Internal:Activities of the chapter

Note: This was part of our 2022 re-application for 501(c)(3) status. It is a summary of all activities the chapter has engaged in from its inception in 2011 until 2022. See also Internal:Form 1023 Schedule H.

Part IV - Your Activities. Describe completely and in detail your past, present, and planned activities. Do not refer to or repeat the purposes in your organizing document. For each past, present, or planned activity, include information that answers the following questions:

• a. What is the activity?
• b. Who conducts the activity?
• c. Where is the activity conducted?
• d. What percentage of your total time is allocated to the activity?
• e. How is the activity funded (for example, donations, fees, etc.) and what percentage of your overall expenses is allocated to this activity?
• f. How does the activity further your exempt purposes?

See instructions for more information: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1023.pdf#page=8

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1. Institutional partnerships

(a) Our main activity is to hold collaborative editing events to improve online Wikimedia content. We do this in partnership with a spectrum of other organizations, including cultural, academic, and government institutions, and professional associations. We run 25-30 such events each year. The partner organizations are listed in our annual reports: https://wikimediadc.org/wiki/Category:Annual_reports

We also partnered with the Smithsonian Institution to develop the Wiki Art Depiction Explorer software, which launched in 2019. Since 2022, we have partnered with Hacks/Hackers on research projects.

(b-c) Staff, officers, and volunteers, mainly in our primary geographic area (the District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia)

(d-e) Since our inception in 2011, we estimate we have spent 75% of our total time and 30% of our overall expenses on these activities, which were funded through grants from the Wikimedia Foundation (WMF), grants and contracts from other non-profit organizations, and donations from individuals.

(f) These activities provide awareness, training, and resources for attendees to further our exempt purposes.

2. Conferences and training events

(a) This activity includes conferences, edit-a-thons, and training events that Wikimedia DC has organized ourselves. The largest such event was the 2012 edition of Wikimania, the main annual international conference for the Wikimedia community. We also organized two GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) Boot Camps in 2013 and 2016, a Workshop Facilitator Training in 2014, a a GLAM-Wiki U.S. Consortium meeting in 2015, a Wikimedia Diversity Conference in 2016, and a Leadership Boot Camp in 2018. As these are all one-off events, none are considered a continuing or planned activity.

(b-c) Staff, officers, and volunteers, mainly in our primary geographic area

(d-e) 20% of time and 43% of expenses, funded through grants from WMF and a contract from the National Archives Trust Fund Board.

(f) These activities facilitate communication between and training of individuals in the Wikimedia community.

3. Photography competitions

(a) Wikimedia DC has organized the U.S. branch of the Wiki Science Competition since 2017, and of Wiki Loves Monuments since 2012. These are international photography competitions for scientific subjects and historic sites, respectively. Wikimedia DC assembled the U.S. juries to select national finalists, and in some cases winners for prizes funded by Wikimedia DC.

(b-c) Officers and volunteers across the U.S.

(d-e) 2% of time and 2% of expenses, funded through grants from WMF and donations from individuals

(f) These activities facilitate individuals disseminating media and other educational content under a free license.

4. Fiscal sponsorships

(a) We have acted as fiscal sponsor for many large efforts by others in the Wikimedia community receiving large grants from the Wikimedia Foundation. In this capacity, we hold and disburse funds for the grantees, but do not actively direct their activities, as stipulated by the sponsorship agreement. Our largest fiscal sponsorships were WikiConference North America in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2021, and Art+Feminism in 2015, 2016, and 2017.

(b-c) Officers, mainly in our primary geographic area. The sponsored activities occur across the U.S.

(d-e) 1% of time and 20% of expenses, funded through grants from WMF

(f) These activities facilitate the administration of large grants from WMF by others aligned with our exempt purposes.

5. Grantmaking

(a) Between 2012 and 2016, we provided small grants to individuals, community groups, and nonprofit organizations that align with our mission. In 2015-2016, we ran a book grant program. We currently have no plans to reinstate these activities.

(b-c) Officers, mainly in our primary geographic area. The sponsored activities occurred across the U.S.

(d-e) 1% of time and 0.5% of expenses, funded through grants from WMF and donations from individuals

(f) These activities provided financial resources to allow grantees to engage in activities furthering our exempt purposes.

6. Public policy

(a) Wikimedia DC undertakes policy work to present the unique perspectives and needs of Wikimedians to the various government agencies that make decisions on issues affecting the Wikimedia movement. In 2014, we submitted written comments and participated in a roundtable panel convened by the U.S. Copyright Office on orphan works. Also in 2014, volunteers met with staffers on Capitol Hill for briefings on subjects of mutual interest, including copyright. In 2016, we submitted comments to the California Senate on a state intellectual property bill.

(b-c) Officers and volunteers, mainly in our primary geographic area

(d-e) 1% of time. No expenses were incurred for these activities.

(f) These activities facilitate lawmakers and the public to have awareness of policy implications that affect our exempt purposes.