Internal:Form 1023 Schedule H
1. Describe the types of educational grants you provide to individuals, such as scholarships, fellowships, loans, etc., including the purpose, number and amount(s) of grants, how the program is publicized, and if you award educational loans, the terms of the loans.
Wiki Society of Washington DC, a.k.a. Wikimedia DC (WMDC), has acted as fiscal sponsor for WikiConference North America in some past years. In 2014–2016 and 2018, travel grants were available for conference attendees, and it is possible we may resume this role in 2023 or later. In our role as fiscal sponsor, we hold and disburse the funds and keep records, all on behalf of the grantees. We do not direct expenditures or select travel grant recipients, as that is the grantees' role according to our fiscal sponsorship agreement. The purpose of the travel grant was to allow more people to attend the conference. In 2014, $18,302.08 was awarded to 25 recipients. In 2016, $23,736.57 was granted to 31 recipients. In 2018, $25,536.69 was granted to 51 recipients.
2. Do you maintain case histories showing recipients of your scholarships, fellowships, educational loans, or other educational grants, including names, addresses, purposes of awards, amount of each grant, manner of selection, and relationship (if any) to officers, trustees, or donors of funds to you? If "No," explain.
Yes
3. Describe the specific criteria you use to determine who is eligible for your program (for example, eligibility selection criteria could consist of graduating high school students from a particular high school who will attend college, writers of scholarly works about American history, etc.)
Any active contributor to a Wikimedia project and/or Wikimedia volunteer in any other capacity was considered eligible. In some years, participants in other free knowledge, free software, collaborative and/or educational initiatives were also encouraged to apply. In 2018, eligibility was limited to those who lived in North America.
4. Describe the specific criteria you use to select recipients (for example, specific selection criteria could consist of prior academic performance, financial need, etc.).
In 2014 and 2015, applicants were assessed on current/historic level of participation in the Wikimedia movement; current/historic level of participation in other free knowledge, free software, collaborative and/or educational initiatives; and future goals for participating in the Wikimedia movement. In 2016 and 2018, applicants were graded on Collaboration, Leadership, Impact, and Potential, based on aspects like contributions to Wikimedia projects; demonstrated collaborative activities (either online and offline) and other offline work related to Wikimedia projects; blog posts, reports, social media management, etc., that demonstrate a valuable contribution to the community; conference participation as a presenter; and their role within their most active Wikimedia community. In 2016, there was also a separate academic scholarship program that graded applicants on time, format, language, engagement, audience, coherence, literature referenced, and impact. In some years, priority was given to those who lived in the U.S. or North America.
5. Describe any requirement or condition you impose on recipients to obtain, maintain, or qualify for renewal of a grant (for example, specific requirements or conditions could consist of attendance at a four-year college, maintaining a certain grade point average, teaching in public school after graduation from college, etc.)
Recipients were required to attend the conference and submit receipts in a timely manner.
6. Describe your procedures for supervising the scholarships, fellowships, educational loans, or other educational grants. Explain whether you obtain reports and grade transcripts from recipients, or you pay grants directly to a school under an arrangement whereby the school will apply the grant funds only for enrolled students who are in good standing. Also, describe your procedures for taking action if the terms of the award are violated.
Recipients who did not fulfill the requirements stated immediately above did not receive any funds.
7. How do you determine who is on the selection committee for the awards made under your program?
The grantees determined the selection committee. This was not a role that WMDC filled as per the fiscal sponsorship agreement.
8. Are relatives of members of the selection committee, or of your officers, directors, or substantial contributors eligible for awards made under your program? If "Yes," what measures do you take to ensure unbiased selections?
Yes. All conference attendees were eligible for awards, and all awardees were selected based on merit according to the stated rubric for that conference. In cases where there would be a conflict of interest, including in the aforementioned circumstances, the affected selection committee member would recuse themselves from grading the affected applicant.