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The nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation provides the essential infrastructure for free knowledge. We host Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, created, edited, and verified by volunteers around the world, as well as many other vital community projects. All of which is made possible thanks to donations from individuals like you. We welcome anyone who shares our vision to join us in collecting and sharing knowledge that fully represents human diversity.

Protect and sustain Wikipedia

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1

Wikimedia projects belong to everyone

You made it. It is yours to use. For free. That means you can use it, adapt it, or share what you find on Wikimedia sites. Just do not write your own bio, or copy/paste it into your homework.

2

We respect your data and privacy

We do not sell your email address or any of your personal information to third parties. More information about our privacy practices are available at the Wikimedia Foundation privacy policy, donor privacy policy, and data retention guidelines.

3

People like you keep Wikipedia accurate

Readers verify the facts. Articles are collaboratively created and edited by a community of volunteers using reliable sources, so no single person or company owns a Wikipedia article. The Wikimedia Foundation does not write or edit, but you and everyone you know can help.

4

Not all wikis are Wikimedia

The word “wiki” refers to a website built using collaborative editing software. Projects with no past or existing affiliation with Wikipedia or the Wikimedia Foundation, such as Wikileaks and wikiHow, also use the term. Although these sites also use “wiki” in their name, they have nothing to do with Wikimedia.

280,000+

editors contribute to Wikimedia projects every month

100+ million

media files on Wikimedia Commons and counting

1.5 billion

unique devices access Wikimedia projects every month

Research

We conduct our own research and partner with researchers worldwide to address change in society and technology.

More about research

Technology

From site reliability to machine learning, our open-source technology makes Wikipedia faster, more reliable, and more accessible worldwide.

More about technology

Advocacy

We fight to protect everyone’s right to access free and open knowledge.

More about advocacy

Collaborative projects are the core of the Wikimedia movement

Our volunteers build tools, share photos, write articles, and are working to connect all the knowledge that exists.

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Wikipedia

Free encyclopedia written in over 300 languages by volunteers around the world.

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Wikimedia Commons

The world’s largest free-to-use-library of illustrations, photos, drawings, videos and music.

See what we have been up to

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Wikimedia Foundation statement on volunteer processes on reliable sources

There has been recent media coverage regarding a decision by Wikipedia’s volunteer community on the reliability of the Anti-Defamation League as an encyclopedic source in specific subject areas. In an effort to promote better understanding of how Wikipedia works, the Wikimedia Foundation has issued a statement.

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The Wikimedia Endowment welcomes Mayree Clark as its newest Board member 

The Wikimedia Endowment is delighted to welcome Mayree Clark as a new member of its Endowment Board. Mayree, a finance expert, will bring her extensive governance expertise to the Wikimedia Endowment, a nonprofit charitable organization providing a permanent safekeeping fund to support the Wikimedia projects in perpetuity.

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Wikimedians are heroes of free knowledge

Photo of Pranayraj Vangari
Pranayraj Vangari
Editor since 2013, Wikimedia community
Vitor Mazuco
Vitor Mazuco
Editor since 2009, Wikimedia community
Photo of Armine Aghayan
Arminé Aghayan
Editor since 2013, Wikimedia community

Throughout history, knowledge has been controlled by a powerful few. Wikipedia needs knowledge from all languages and cultures. The internet has become the default for accessing information—women, people of color, and the global south remain underrepresented. We invite you to help correct history.

Help us unlock the world’s knowledge.

As a nonprofit, Wikipedia and our related free knowledge projects are powered primarily through donations.

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Contact us

Questions about the Wikimedia Foundation or our projects? Get in touch with our team.
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