Wikipedia 25/Grants
Grants
The Wikimedia Foundation offers Wikipedia 25 Birthday Funds (WP25 Grants) to Wikimedia affiliates, communities, groups, and organizations planning Wikipedia’s 25th birthday celebrations and events. These grants support active Wikimedia groups in organizing short-term, low-cost projects, with funding between USD 1,000–2,000.
Apply
[edit]The grant application period is closed. We are no longer accepting applications.
Timeline
[edit]The submission window for this grant has ended. Review and decisions will be completed by the end of December. Activities may start no earlier than 15 January 2026.
A second round may be announced later, depending on interest and available funds.
Requirements
[edit]The program supports active Wikimedia affiliates, groups, communities, and organizations, with a limit of one grant per applicant. Groups with funding from other Wikimedia Foundation programs may apply, but priority will be given to communities without existing funding or in-country micro-funding programs.
Projects must be about Wikipedia’s 25th Birthday and have a budget between USD 1,000–2,000 (or local equivalent at the time of application). Funds will be sent in your local currency. The review team will decide on the final amount based on proposed activities and projected impact.
If there is an active Wikimedia group or affiliate in your region, check with them before applying. Where a Wikimedia affiliate, organization, or group with General Support Funds exists, we will work with them to coordinate resources, event planning, and press engagement across subregions.
Project requirements
[edit]All project organizers must:
- Add planned activities to the Events Calendar.
- Use the Event Registration tool for all events.
- Create and print a banner and take a group photo following the guidelines.
- Upload best photos and videos from the celebration to Wikimedia Commons. Categorize them in a sub-category under the Wikipedia 25 parent category.
- Write a Diff blog post after completing the activities.
Legal and conduct requirements
[edit]Primary and secondary contacts, agreement signatories, bank account signatories, and any individuals in roles that direct the implementation of grant activities, must:
- Follow the Universal Code of Conduct and Friendly Space Policies.
- Comply with all requirements and be in good standing for any current activities funded through the Wikimedia Foundation.
- 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.
- Have no recent or recurring violations:
- Must not be blocked on any Wikimedia project, even if the proposed work is unrelated to that project.
- Within the past year, must not have been blocked, banned, or flagged by Wikimedia Foundation staff or affiliates for violations of the Universal Code of Conduct, Friendly Space Policies, or other conduct issues.
- Must not have been repeatedly blocked or flagged for the same issue on a Wikimedia project.
- If prior issues or blocks have occurred, must 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.
- Not appear on the United States Department of Treasury Specially Designated Nationals And Blocked Persons List (SDN).
- Be located in a country that can legally receive funding for the described activities and expenses in accordance with the laws governing the sending and receiving of funds in the United States and their respective country.
- Not be Wikimedia Foundation staff members or contractors working more than part time (over 20 hours per week). Please refer to the Policy:WMF staff eligibility for Wikimedia Foundation funding for further information and required steps if you request exceptions to this criterion.
- Provide all information and documentation needed to receive the funding from the Wikimedia Foundation.
Youth safety requirements
[edit]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.
Funding areas and ideas
[edit]Eligible costs:
- Birthday cake
- Refreshments and snacks
- Venue
- Swag (see guidelines)
- Public action to celebrate the birthday
- Internet connection
- Livestreaming
- Decorations
- Printing materials
- Local travel of community members to event location
Ineligible costs:
- Equipment purchase
- Travel grants or scholarships
These lists are not exhaustive and may be updated during the application process.
Project examples
[edit]You can find a list of example ideas for Wikipedia 25 birthday events in the event toolkit.
Resources
[edit]You can use the following resources to support your Wikipedia 25 celebration:
- Branding: Visual materials and branding guidelines.
- Swag: Designs and examples to create local Wikipedia 25 items.
- Press and social media: Public messaging toolkit for media, partners, and event promotion.
- Event organizing: Guides on event planning and communicating.
- Wikipedia 25 main page
Information for General Support and Rapid Fund applicants
[edit]For General Support Fund recipients
[edit]Round 1 applicants (FY 2025–26) of General Support Fund: Work with your Regional Program Officer to include WP@25 activities in your next General Support proposal.
Ongoing General Support Fund grantees, including multi-year funding recipients: You may apply for up to USD 2,000 from the Wikipedia 25 Funds. If you need more funds, contact your Program Officer. Given limited funds for the celebration, we are prioritizing applicants from communities without General Support Funds, and encourage grantees to reallocate within existing General Support Funds where possible.
For Rapid Fund applicants
[edit]The Rapid Fund program does not support Wikipedia Birthday-related requests.
For applicants from India
[edit]Use the India Rapid Project if you need resourcing for your Wikipedia Birthday celebration.
Reporting
[edit]You must submit a written report within 30 days of project completion and include outcomes, finances, and the requirements listed in the Project requirements section. The reporting deadline may be extended on request.
Applications
[edit]Contact us
[edit]For any questions, contact us at wp25grants
wikimedia.org.