of
this
> kind. What is more than disappointing, but
positively disturbing is
that
> the decision was made in the light of an
offer from a donor to match
the
sum put
into the endowment. I suggest that this was not a fair offer,
and
> the Board's decision was the wrong one. Effectively this donor has
said
to
the Board that they will pay the Foundation not
to support the
volunteers,
and the Board has agreed to follow their wishes.
If the donor believes
so
strongly in the necessity to build up the mission
by means of an
Endowment,
why did they not simply gift the money directly
into the endowment
without
> conditions? Equally, if the donor believes so strongly that money
should
> not be spent supporting the volunteer
community, then I challenge them
to
say so
explicitly in public and to defend their position.
I call on the Board to explain to the community of volunteers precisely
why
> they have chosen not to offer that support to the community and to
state
> that they will not allow future decisions of
this nature to be
influenced
by the
wishes of one donor, however generous.
"Rogol"
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