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We owe you an explanation.
July 11: An important update for readers in Japan.

You deserve an explanation, so please don't skip this 1-minute read. It's Saturday, July 11. Our fundraiser won't last long, but fewer people are seeing our message this month and we might not hit our goal. If you've lost count of how many times you've visited Wikipedia this year, we hope that means it's given you at least ¥300 of knowledge. If everyone who finds Wikipedia useful gave ¥300, we'd hit our goal in a few hours.

It's been 25 years and Wikipedia is still free. It's still created by people, not machines, and we don't run ads or put up paywalls because we're not here to make a profit off your attention. In other words, it's still the internet we were promised.

Less than 2% of our readers donate, so if you've never given and Wikipedia has provided you with at least ¥300 worth of knowledge, donate today. If you are undecided, remember any contribution helps.

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Accountability and transparency are core values at the Wikimedia Foundation. We manage funds and resources to ensure that every contribution supports our mission. We have earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly GuideStar), and Charity Navigator awarded us its highest rating. You can read our most recent annual report for more information about our financial health.
45% $85.4M Technology 32% $60.7M Support 12% $22.8M Fundraising 11% $20.9M General $189.7M Total Funding
45% Investment in Technology

Nearly half of our budget goes toward supporting the technology that powers Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects. We are constantly working to enhance the user experience for both contributors and readers, improve site security, and ensure reliable access to our websites globally. This infrastructure and product support sustain one of the top ten most visited websites in the world, all at a fraction of the cost of popular for-profit websites.

32% Support for Volunteers

The global reach of Wikimedia projects is made possible by the hard work of volunteers from across the globe. We provide grants, legal support, and other resources to help build vibrant volunteer communities. Additionally, we promote community engagement through outreach initiatives and advocate for the growth and protection of free knowledge.

12% Allocation to Fundraising Efforts

Donor support is crucial to sustaining Wikipedia and our other free knowledge endeavors. Our team is committed to efficient and effective fundraising throughout the year, ensuring that every contribution helps advance our mission.

11% General and Administrative Expenses

Operational costs are essential for the smooth management and governance of the Wikimedia Foundation. These expenses help us recruit top talent and support staff around the world, empowering them to carry out the mission of the Wikimedia Foundation.

Working language

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Press room of the European Commission inside the Berlaymont building, Brussels. 2007.
Press room of the European Commission inside the Berlaymont building, Brussels. 2007.

A working language (also procedural language) is a language that is given a unique legal status in a supranational company, society, state or other body or organization as its primary means of communication. It is primarily the language of daily correspondence and conversation, since the organization usually has members with various differing language backgrounds.

Most international organizations have working languages for their bodies. For a given organization, a working language may or may not also be an official language.

United Nations working languages

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Originally, English and French were the working languages at the UN. Later, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and Spanish were added as working languages in the General Assembly and in the Economic and Social Council. Currently, Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish are the working languages of the Security Council.[1]

Examples of common international organizations

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English and French

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The International Criminal Court has two working languages: English and French.[2] The Council of Europe,[3] the OECD, and NATO also have English and French as their two working languages.[citation needed]

The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) has English and French as official languages,[4] with Arabic, Russian, and Spanish as additional working languages.[5]

Portuguese and Spanish

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The Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI), Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), Mercosur, and the Latin American Integration Association have two working languages: Portuguese and Spanish.

Other groups with one or two working languages

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English, French, and Spanish

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The World Trade Organization, the International Federation of Journalists, the International Telecommunication Union, the International Maritime Organization, the International Labour Organization, NAFTA, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the Free Trade Area of the Americas all have three working languages: English, French, and Spanish.

Other groups with three or more working languages

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See also

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References

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  1. Archived August 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Article 50 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Accessed 16 October 2007.
  3. "Did you know?". Retrieved 1 November 2022. English and French are the official languages of the Council of Europe.
  4. WOSM constitution, ARTICLE XXIV, 1
  5. "SCOUTS brand manual PROFESSIONAL VERSION, page 49, retrieved from" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-11-06. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
  6. "De nordiske sprog | Nordisk Samarbejde". www.norden.org (in Danish). Retrieved 2021-01-30.