Grants:Project/Rapid

From Meta, a Wikimedia project coordination wiki
Rapid Funds

Who?

Individuals, groups, Wikimedia affiliates or organisations from Wikimedia movement

What?

For short-term, low-cost projects with Wikimedia focus (1-12 months)

When?

2 months processing time, 1 round in every two months

How much?

500 - 5,000 USD


How to apply

  1. Read about what we fund and who can apply below.
  2. Go to Wikimedia Foundation Grantee Portal (Fluxx) and log in.
    • If you do not have an account, click Register Now and provide the requested information. You will receive confirmation of your registration within two working day.
  3. Select the Apply for Rapid Fund button on the main page. Click Save and Continue or Save and Close to save the application.
  4. Follow the instructions on the application form. You will need to give information about your project and upload several documents.
  5. Click Submit to submit the application for review.

  • We accept applications in any language. We will support translation for applications and discussions as needed.
  • Applications will be published to Meta-Wiki automatically within two days. This is done for community review and feedback.
  • You can prepare the application offline. Make a copy of the application form, answer the questions and copy the text to Fluxx.
Rapid Fund Application Form (Google Docs)
Rapid Fund Budget Template (Google Sheets)

What we fund

Your project should support the achievement of Wikimedia's mission and strategic direction. And it should aim at improving one or more of Wikimedia projects.

Examples of projects we fund
  • Individuals coordinating local events related to a global campaign in their community.
  • Informal and formal community meetup
  • Wikimedia editathons and workshops
  • Strategic and annual plans from Wikimedia affiliates
  • Education projects, for example, reading or editing training on Wikipedia, Wikidata or other Wikimedia projects
  • Cultural and heritage projects that support contribution of content, curation of the content and promote accessibility of that content.
  • Gender and diversity projects, for example, bringing in and training women and gender diverse participants and editors. Also, creating content about women, gender diverse groups, underrepresented communities and their knowledge.
  • Small-scale software development projects
Examples of expenses we support
  • Working space, services, prizes, outreach, and other common costs needed to support edit-a-thons, contests, photowalks, and promotional campaigns.
  • Data costs to support access to online events
  • Project-related travel for organizers
  • Compensation for well-defined roles that do not replace volunteer activities, including (but not limited to) graphic design, training, childcare services, translation, project management, and Wikimedian-in-Residence roles.
Funding travel and equipment
  • No funding for travel scholarships or conference participation. Rapid Funds are project-based resources and only fund travel related to the direct implementation of the project.
  • Equipment purchase is allowed for groups, organizations and affiliates. Equipment-based grants need to clearly demonstrate how the equipment will be shared with other community members. An equipment log or list must be publicly available for community members and included in the application. Examples of equipment funded with Rapid Funds are: laptops, cameras and projector, routers, external drives.
Funding software development
  • Smaller-scale software development projects may be eligible for funding pending review from Community Resources and Technology department staff.
  • Project code must be publicly available and published under a free software license compatible with relevant Wikimedia projects.
  • A documentation plan should be incorporated as a part of the proposed activities.
  • Proposals that depend on multiple or continuous Rapid Funds for long-term maintenance or development goals are generally ineligible.
Funding research
Examples of funded applications

Eligibility requirements

This fund is for you if you:

