This year, once again, so many people are led into thinking Wikipedia is "broke" and must be "saved". In fact, the Wikimedia Foundation is richer than ever, with hundreds of millions in assets, 8-figure annual surpluses and $350K executive salaries. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia…
You wouldn't think so from the fundraising emails currently being sent out, telling people to donate "to keep Wikipedia online", saying it's "awkward to ask", etc. A recent poll of Wikipedia volunteers condemned these emails as unethical and misleading. lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/lis…
It's all about "maximizing revenue". If people want to throw money into a bottomless pit, fine; but let's not pretend that the money is needed "to keep Wikipedia online". The numbers in the financial statements tell a different story: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia…
And that story is not the story told to prospective donors. Wikipedia and its unpaid volunteers – the people who actually write and curate Wikipedia – deserve better.
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