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We owe you an explanation.
July 7: An important update for readers in Japan.

You deserve an explanation, so please don't skip this 1-minute read. It's Tuesday, July 7. Our fundraiser won't last long, but fewer people are seeing our message this month and we might not hit our goal. If you've lost count of how many times you've visited Wikipedia this year, we hope that means it's given you at least ¥300 of knowledge. If everyone who finds Wikipedia useful gave ¥300, we'd hit our goal in a few hours.

It's been 25 years and Wikipedia is still free. It's still created by people, not machines, and we don't run ads or put up paywalls because we're not here to make a profit off your attention. In other words, it's still the internet we were promised.

Less than 2% of our readers donate, so if you've never given and Wikipedia has provided you with at least ¥300 worth of knowledge, donate today. If you are undecided, remember any contribution helps.

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Can we follow up and let you know if we need your help again? The support and advice we get from donors in Japan is priceless, but many donors don't let us stay in touch. Will you commit today, this Tuesday, to staying in touch with the Wikimedia Foundation?
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Where your donation goes
Accountability and transparency are core values at the Wikimedia Foundation. We manage funds and resources to ensure that every contribution supports our mission. We have earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly GuideStar), and Charity Navigator awarded us its highest rating. You can read our most recent annual report for more information about our financial health.
45% $85.4M Technology 32% $60.7M Support 12% $22.8M Fundraising 11% $20.9M General $189.7M Total Funding
45% Investment in Technology

Nearly half of our budget goes toward supporting the technology that powers Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects. We are constantly working to enhance the user experience for both contributors and readers, improve site security, and ensure reliable access to our websites globally. This infrastructure and product support sustain one of the top ten most visited websites in the world, all at a fraction of the cost of popular for-profit websites.

32% Support for Volunteers

The global reach of Wikimedia projects is made possible by the hard work of volunteers from across the globe. We provide grants, legal support, and other resources to help build vibrant volunteer communities. Additionally, we promote community engagement through outreach initiatives and advocate for the growth and protection of free knowledge.

12% Allocation to Fundraising Efforts

Donor support is crucial to sustaining Wikipedia and our other free knowledge endeavors. Our team is committed to efficient and effective fundraising throughout the year, ensuring that every contribution helps advance our mission.

11% General and Administrative Expenses

Operational costs are essential for the smooth management and governance of the Wikimedia Foundation. These expenses help us recruit top talent and support staff around the world, empowering them to carry out the mission of the Wikimedia Foundation.

Main Page

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Welcome to Wikipedia

,
the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

From today's featured article

Destiny's Child

Destiny's Child was an American girl group formed in Houston, Texas, in 1990. Its final lineup comprised Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. Known for their vocal harmonies, stage performances, and themes of female empowerment, Destiny's Child is regarded as one of the most influential girl groups in popular music. They released five studio albums; their best-sellers include The Writing's on the Wall (1999) and Survivor (2001). In 2001, the group went on hiatus so that each member could work on solo projects, before reuniting to release their final album, Destiny Fulfilled (2005). They garnered the US Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles "Bills, Bills, Bills", "Say My Name", "Independent Women", and "Bootylicious". The group officially disbanded in 2006, but has reunited several times. Destiny's Child is one of the best-selling girl groups, has received many accolades and honors, and has been named one of the greatest musical trios of all time. (Full article...)

Did you know ...

Q Manivannan and Iris Duane
Q Manivannan and Iris Duane

In the news

On this day

July 6

Nicolae Ceaușescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu
More anniversaries:

From today's featured list

Many hardwood trees are included in Silvics of North America, a forest inventory compiled and published by the United States Forest Service in 1991. It superseded Silvics of Forest Trees of the United States (1965), which was the first such formal scholarly inventory. Hardwood has a variety of commercial uses, including in furniture, carpentry, tools and musical instruments. Some timber is milled for plywood, wood veneer and construction framing, including structural support beams and studs. Logs can be fashioned into posts and poles. Less sturdy timber is often ground and processed into pulpwood, principally for papermaking. (Full list...)

Today's featured picture

Other areas of Wikipedia

  • Community portal – The central hub for editors, with resources, links, tasks, and announcements.
  • Village pump – Forum for discussions about Wikipedia itself, including policies and technical issues.
  • Site news – Sources of news about Wikipedia and the broader Wikimedia movement.
  • Teahouse – Ask basic questions about using or editing Wikipedia.
  • Help desk – Ask questions about using or editing Wikipedia.
  • Reference desk – Ask research questions about encyclopedic topics.
  • Content portals – A unique way to navigate the encyclopedia.

Wikipedia's sister projects

Wikipedia is written by volunteer editors and hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organization that also hosts a range of other volunteer projects:

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