  • Are applying for funds between 500 - 5000 USD or its equivalent in another currency at the time of the application. Funds are distributed in your local currency.
  • Are a Wikimedia community member, or part of a group or organisation from the Wikimedia movement.
  • Have a 1-12 months long project in mind. Projects must be for future, planned work.
  • Are an individual who does not have any other open Rapid Funds. Before applying for a new Rapid Fund you will need to submit the report for the open Rapid Fund. In some cases, the Program Officer may request to review the report before applicant is able to submit a new grant request.
    • The total fund amount an individual can access per fiscal year (e.g. July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024) is up to USD 10,000.
  • Are an organisation or group with less than 2 open grants at any given time.
    • The total fund amount an organisation or group can access per fiscal year (e.g. July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024) is up to USD 10,000. You are encouraged to have access to a joint bank account.
  • Have current contribution history and experience on the target Wikimedia project(s) mentioned in your grant application. You also need to have organizing experience or training experience. For example, if you are planning to train newcomers on Wikidata, you must demonstrate editing and training history on Wikidata.
  • Have informed the team members about your grant and involved the community in discussing the proposal.
You are not eligible for funding if:
  • The project you have in mind aims to improve third-party websites.
  • The project includes lobbying activities, as per United States Internal Revenue Service definitions. [1]
  • Works and contributions are not published under ethical, open access agreements.
  • You are from a country that cannot legally receive funding for the described activities and expenses, based on laws on sending and receiving funds in the United States and your country.
  • You are not in compliance with all requirements and in good standing for any current activities funded through the Wikimedia Foundation.
  • You are listed on the United States Department of Treasury Specially Designated Nationals And Blocked Persons List (SDN).
  • You are a Wikimedia Foundation staff member or contractor.
  • You are a General Support Fund grantee partner.
  • You are a board member, leader (contacts submitted to AffCom), president, bank account signatory[2], executive director, or other paid staff or contractor of a Wikimedia affiliate/group/organisation with existing Wikimedia Foundation Fund awards (General Support Fund, Rapid Fund, Research Fund, Conference Fund, Movement Strategy Implementation Grants).
    • When there is no significant overlap between the volunteer role (especially board members), group activities, and individual grant, the Program Officer may make exceptions to this criterion.
  • You are an individual applying on behalf of different groups or organisations.
  • You do not provide all information and documents needed to receive the funding from Wikimedia Foundation.
Behavioral requirements

We take all applicants through a due diligence process. This means you need to be in ethical good-standing, (e.g. Wikimedia behaviour, social behaviour, financial behaviour, legal behaviour, etc.).

  • Applicant must follow the Universal Code of Conduct and Friendly Space Policies.
  • Applicants should be in good standing in regard to ethical behavior within the community (e.g. social behavior, financial behavior, legal behavior, etc.), as determined through the due diligence process of the grant program.
  • Within the last year, applicants have not been blocked, banned, or otherwise flagged by Wikimedia Foundation staff or another affiliate for violations of Universal Code of Conduct and Friendly Space Policies, or for other types of violations or conduct issues. If such issues have occurred in the past, the applicant is required to demonstrate learning and understanding in regard to the cause for the issue, such that they are ready to serve as a role model for others as a grantee.
  • Within the last year, applicants have not been repeatedly blocked or flagged for the same issue and/or have not been banned on the Wikimedia Projects. If a block/ban is recorded in the applicant's account history, the applicant is required to demonstrate learning and understanding in regard to the cause for the block, such that they are ready to serve as a role model for others as a grantee.
Youth Safety

Youth Safety Policy must be in place for any activity that involves underage community members.

  • If the proposal indicates direct contact with children or youth, it also outlines compliance with international and local laws for working with children and youth, and provides documentation of the local laws in the annex.
  • The proposal demonstrates how they will ensure the safe engagement of young people in all of the project’s activities.
  • The proposal demonstrates that any adults who will be working in close contact with young people have been properly vetted and trained.
  • The proposal outlines an action protocol in the case that incidents occur relating to the physical and psychological safety of young people.

Additional note: We recommend applying for micro-funding programs and other similar opportunities in local communities where they are available. Where you can coordinate and work with other groups in your geography.

Application process

After submission, the application will be processed according to the following steps:

Initial review (7 days)

  • Pre-screening eligibility check by Program Officer
  • Outreach to relevant groups and communities for feedback

Review (28 days)

Decisions and agreement (18 days)

  • Decisions are announced by Program Officer
  • Grant agreement is signed between you and the Wikimedia Foundation
  • Grant payment is made

Project starts

  • Project start date should be after all described steps are completed

Reporting (30 days after the project end date)

Timeline

Cycle 4 (Deadline: January 15, 2024)

Cycle 4

January 15, 2024

Submission deadline

January 16 - February 20, 2024

Review

February 24, 2024

Decision announced

February 25 - March 10, 2024

Grant processing and payment

March 16, 2024

Earliest project start date

Cycle 5 (Deadline: April 1, 2024)

