2022:Submissions/I am a Wikimedian, not an accountant! Here is how fiscal sponsorship can get your grant going
- Language: English
- Status: Pre-recorded
Speaker(s)[edit source]
The other Kiwix guy
Abstract[edit source]
Grants are hard to submit and, depending on the country one may be living in, hard to manage. Fiscal sponsorships are support structures designed to help individuals and user groups manage their grants. It's easy, but you need to know it exists!
Notes from the session
Fiscal sponsorship refers to the practice of non-profit organizations offering their legal and tax-exempt status to groups —typically projects— engaged in activities related to the sponsoring organization's mission. It's like a back office.
There are other fiscal sponsors around the world e.g. your local afffiliates. The Wikimedia Foundation grant process is very well run and they can connect you to the best one in the region. Kiwix is one option amongst many.
The idea is that you get the grant, grantor pays the fiscal sponsor, you do the project and get reimbursements (many currencies are supported). Using a fiscal sponsor means minimal paperwork, no government registration needed, Wikimedia Foundation covers the admin costs and you can claim for staff salaries too.*
- If you are an employee remember that you still have to pay taxes in your country.
BUT
Do not expect fiscal sponsorship in North Korea, Iran or Russia - more generally any country under US or European sanctions. They cannot be used to buy online vouchers because sometimes there are government restrictions to the use of foreign credit cards: in this case you will need to find someone with a CC and we will reimburse them.
There is some experience of using Kiwix in the Wikimedia Movement
- Wiki World Heritage User Group
- Wikimedians of Arusha UK (Tanzania)
- Arabic Wikidays
- West Bengal User group
- Wiki Loves Women South Asia
There are other fiscal sponsors around the world e.g. your local afffiliates. The Wikimedia Foundation grant process is very well run and they can connect you to the best one in the region. Kiwix is one option amongst many.
Learning Outcomes[edit source]
- How a fiscal sponsorship works
- Which groups or individuals might benefit from it
- What is needed to make it run well
- What does not work
Biography[edit source]
Stephane is the other Kiwix guy. We distribute Wikipedia offline, but also help user groups and grantees from all around the world manage their WMF grants.