Template:Summary/2014-2015 round1/Wikimedia Deutschland e.V.

Program focus: Supporting Volunteers, Software Development (includes Wikidata), Institutions (partnerships aimed at liberating content), Legal and Social Framework

The WMDE volunteer support team will reach out to more volunteers in more efficient ways, enabling them to create more content, and to connect with each other.

With Wikidata WMDE has developed the fastest growing Wiki project, sparking the creation of a whole new online community. In 2015 we will build on this asset - the WMDE software development team - and develop Berlin into a movement software engineering hub. Here we will address community technological needs and further develop Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons.

In 2015 we will develop additional strong partnerships with institutions in the GLAM, science and education sectors. This will create opportunities for releasing content and for promoting the use of Open Educational Resources. Last but not least, WMDE will maintain a strong focus on advocacy, in order to create favorable conditions for free and open knowledge to unfold its potential.

As an organization, WMDE in 2015 moves from years of rapid growth into a period of consolidation. We are strengthening our internal structures and systems by planning programs and projects across departmental lines, and by merging two teams. We are strengthening our internal program support systems by integrating evaluation and institutional fundraising into one team working on organizational advancement. The Executive Director’s Office is supported by three Advisors, International Relations, Policy Matters, and Executive Matters.

Finally, after ten years of growth and in the midst of an executive transition, we take the opportunity to conduct an external governance review. We will learn how our current governance structures can be improved to assure transparency and community engagement while ensuring an efficient, lean, adaptive and collaborative organization. More on our leadership transition and governance review can be found below in the added section titled “Governance and Leadership”.