Wikipedia Reaches $20 Million Fundraising Goal

[btarunr]

It looks like those large "personal appeal" banners from Wikipedia's founders, staff, and contributors seemed to have finally "paid off", with the foundation achieving its US $20 million fundraising goal. Wikipedia is an ad-free service, but relies on donations to operate. While you can donate to Wikipedia any time of the year, the foundation starts fundraisers each time it's faced with a cash-crunch.

Sue Gardner, Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation thanked all donors "We've taken down our fundraising banners, because we've hit our target. Thanks to you. Over the past few months, more than one million people have come together from all over the world to keep Wikipedia and its sister sites alive and flourishing for another year." She continued: "Your support is how we pay our bills. People like you, giving five dollars, twenty dollars, a hundred dollars. Thank you for helping us. We're the #5 most-popular site in the world --- we operate on a tiny fraction of the resources of any other top site. We will use your money carefully and well, I promise you." So there you go, no more opening articles about, say, massacres or wars to find inappropriately-placed pictures of smiling contributors or Wikipedia staff asking you to drop a few quids.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[ViperXTR]

good riddance on those banners?

 

[Frick]

I don't mind the banners. Wikipedia is great and adfree and I'd rather have those banners than flash ads.

 

[BrooksyX]

Didnt really mind the banners. Glad to see they reached their goal though. Use wikipedia everyday to just look random stuff up.

 

[Drone]

Well done wiki. See you next year *waves*

 

[pr0n Inspector]

I don't know why but I love staring at those staring banners. Maybe it's a competition thing.

 

[Derek12]

And you can close those banners by pressing the X. I am glad they reached it as I use and love Wikipedia

 

[OOZMAN]

Lol I donated $5 because that's all I had at the time. Glad to hear they reached their goal.

 

[JustaTinkerer]

I donated a quick £5, just what was left in paypal after paying ebay fees etc

 

[hhumas]

Good news

 

[wolf]

I plan to donate to them as soon as I get my next job, probably 50-100 USD...

They really do deserve it IMO.

 

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

good thing I donated. Else they wouldve been $5 short and not reach their target

 

[Quantos]

I donated too and I plan on doing so each year. This is money will placed in my opinion. Wikipedia is a great tool for everyone, everywhere, and it would be a shame if it were to end!

 

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

It wont end. They'd just add ad banners on top and on the sides. But definitely far from ending.. and before it would, investors everywhere would be willing to buy it off from them

 

[ice_v]

I donated too and I plan on doing so each year. This is money will placed in my opinion. Wikipedia is a great tool for everyone, everywhere, and it would be a shame if it were to end!

it's not like it ends...it just gets pubblicity banners/ads thus giving up their freedom.

I donated for the first time last month/year...5€ was all I had on my card after some ebay purchases ...but I think they made good use of it. I'll surelly donate this year.

 

[Quantos]

Fair enough, it would get ads. I'd rather keep that source of information "trustworthy looking".

 

[Rowsol]

Must've been exciting to open the paypal account and see $20,000,000.

 

[OOZMAN]

I plan to donate to them as soon as I get my next job, probably 50-100 USD...

They really do deserve it IMO.

Definately.

 

[JustaTinkerer]

Need to say wiki could have its choice of adverts, what is it, 13th/14th in the world for hits...pick and choose your adverts with that count....that being said I don't ever want them to, wiki is a educational resource, I'm willing to part with £20 a year for my son/daughter/nephews education.

I have seen all of them use it for homework at some point or another.

PS: I only gave £5 this time...next time I will do better.

 

[Munki]

Awesome! Love the wiki

 

[lemonadesoda]

It's great to hear people have donated. But I do wonder why Wikipedia doesnt have an annual corporate sponsor. The sponsor could get a FOOTNOTE banner, not an offensive headline or side banners. And if it is a solid png not some nasty flash or gif then it would not intrude. And there is no reason is would compromise wikipedia's "independence".

I have the feeling that Jimmy Wiles had a bad corporate experience and he is carrying that hate with him still. He needs to let go. I wish him and Wiki the best. They serve communication and easy-access to information and knowledge. We should be forever grateful for their efforts, and the efforts of all the people that have contributed to it

 

[Thefumigator]

It's great to hear people have donated. But I do wonder why Wikipedia doesnt have an annual corporate sponsor.

Well, as people donates, and wiki achieves its goal, then an annual corporate sponsor is not needed. Also if you put an sponsor I barely believe anyone will ever donate to wiki again

 

[Edgarstrong]

I use Wikipedia a lot when I need some basic info without too many details. They seem to be pretty accurate, with the exception of recent political events that tend to be too heavily censored at times.

 

[micropage7]

its a good news where such a nice web and full information funded by donation

 

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

good riddance on those banners?