Grants:Project/Rapid
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Rapid Funds
Who?
Individuals, groups, Wikimedia affiliates or organisations from Wikimedia movement
What?
For short-term, low-cost projects with Wikimedia focus (1-12 months)
When?
2 months processing time, 1 round in every two months
How much?
500 - 5,000 USD
How to apply
- Read about what we fund and who can apply below.
- Go to Wikimedia Foundation Grantee Portal (Fluxx) and log in.
- If you do not have an account, click Register Now and provide the requested information. You will receive confirmation of your registration within two working day.
- Select the Apply for Rapid Fund button on the main page. Click Save and Continue or Save and Close to save the application.
- Follow the instructions on the application form. You will need to give information about your project and upload several documents.
- Click Submit to submit the application for review.
- We accept applications in any language. We will support translation for applications and discussions as needed.
- Applications will be published to Meta-Wiki automatically within two days. This is done for community review and feedback.
- You can prepare the application offline. Make a copy of the application form, answer the questions and copy the text to Fluxx.
What we fund
Your project should support the achievement of Wikimedia's mission and strategic direction. And it should aim at improving one or more of Wikimedia projects.
Examples of projects we fund
- Individuals coordinating local events related to a global campaign in their community.
- Informal and formal community meetup
- Wikimedia editathons and workshops
- Strategic and annual plans from Wikimedia affiliates
- Education projects, for example, reading or editing training on Wikipedia, Wikidata or other Wikimedia projects
- Cultural and heritage projects that support contribution of content, curation of the content and promote accessibility of that content.
- Gender and diversity projects, for example, bringing in and training women and gender diverse participants and editors. Also, creating content about women, gender diverse groups, underrepresented communities and their knowledge.
- Small-scale software development projects
Examples of expenses we support
- Working space, services, prizes, outreach, and other common costs needed to support edit-a-thons, contests, photowalks, and promotional campaigns.
- Data costs to support access to online events
- Project-related travel for organizers
- Compensation for well-defined roles that do not replace volunteer activities, including (but not limited to) graphic design, training, childcare services, translation, project management, and Wikimedian-in-Residence roles.
Funding travel and equipment
- No funding for travel scholarships or conference participation. Rapid Funds are project-based resources and only fund travel related to the direct implementation of the project.
- Equipment purchase is allowed for groups, organizations and affiliates. Equipment-based grants need to clearly demonstrate how the equipment will be shared with other community members. An equipment log or list must be publicly available for community members and included in the application. Examples of equipment funded with Rapid Funds are: laptops, cameras and projector, routers, external drives.
Funding software development
- Smaller-scale software development projects may be eligible for funding pending review from Community Resources and Technology department staff.
- Project code must be publicly available and published under a free software license compatible with relevant Wikimedia projects.
- A documentation plan should be incorporated as a part of the proposed activities.
- Proposals that depend on multiple or continuous Rapid Funds for long-term maintenance or development goals are generally ineligible.
Funding research
- Applications to complete proposed research related to the Wikimedia movement are not eligible. Please review the Wikimedia Research Fund for these funding opportunties.
- Applications for open access publication fees to publish completed research are not eligible at this time. We encourage researchers to review the WikiJournal User Group, which publishes a set of open-access, peer-reviewed academic journals with no publishing costs to authors.
Examples of funded applications
- Wikipedia exhibition 2023 at the Library fair (Japan, East, Southeast Asia, & Pacific)
- Wiki Loves Bangla 2023 (Bangladesh, South Asia)
- WikiProject Climate Change - Credible Resources and Quotables list (International)
- Building a knowledge repository for cultural heritage post-earthquake disaster in southeast Türkiye (Turkey, Central & Eastern Europe & Central Asia)
- Fortalecimiento de la incubadora de la Wikipedia maya kaqchikel -Wikiwuj- (Guatemala, Latin America & Caribbean)
- Wikidata para bibliotecários brasileiros:edição e visualização de dados (Brazil, Latin America & Caribbean)
Eligibility requirements
This fund is for you if you:
- Are applying for funds between 500 - 5000 USD or its equivalent in another currency at the time of the application. Funds are distributed in your local currency.
- Are a Wikimedia community member, or part of a group or organisation from the Wikimedia movement.
- Have a 1-12 months long project in mind. Projects must be for future, planned work.
- Are an individual who does not have any other open Rapid Funds. Before applying for a new Rapid Fund you will need to submit the report for the open Rapid Fund. In some cases, the Program Officer may request to review the report before applicant is able to submit a new grant request.
- The total fund amount an individual can access per fiscal year (e.g. July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024) is up to USD 10,000.
- Are an organisation or group with less than 2 open grants at any given time.
- The total fund amount an organisation or group can access per fiscal year (e.g. July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024) is up to USD 10,000. You are encouraged to have access to a joint bank account.
- Have current contribution history and experience on the target Wikimedia project(s) mentioned in your grant application. You also need to have organizing experience or training experience. For example, if you are planning to train newcomers on Wikidata, you must demonstrate editing and training history on Wikidata.
