Changes

Every year the [[Directory:Wikimedia Foundation|Wikimedia Foundation]] asks for financial contributions from unsuspecting donors who don't realize that 54 cents of every dollar they contribute will be wasted on ledger items that are ''not'' the program services that the Wikimedia 501(c)(3) is obligated to uphold.  So, every year we publicize this list of the '''Top 10 Reasons Not to Donate to Wikipedia''', in hopes that more people will become educated about what's really going on behind Wikipedia.  Your comments are welcome on the [[Talk:Top 10 Reasons Not to Donate to Wikipedia|discussion page]] here, or you may e-mail ResearchBiz@gmail.com for more discreet dialog.

Every year the [[Directory:Wikimedia Foundation|Wikimedia Foundation]] asks for financial contributions from unsuspecting donors who don't realize that 54 cents of every dollar they contribute will be wasted on ledger items that are ''not'' the program services that the Wikimedia 501(c)(3) is obligated to uphold.  So, every year we publicize this list of the '''Top 10 Reasons Not to Donate to Wikipedia''', in hopes that more people will become educated about what's really going on behind Wikipedia.   

During the Wikimedia Foundation fundraising season, more than 1,000 people a day view this page.  Thanks to excellent search engine rankings for the page, it is hoped that at least some of the readers who visit will be dissuaded from adding their donation to the Wikimedia Foundation's wasteful spending spree.

During the Wikimedia Foundation fundraising season, more than 1,000 people a day view this page.  Thanks to excellent search engine rankings for the page, it is hoped that at least some of the readers who visit will be dissuaded from adding their donation to the Wikimedia Foundation's wasteful spending spree.  And we're not the only voice that's critiquing the Wikimedia Foundation's waste and ineptitude:

 

 

 

 

Also, please pardon the fact that most of the content on this page was written in 2011 and 2012 and has not been substantially updated since them.  The Wikimedia Foundation has a new Executive Director, for example (Lila Tretikov replaced Sue Gardner).  But the wasteful spending patterns continue unabated.  If anything, they have been accelerated.  With hope, the contents of this page will at least inspire you to find out more about the shortcomings of the Wikimedia Foundation, before you are duped into offering them money that they don't need and (more importantly) don't deserve.

==Wikimedia Foundation finances are suspect.==

==Wikimedia Foundation finances are suspect.==

===Budget===

===Budget===

In 2011, the Wikimedia Foundation called for a budget of approximately $20 million.  However, one assessment contends that Wikipedia and all its sister projects could probably ... downturn.

In 2011, the Wikimedia Foundation called for a budget of approximately $20 million.  However, one assessment contends that Wikipedia and all its sister projects could probably [http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091221141604AAEUCsW operate on a budget] of $1.6 million (including salaries for several IT developers), because over 99% of the actual work being done is accomplished by unpaid volunteers.  A [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/foundation/4/4f/FINAL_08_09From_KPMG.pdf KPMG audit] reported that in 2009, the Wikimedia Foundation spent only $822,405 on Internet hosting fees, plus $1,259,161 in "operating" costs (which includes many of the unnecessary staff who had been hired in just the previous two years).  Even this KPMG expense summary would dictate that $2.1 million would be sufficient for the Wikimedia Foundation, so why do they call for a budget nearly '''ten times''' what's actually needed?  And look out, Wikimedia director Sue Gardner is [http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/2011-2012_Annual_Plan_Questions_and_Answers#What.27s_the_revenue_target_for_2011-12.2C_and_how_does_it_compare_to_previous_years.3F calling for] a 50%-larger budget of $29.5 million for 2012!  Last year, she tallied up a 12% pay raise for herself, even amidst a severe economic downturn.

===Governance===

===Governance===