Grants talk:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/General Support Fund/Advancing Wikipedia, wiki projects, and free knowledge in Ukraine, 2024 and beyond
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General Support Fund proposal approved in the amount of 451,271 USD
[edit]Congratulations! Your proposal is approved for partial funding over a period of three years in the amount of 451,271 USD with a grant term starting 1 January 2024 and ending 31 December 2026. This total is distributed over three years in the following manner:
- Year 1: 146,000 USD
- Year 2: 150,380 USD
- Year 3: 154,891 USD
This multiyear grant incorporates a 3% budget increase between Year 1 and Year 2, and also between Year 2 and Year 3. You will be able to submit a different budget for Years 2 and 3 when your annual plan and other changes are submitted, but please keep in mind that there are significant growth limitations on the budget for the General Support Fund.
The Committee expresses its support for Wikimedia Ukraine, as your organization and community have endured significant and lasting hardship since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The committee also recognizes that your chapter, in the face of these sustained hardships, has continued to serve an important role in Ukraine and in the region, continuing to support important movement campaigns, continuing to convene and support important movement gatherings, and supporting opportunities for movement participation for Ukranians locally, as well as to those who have been forced to flee the country. Furthermore, the overall volume of your chapter’s programmatic work is outstanding given these circumstances. The committee therefore supports Wikimedia Ukraine to maintain multiyear funding. While there may continue to be risks and uncertainty around what work and efforts will be possible to consider over the next three years, the committee feels that Wikimedia Ukraine has used movement funds extraordinarily well given the overwhelming limitations you have faced.
The committee was not able to support the requested level of growth in the proposal. While we understand that this request is partly based on increases in inflation in Ukraine, and that inflation is an eligible rationale for requesting an increase, the overall budget for funding in the region has grown only about 8.5% overall since last year, and funding growth next year is expected to be even smaller. We also lack sufficient funds to fully cover the recent effects of inflation in the region. The committee stresses the need to 1) prioritize your current budget, 2) prepare subsequent funding requests that are more modest in growth, and 3) invest time into seeking other funding sources to support additional growth for your organization because the General Support Fund is currently not able to support significant financial growth for affiliates, and will not be able to do so in the near future.
We look forward to Wikimedia Ukraine’s work in 2024 and beyond, and appreciate your chapter’s contributions and efforts to support your community and the Wikimedia movement. On behalf of the Regional Committee, MikyM (talk) 11:37, 28 November 2023 (UTC)