- Have informed the team members about your grant and involved the community in discussing the proposal.
You are not eligible for funding if:
- The project you have in mind aims to improve third-party websites.
- The project includes lobbying activities, as per United States Internal Revenue Service definitions. [1]
- Works and contributions are not published under ethical, open access agreements.
- You are from a country that cannot legally receive funding for the described activities and expenses, based on laws on sending and receiving funds in the United States and your country.
- You are not in compliance with all requirements and in good standing for any current activities funded through the Wikimedia Foundation.
- You are listed on the United States Department of Treasury Specially Designated Nationals And Blocked Persons List (SDN).
- You are a Wikimedia Foundation staff member or contractor.
- You are a General Support Fund grantee partner.
- You are a board member, leader (contacts submitted to AffCom), president, bank account signatory[2], executive director, or other paid staff or contractor of a Wikimedia affiliate/group/organisation with existing Wikimedia Foundation Fund awards (General Support Fund, Rapid Fund, Research Fund, Conference Fund, Movement Strategy Implementation Grants).
- When there is no significant overlap between the volunteer role (especially board members), group activities, and individual grant, the Program Officer may make exceptions to this criterion.
- You are an individual applying on behalf of different groups or organisations.
- You do not provide all information and documents needed to receive the funding from Wikimedia Foundation.
Behavioral requirements
We take all applicants through a due diligence process. This means you need to be in ethical good-standing, (e.g. Wikimedia behaviour, social behaviour, financial behaviour, legal behaviour, etc.).
- Applicant must follow the Universal Code of Conduct and Friendly Space Policies.
- Applicants should be in good standing in regard to ethical behavior within the community (e.g. social behavior, financial behavior, legal behavior, etc.), as determined through the due diligence process of the grant program.
- Within the last year, applicants have not been blocked, banned, or otherwise flagged by Wikimedia Foundation staff or another affiliate for violations of Universal Code of Conduct and Friendly Space Policies, or for other types of violations or conduct issues. If such issues have occurred in the past, the applicant is required to demonstrate learning and understanding in regard to the cause for the issue, such that they are ready to serve as a role model for others as a grantee.
- Within the last year, applicants have not been repeatedly blocked or flagged for the same issue and/or have not been banned on the Wikimedia Projects. If a block/ban is recorded in the applicant's account history, the applicant is required to demonstrate learning and understanding in regard to the cause for the block, such that they are ready to serve as a role model for others as a grantee.
- Applicants are not eligible for funding if indefinitely blocked on any Wikimedia project, even if the proposed work is independent from that Wikimedia project.
Youth Safety
Youth Safety Policy must be in place for any activity that involves underage community members.
- If the proposal indicates direct contact with children or youth, it also outlines compliance with international and local laws for working with children and youth, and provides documentation of the local laws in the annex.
- The proposal demonstrates how they will ensure the safe engagement of young people in all of the project’s activities.
- The proposal demonstrates that any adults who will be working in close contact with young people have been properly vetted and trained.
- The proposal outlines an action protocol in the case that incidents occur relating to the physical and psychological safety of young people.
Additional note: We recommend applying for micro-funding programs and other similar opportunities in local communities where they are available, and where you can coordinate and work with other groups in your geography.
Application process
See also: Grants:Project/Rapid/Review process
After submission, the application will be processed according to the following steps:
Initial review (7 days)
- Pre-screening eligibility check by Program Officer
- Outreach to relevant groups and communities for feedback
Review (28 days)
- Eligibility and documents checks by Grant Administrators
- Review and feedback by Program Officer and/or Regional Funds Committee
- Applicant receives and engages with feedback of proposal, making adjustments
Decisions and agreement (18 days)
- Decisions are announced by Program Officer
- Grant agreement is signed between you and the Wikimedia Foundation
- Grant payment is made
Project starts
- Project start date should be after all described steps are completed
Reporting (30 days after the project end date)
Timeline
Cycle 6 (Deadline: June 1, 2024) (2023-2024)
Cycle 6
June 1, 2024
Submission deadline
June 2 – June 27, 2024
Review
July 1, 2024
Decision announced
July 1 – July 15, 2024
Grant processing and payment
July 16, 2024
Earliest project start date
Cycle 1