Cycle 5

April 1, 2024

Submission deadline

April 2 - May 7, 2024

Review

May 11, 2024

Decision announced

May 12 - May 26, 2024

Grant processing and payment

May 26, 2024

Earliest project start date

Cycle 6 (Deadline: June 1, 2024)

Cycle 6

June 1, 2024

Submission deadline

June 2 - June 27, 2024

Review

July 1, 2024

Decision announced

July 1 - July 15, 2024

Grant processing and payment

July 16, 2024

Earliest project start date

Full timeline for all rounds

Cycle 1 - July 1 - August 28, 2023
Date Activity Duration
July 1, 2023 Submission deadline of applications in Cycle 1
July 3 - July 10, 2023
  • Pre-screening eligibility check by Program Officer
  • Reaching out all relevant groups, organizations, communities, and teams for initial feedback by Program Officer
7 days
July 10 - August 7, 2023
  • Eligibility and compliance check by Grant Administrators
  • Review and feedback of proposals by Program Officer and Regional Funds Committee
  • Applicant receives and engages with feedback of proposal, making adjustments
28 days
August 7 - August 10, 2023
  • Decisions announced
2-4 days
August 14 - August 28, 2023
  • Grant processing, signing agreement, and making grant payment by Grant Admins
14 days
August 28, 2023
  • Earliest project start date
  • Reporting date for approved funds
30 days after project end date
September 1, 2023
  • Submission deadline for the next cycle
1 week after the decision day
Cycle 2 - September 1, 2023 - October 26, 2023
Date Activity Duration
September 1, 2023 Submission deadline of applications for Cycle 2
September 2, 2023 - September 8, 2023
  • Pre-screening eligibility check by Program Officer
  • Reaching out all relevant groups, organizations, communities, and teams for initial feedback by Program Officer
7 days
September 9, 2023 - October 7, 2023
  • Eligibility and compliance check by Grant Administrators
  • Review and feedback of proposals by Program Officer and Regional Funds Committee
  • Applicant receives and engages with feedback of proposal, making adjustments
28 days
October 8, 2023 - October 11, 2023
  • Decisions announced
2-4 days
October 12, 2023 - October 26, 2023
  • Grant processing, signing agreement, and making grant payment by Grant Admins
14 days
October 26, 2023
  • Earliest project start date
  • Reporting date for approved funds
30 days after project end date
October 26, 2023 - November 1, 2023
  • Report review period for Program Officers to review submitted reports and support emerging learnings.
November 1, 2023 Submission deadline for the next cycle
Cycle 3 - November 1, 2023 - January 9, 2024
Date Activity Duration
November 1, 2023 Submission deadline of applications for Cycle 3
November 2, 2023 - November 10, 2023
  • Pre-screening eligibility check by Program Officer
  • Reaching out all relevant groups, organizations, communities, and teams for initial feedback by Program Officer
7 days
November 11, 2023 - December 9, 2023
  • Eligibility and compliance check by Grant Administrators
  • Review and feedback of proposals by Program Officer and Regional Funds Committee
  • Applicant receives and engages with feedback of proposal, making adjustments
28 days
December 10, 2023 - December 13, 2023
  • Decisions announced
2-4 days
December 14, 2023 - January 9, 2024
  • Grant processing, signing agreement, and making grant payment by Grant Admins
14 days
January 9, 2024
  • Earliest project start date
  • Reporting date for approved funds
30 days after project end date
January 9, 2024 - January 15, 2024
  • Report review period for Program Officers to review submitted reports and support emerging learnings
January 15, 2024 Submission deadline for the next cycle

