215 employess x Avg tech-based salary ( $85,000) = 18, 275, 000 / yr. Add the 6, 000, 000 to awards and grants and the 2, 500, 000 in server hosting (which seems awfully slim) = 26, 775, 000 / yr. Their cash reserves just barely cover a year of operating costs at LAST year's expenses. If they wish to continue expanding their reach year over year, as any well minded business should, their yearly expenses from just these 3 items would most likely eclipse their cash reserves within the one year period. Zero cash reserves would halt all investments, meaning their current state wouldn't cover two years of these three liabilities without donations. So, now what?
sparkzilla|11 years ago
Every year we get promises that they'll work on making the banners better. However, it seems when they say better, they mean more effective from the perspective of generating revenue. The message from the fundraising staff and Lila is more of the same.
This year I've started having people I know worry that Wikipedia is in financial trouble. It makes me feel ashamed when I have to tell them Wikipedia is in fact fine, but that the foundation uses this messaging to more effectively drive donations. It makes them angry to hear it.