Live data from Hacker News

Stepping Down as CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation

diff.wikimedia.org

41–50 of 252 posts

Re: Stepping Down as CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation

#41
post #5

I didn't know my Wikipedia donations funded parties in Accra, Berlin and Chandigarh. I think that should be been in the fundraising statement.

Yeah, I wish there were a way to support just Wikipedia. I don't really care about a lot of Wikimedia Foundation's other pet projects, but the way they phrase their banners and emails, you'd think we are always a razor's edge from Wikipedia servers shutting off...

[deleted]

Re: Stepping Down as CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation

#42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are welcome to, just declare it upfront.

What does "declaring it upfront" look like, what are you asking for? Like, a copy of their budget before donating? I think you can probably get that?

I can't find any line-item in the Foundation Audit Reports named "parties" though. Is it under "other operating expenses"? How can I know how much of those $9M was spent on parties?

Re: Stepping Down as CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation

#43
post #34
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They also spent $2.8m on travel and conferences in 2019 [0], which is more than they spent on internet hosting... [0] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/foundation/3/31/Wikim... (page 13)

This seems like the typical HN meme of looking at something and assuming the technical piece is all there is to it. Wikipedia's biggest challenge over the years hasn't been building or hosting its website. It's been convincing the world that an encyclopedia that can be edited by anyone on the Internet is a credible and neutral source of information. One of the ways you do that is by speaking at conferences, traveling…

The only reason I checked was because of Jimmy Wales' past controversy regarding use of the foundation's credit card [0]:

> Wool wrote that Wales had asked the foundation to reimburse him for costly items like a $1,300 dinner for four at a Florida steakhouse. Wool alleged that at one point Wales was short on receipts for $30,000 in expenses before settling the matter with the foundation's lawyer and paying the organization $7,000.

> Wool added that Wales' foundation credit card was taken away in 2006.

[0] https://www.smh.com.au/technology/wikipedias-jimmy-wales-acc...

Re: Stepping Down as CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation

#44
post #24

> We have a deep and stable financial position that will help us grow and protect us from any storm, and the trust in our projects has never been higher. They earned 9 millions more than last year, from 120 millions to 129 millions, and spent 21 millions more, from 91 millions to 112 millions [1], with an increase of 10 millions in "awards and grants". The donations grew by 10 millions. If I read the financial statem…

If an individual had no desire to ever retire and was able to pay all of their bills for the next 2 years with no further paychecks and no adjustments to their lifestyle, I'd call that a pretty deep level of financial stability. Especially since in this case their income sources are somewhat diversified across people, unlike a single paycheck from an employer.

Re: Stepping Down as CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation

#45
post #25

> For now, I want to share with you why I’m moving on, and what comes next. I read this twice just to make sure I didn't miss something, and I don't actually see a reason why.

> I read this twice just to make sure I didn't miss something, and I don't actually see a reason why. I don't actually see a reason why.

(Stated right in the sixth paragraph.) I’m going to take a break, and a research fellowship, as a place to think about what’s next. It’s hard to think about your future when you’re fully in your present, and for the past seven years, I’ve been fully present for this movement. But as I look around, I see global challenges such as polarization, inequality, and climate change, as well as opportunities for generational renewal and optimism. As a Wikimedian, I lean toward optimism, and plan to head in that direction.

Re: Stepping Down as CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation

#46
post #25

> For now, I want to share with you why I’m moving on, and what comes next. I read this twice just to make sure I didn't miss something, and I don't actually see a reason why.

If my reading of the statement was correct, the reason given was this:

"As for me, I’m going to take a break, and a research fellowship, as a place to think about what’s next. It’s hard to think about your future when you’re fully in your present, and for the past seven years, I’ve been fully present for this movement. But as I look around, I see global challenges such as polarization, inequality, and climate change, as well as opportunities for generational renewal and optimism. As a Wikimedian, I lean toward optimism, and plan to head in that direction."

Re: Stepping Down as CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation

#47
post #24

> We have a deep and stable financial position that will help us grow and protect us from any storm, and the trust in our projects has never been higher. They earned 9 millions more than last year, from 120 millions to 129 millions, and spent 21 millions more, from 91 millions to 112 millions [1], with an increase of 10 millions in "awards and grants". The donations grew by 10 millions. If I read the financial statem…

Do you know of many businesses which could sustain their operation without any revenue for two straight years?

If you do these are really inefficient businesses.

If you do however decide to say they non profits should do that, then what’s the point of having that money in non profits if you could just put that money in a savings account and supply the non profit every year?

Re: Stepping Down as CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation

#48
post #24

> We have a deep and stable financial position that will help us grow and protect us from any storm, and the trust in our projects has never been higher. They earned 9 millions more than last year, from 120 millions to 129 millions, and spent 21 millions more, from 91 millions to 112 millions [1], with an increase of 10 millions in "awards and grants". The donations grew by 10 millions. If I read the financial statem…

When I hear “Foundation” and “stable financial position” I think endowment.

They seem to be making the same mistake as the Mozilla foundation. You’re living on your nest egg instead of the interest. Spending 4 times as much as you should.

Re: Stepping Down as CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation

#50

I didn't know my Wikipedia donations funded parties in Accra, Berlin and Chandigarh. I think that should be been in the fundraising statement.

I mean, if you really want to see the schedule for WikiIndaba 2017 that took place in Accra, here you go.

http://2017.wikiindaba.net/index.php/Programme

Try not to tear the armrests off your chair in rattles of indignation.

Post reply on HN