Applications for the Wikimedia Research Fund for Individuals, Groups, and Organizations in 2023 are currently open.
Wikimedia aims to support applicants who have limited access to research funding and are proposing work that has the potential for a direct, positive impact on their local communities.
It prioritizes supporting applicants who have limited access to research funding, are in regions of the world where the Wikimedia research community has less representation, and are proposing work that has the potential for direct, positive impact on their local communities or the global Wikimedia communities.
Worth of Award
Requests must be over USD 2,000 and can be up to USD 50,000 and a minimum of six grants will be given during this funding cycle. Detailed budgets are not required as part of initial submissions but rough estimates in the following categories (if applicable) along with a brief explanation will be required:
- Salary or stipend
- Benefits
- Equipment
- Software
- Open-access publishing costs
- Institutional overhead (up to 15% of the total budget requested)
- Other (as specified)
Eligibility
- The Research Fund provides support to individuals, groups, and organizations with research interests on or about Wikimedia projects.
- It encourages submissions from across research disciplines including but not limited to humanities, social sciences, computer science, education, and law.
Furthermore, eligibility to be considered for grant funding includes but is not limited to the following:
- A person or organization is not listed in the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) watchlists.
- Registered organizations must be nonprofit and can provide proof of their nonprofit status.
- Returning Grantees must be in good standing.
- Wikimedia Affiliates must be in good standing, which includes up-to-date reporting requirements.
- A community member must not have a current ban on any of the Wikimedia projects.
- A potential organizational Grantee must be committed to best organizational practices that include being in good standing with local laws, and to the extent applicable, meets the WMF Board of Trustees in its March 2012 resolution as set out at foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Organizational best practices.
- A potential organizational Grantee must be able to provide financial history demonstrating previous experience in successfully administering funds comparable to the current grant/amount being requested. This is common for but not limited to Alliances Fund or Conference Fund.
How to Apply
The application on EasyChair asks for the following information:
- The name, email address, and Wikimedia username (if applicable) of all applicants.
- Names/usernames, roles (with regards to this proposal), institutional affiliations, and countries of residence for all other personnel included in the project, including volunteers and advisors. (Optional)
- Proposal title.
- Description of the proposed project, including aims and approach (maximum 2,500 characters).
- The approximate amount requested is in U.S. dollars.
- Budget description (maximum 500 characters).
- Impact and relevance of the work to Wikimedia projects, including the degree to which the research will address the 2030 Wikimedia Strategic Direction and/or support the work of Wikimedia user groups, affiliates, and developer communities (maximum 750 characters).
- Plans for dissemination (maximum 500 characters).
- Prior contributions to related academic and/or research projects and/or the Wikimedia and free culture communities. If none, then an explanation of planned contributions (maximum 750 characters).
Deadline:
Take note of the following dates:
- December 16, 2022 — Stage I application submission deadline.
- March 2, 2023 — Stage I selection result notifications.
- 31 March 31, 2023 — Stage II application submission deadline.
- May 4, 2023 — Stage II selection result notifications.