I have donated in the past, but then there were wild accusations, people saying it’s not needed, it’s to fund other things, and so on and so forth.

Yesterday I got the popup begging for a couple of euros, so what’s the status? Should I donate or is it a waste of time and money?

Cheers

Edit: Thanks for all the insightful posts! I’m jobless at the moment so just ten bucks this time:

  • Crashumbc@lemmy.world
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    8 hours ago

    I don’t know if they “needed” donations in the past, but the America right wing fascists have just taken aim at it. So they are going to need money to defend themselves.

  • cokeslutgarbage@sh.itjust.works
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    1 day ago

    I do not have the means to donate to things that I care about. Most weeks, the difference between overdrafting my bank account or not is literally a few cents. I donate the $3.10 every time the pop up shows up on Wikipedia. I’m sure there are other organizations that need the money more, but I think Wikipedia is SO important, and so far has remained earnest in their behavior. Proud of you for donating what you could, glad I could help a little bit too.

    Be well, friend

    • Valmond@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 day ago

      Hey, I remember a time when if I lost a 5€ bill, that meant I’d eat for 5 euros less that month.

      We’ve got your back, take care of yourself and consider donating when you’ve come around and can do it without second thoughts.

      Cheers and hang in there, it’s worth it!

  • RacerX@lemmy.zip
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    2 days ago

    I give small monthly donations to three things:

    • Wikipedia
    • EFF
    • Internet Archive
  • jxk@sh.itjust.works
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    2 days ago

    Remember that there is a lot of anti-Wikipedia propaganda going around these days. Most “outrage” against Wikipedia is created and pushed artificially.

  • compostgoblin@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    2 days ago

    I find it valuable and worth supporting, so I donate a dollar a month. It’s not much, but I want to contribute (monetarily, in addition to editing)

  • MrsDoyle@sh.itjust.works
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    1 day ago

    I’m another monthly donor. I use Wikipedia nearly every day and appreciate the effort that goes into maintaining it.

  • null_dot@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 days ago

    Reddit users and now lemmy users seem to have a riotous distaste for non-profits generally.

    Wikipedia is one of the last, good parts of the internet, and it’s under increasing threat.

  • DeadPixel@lemmy.zip
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    2 days ago

    I’ve increased the amount I donate since the campaign to discredit them has been in effect.

    Maybe they aren’t perfect, but I don’t like the idea of a world without such a wonderful resource being freely available to everyone no matter their background or financial status.

    I used it a lot as a student but couldn’t afford to donate then. I don’t use it directly a lot these days, but I’m sure indirectly it contributes to articles I read, & I can afford to donate now, so I try to pay it back & some.

    Information is power, & those in/with power seem to currently be trying their best to bring everyone else down. Any small thing I can do to help prevent that is a win in my book.

  • Blubber28@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    In the current day and age of misinformation I think donating is more important than ever. It doesn’t need to be much.

  • BilboBargains@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Making a monthly contribution. Who knows where the money goes but I’ve never heard of a wiki project I disapproved of and there is a lot to like about what they do.

    • ayyy@sh.itjust.works
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      2 days ago

      Your analysis only addresses the income vs. expenditure being relatively balanced. It doesn’t address the criticisms OP was hearing about. The primary criticism is that the foundation only needs a fraction of their current expenditure if all they did was run Wikipedia.

  • primrosepathspeedrun@anarchist.nexus
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    2 days ago

    Wikipedia is being actively attacked by fascists who dont want it to exist or be well maintained. More important than ever. Criticism can be safely ignored.

    • Electricd@lemmybefree.net
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      1 day ago

      “Fascists criticize Wikipedia, therefore all criticism is done by fascists”

      I criticize them and I do not share the ideas you’re saying I do.

  • gi1242@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    DONATE!

    Wikipedia made a conscious choice to remain free, ad free and neutral.

    They get my money! Even if they don’t need it.

  • Humanius@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Wikipedia, being a free source of information, is an incredibly important resource and a net good for humanity. But since Wikipedia is free for all they rely on donations to keep the lights on.

    There are groups who would prefer it if that free access to information did not exist, or could be more easily be controlled and/or manipulated. It is in their interest to convince people not to donate to Wikipedia

    I’m convinced that this “don’t donate to Wikipedia” messaging that has cropped up in recent years is a psyop, set up by these groups with the goal to starve Wikipedia of income.

    Don’t fall for it. Support one of the last truly good places on the internet.