*this cycle is longer due to the holiday period

Cycle 4 - January 15, 2024 - March 16, 2024
Date Activity Duration
January 15, 2024 Submission deadline of applications for Cycle 4
January 16, 2024 - January 22, 2024
  • Pre-screening eligibility check by Program Officer
  • Reaching out all relevant groups, organizations, communities, and teams for initial feedback by Program Officer
7 days
January 23, 2024 - February 20, 2024
  • Eligibility and compliance check by Grant Administrators
  • Review and feedback of proposals by Program Officer and Regional Funds Committee
  • Applicant receives and engages with feedback of proposal, making adjustments
28 days
February 21, 2024 - February 24, 2024
  • Decisions announced
2-4 days
February 25, 2024 - March 10, 2024
  • Grant processing, signing agreement, and making grant payment by Grant Admins
14 days
March 16, 2024
  • Earliest project start date
  • Reporting date for approved funds
30 days after project end date
March 18, 2024 - March 25, 2024
  • Report review period for Program Officers to review submitted reports and support emerging learnings
April 1, 2024 Submission deadline for the next cycle
Cycle 5 - April 1, 2024 - May 26, 2024
Date Activity Duration
April 1, 2024 Submission deadline of applications for Cycle 5
April 2, 2024 - April 8, 2024
  • Pre-screening eligibility check by Program Officer
  • Reaching out all relevant groups, organizations, communities, and teams for initial feedback by Program Officer
7 days
April 9, 2024 - May 7, 2024
  • Eligibility and compliance check by Grant Administrators
  • Review and feedback of proposals by Program Officer and Regional Funds Committee
  • Applicant receives and engages with feedback of proposal, making adjustments
28 days
May 8, 2024 - May 11, 2024
  • Decisions announced
2-4 days
May 12, 2024 - May 26, 2024
  • Grant processing, signing agreement, and making grant payment by Grant Admins
14 days
May 26, 2024
  • Earliest project start date
  • Reporting date for approved funds
30 days after project end date
May 26, 2024 - May 31, 2024
  • Report review period for Program Officers to review submitted reports and support emerging learnings
June 1, 2024 Submission deadline for the next cycle
Cycle 6 - June 1, 2024 - July 18, 2024
Date Activity Duration
June 1, 2024 Submission deadline of applications for Cycle 6
June 2, 2024 - June 6, 2024
  • Pre-screening eligibility check by Program Officer
  • Reaching out all relevant groups, organizations, communities, and teams for initial feedback by Program Officer
7 days
June 6, 2024 - June 27, 2024
  • Eligibility and compliance check by Grant Administrators
  • Review and feedback of proposals by Program Officer and Regional Funds Committee
  • Applicant receives and engages with feedback of proposal, making adjustments
28 days
June 27, 2024 - July 1, 2024
  • Decisions announced
2-4 days
July 1, 2024 - July 15, 2024
  • Grant processing, signing agreement, and making grant payment by Grant Admins
14 days
July 16, 2024
  • Earliest project start date
  • Reporting date for approved funds
30 days after project end date
July 16, 2024 - July 31, 2024
  • Report review period for Program Officers to review submitted reports and support emerging learnings

How to submit report

If your Rapid Fund is approved, you will need to send a report. Send the report within 30 days after you complete the project.

  1. Go to Wikimedia Foundation Grantee Portal (Fluxx) and log in.
  2. Find the Reports section on the left sidebar. Select the Upcoming link and you will see all upcoming reports.
  3. Select the Rapid Fund report and click Edit. Answer the questions in the form. You can write it in any preferred language.
  4. When your report is complete, click Submit to send it for review.
  • You can prepare the report offline. Make a copy of the report form, answer the questions and copy the text to Fluxx.

Resources

Recommendations for developing fund proposals
Other grants

Contact us

Contact the Program Officer in any preferred language:

Region Regional Program Officer Email address
Middle East & North Africa Farida El-Gueretly mena_rapid(_AT_)wikimedia.org
Sub-Saharan Africa Yop Rwang Pam ssa_rapid(_AT_)wikimedia.org
South Asia Jacqueline Chen sa_rapid(_AT_)wikimedia.org
East, Southeast Asia, & Pacific Jacqueline Chen eseap_rapid(_AT_)wikimedia.org
Latin America & Caribbean Mercedes Caso lac_rapid(_AT_)wikimedia.org
North America Chris Schilling na_rapid(_AT_)wikimedia.org
Northern & Western Europe Agnes Bruszik nwe_rapid(_AT_)wikimedia.org
Central & Eastern Europe & Central Asia Chris Schilling ceeca_rapid(_AT_)wikimedia.org

References

  1. https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/lobbying.
  2. Individuals who have access to the organizational bank account.