August 1, 2024
Submission deadline
August 2 – September 5
Review
September 13, 2024
Decision announced
September 14 – September 27
Grant processing and payment
September 30, 2024
Earliest project start date
Cycle 2 (Deadline: October 1, 2024)
Cycle 2
October 1, 2024
Submission deadline
October 2 – November 8
Review
November 15, 2024
Decision announced
November 16 – November 29
Grant processing and payment
November 29, 2024
Earliest project start date
Cycle 3 (Deadline: December 1, 2024)
Cycle 3
December 1, 2024
Submission deadline
December 2, 2024 – January 10, 2025
Review
January 24, 2025
Decision announced
January 25 – February 7
Grant processing and payment
February 7, 2025
Earliest project start date
Cycle 4 (Deadline: February 15, 2025)
Cycle 4
February 15, 2025
Submission deadline
February 16 – March 21
Review
March 28, 2025
Decision announced
March 28 – April 11
Grant processing and payment
April 11, 2025
Earliest project start date
Cycle 5 (Deadline: May 1, 2025)
Cycle 5
May 1, 2025
Submission deadline
May 2 – June 6
Review
June 13, 2025
Decision announced
June 14 – June 27
Grant processing and payment
June 27, 2025
Earliest project start date
Full timeline for all rounds
- Cycle 1 - August 1, 2024 – September 30, 2024
| Due Date | Activity | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| August 1, 2024 | Submission deadline of applications in Cycle 1 | |
| August 8, 2024 |
|
1 week |
| August 22, 2024 |
|
2 weeks |
| September 5, 2024 |
|
2 weeks |
| September 13, 2024 |
|
1 week |
| September 27, 2024 |
|
2 weeks |
| September 30, 2024 |
|
|
| October 1, 2024 |
Submission deadline for the next cycle |
- Cycle 2 - October 1, 2024 – November 29, 2024
| Due Date | Activity | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| October 1, 2024 | Submission deadline of applications for Cycle 2 | |
| October 11, 2024 |
|
1 week |
| October 25, 2024 |
|
2 weeks |
| November 8, 2024 |
|
2 weeks |
| November 15, 2024 |
|
1 week |
| November 29, 2024 |
|
2 weeks |
| November 29, 2024 |
|
|
| December 1, 2024 | Submission deadline for the next cycle |
- Cycle 3 - December 1, 2024 – February 7, 2025
| Due Date | Activity | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| December 1, 2024 | Submission deadline of applications for Cycle 3 | |
| December 9, 2024 |
|
1 week |
| December 23, 2024 |
|
2 weeks |
| January 10, 2025 |
|
2 weeks |
| January 24, 2025 |
|
|
| February 7, 2025 |
|
2 weeks |
| February 7, 2025 |
|
|
| February 15, 2025 | Submission deadline for the next cycle |
- Cycle 4 - February 15, 2025 – April 11, 2025
| Due Date | Activity | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| February 15, 2025 | Submission deadline of applications for Cycle 4 | |
| February 21, 2025 |
|
1 week |
| March 7, 2025 |
|
2 weeks |
| March 21, 2025 |
|
2 weeks |
| March 28, 2025 |
|
1 week |
| April 11, 2025 |
|
2 weeks |
| April 11, 2025 |
|
|
| May 1, 2025 | Submission deadline for the next cycle |
- Cycle 5 - May 1, 2025 – June 27, 2025
| Due Date | Activity | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2025 | Submission deadline of applications for Cycle 5 | |
| May 9, 2025 |
|
1 week |
| May 23, 2025 |
|
2 weeks |
| June 6, 2025 |
|
2 weeks |
| June 13, 2025 |
|
1 week |
| June 27, 2025 |
|
2 weeks |
| June 27, 2025 |
|
How to submit report
If your Rapid Fund is approved, you will need to send a report. Send the report within 30 days after you complete the project.
- Go to Wikimedia Foundation Grantee Portal (Fluxx) and log in.
- Find the Reports section on the left sidebar. Select the Upcoming link and you will see all upcoming reports.
- Select the Rapid Fund report and click Edit. Answer the questions in the form. You can write it in any preferred language.
- When your report is complete, click Submit to send it for review.
- You can prepare the report offline. Make a copy of the report form, answer the questions and copy the text to Fluxx.
Resources
- Grantee Portal (Fluxx) video tutorials.
- Review all applications and reports
- Request merchandise from Wikipedia Store
- Find your funding region
- Recommendations for developing fund proposals
- Other grants
-
- Many Wikimedia affiliates offer grants to their local communities. Check out some of their programs.
Contact us
Contact the Program Officer in any preferred language:
| Region | Regional Program Officer | Email address |
|---|---|---|
| Middle East & North Africa | Farida El-Gueretly | mena_rapid wikimedia.org
|
| Sub-Saharan Africa | Yop Rwang Pam | ssa_rapidwikimedia.org
|
| South Asia | Jacqueline Chen | sa_rapidwikimedia.org
|
| East, Southeast Asia, & Pacific | Jacqueline Chen | eseap_rapidwikimedia.org
|
| Latin America & Caribbean | Mercedes Caso | lac_rapidwikimedia.org
|
| North America | Chris Schilling | na_rapidwikimedia.org
|
| Northern & Western Europe | Agnes Bruszik | nwe_rapidwikimedia.org
|
| Central & Eastern Europe & Central Asia | Chris Schilling | ceeca_rapidwikimedia.org
|
References
- ↑ https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/lobbying.
- ↑ Individuals who have access to the organizational bank account.
The Community Resources team at Wikimedia Foundation supports the Wikimedia Foundation Funds. We offer funding opportunities, guidance, and other resources to the Wikimedia Movement.