Rapid Grants

Rapid Grants is a grant from the Wikimedia Foundation that funds individuals, groups, and organizations conducting short-term, low-cost projects with a Wikimedia focus. Awards of up to $2,000 support projects lasting one to twelve months, with a two-month processing time and one review round every two months. Eligible applicants include Wikimedia affiliates, informal groups, and independent organizations from any country.

Applications are accepted in any language and are published to Meta-Wiki for community review within two days of submission. Applications are submitted through the Wikimedia Foundation Grantee Portal.

Grants:Project/Rapid - Meta-Wiki Toggle Timeline subsection Cycle 1 (Deadline: July 1, 2025) Cycle 2 (Deadline: September 1, 2025) Cycle 3 (Deadline: November 1, 2025) Cycle 4 (Deadline: February 1, 2026) Cycle 5 (Deadline: April 1, 2026) Full timeline for all rounds (2025–2026) Toggle the table of contents From Meta, a Wikimedia project coordination wiki Review proposals and reports December 16, 2025: Policy on WMF staff eligibility for Wikimedia Foundation funding published.

Funding program pages ( Behavioral and legal requirements section) updated accordingly. December 16, 2025: Behavioral and legal requirements of the General Support Fund (GSF) amended. A new requirement added for GSF applicants who already hold GSF awards through another entity.

December 16, 2025: Youth Safety requirements of the Rapid Fund and General Support Fund amended. A new optional step added. Individuals, groups, Wikimedia affiliates or organisations from For short-term, low-cost projects with Wikimedia focus (1-12 months) 2 months processing time, 1 round in every two months Read about what we fund and who can apply below.

Go to Wikimedia Foundation Grantee Portal (Fluxx) and log in. If you do not have an account, click Register Now and provide the requested information. You will receive confirmation of your registration within two working day.

Select the Apply for Rapid Fund button on the main page. Click Save and Continue or Save and Close to save the application. Follow the instructions on the application form.

You will need to give information about your project and upload several documents. Click Submit to submit the application for review. We accept applications in any language.

We will support translation for applications and discussions as needed. Applications will be published to Meta-Wiki automatically within two days. This is done for community review and feedback.

You can prepare the application offline. Make a copy of the application form, answer the questions and copy the text to Fluxx. Rapid Fund Application Form (Google Docs) Rapid Fund Budget Template (Google Sheets) Your project should support the achievement of Wikimedia's mission and strategic direction.

And it should aim at improving one or more of Examples of projects we fund Individuals coordinating local events related to a global campaign in their community.

Informal and formal community meetup Wikimedia editathons and workshops Strategic and annual plans from Education projects, for example, reading or editing training on Wikipedia, Wikidata or other Wikimedia projects Cultural and heritage projects that support contribution of content, curation of the content and promote accessibility of that content.

Gender and diversity projects, for example, bringing in and training women and gender diverse participants and editors. Also, creating content about women, gender diverse groups, underrepresented communities and their knowledge.

Small-scale software development projects Examples of expenses we support Working space, services, prizes, outreach, and other common costs needed to support edit-a-thons, contests, photowalks, and promotional campaigns.

Data costs to support access to online events Project-related travel for organizers Compensation for well-defined roles that do not replace volunteer activities, including (but not limited to) graphic design, training, childcare services, translation, project management, and Wikimedian-in-Residence roles. Funding travel and equipment No funding for travel scholarships or conference participation.

Rapid Funds are project-based resources and only fund travel related to the direct implementation of the project. Equipment purchase is allowed for groups, organizations, and affiliates. Equipment-based grants need to clearly demonstrate how the equipment will be shared with other community members.

An equipment log or list must be publicly available for community members and included in the application. Examples of equipment funded with Rapid Funds are: laptops, cameras and projectors, routers, and external drives. Funding software development Review the Guidelines for Rapid Fund technical projects.

Applications to complete proposed research related to the Wikimedia movement are not eligible. Please review the Wikimedia Research Fund for these funding opportunties. Applications for open access publication fees to publish completed research are not eligible at this time.

We encourage researchers to review the WikiJournal User Group , which publishes a set of open-access, peer-reviewed academic journals with no publishing costs to authors.

Examples of funded applications Wikipedia exhibition 2023 at the Library fair (Japan, East, Southeast Asia, & Pacific) Wiki Loves Bangla 2023 (Bangladesh, South Asia) WikiProject Climate Change - Credible Resources and Quotables list (International) Building a knowledge repository for cultural heritage post-earthquake disaster in southeast Türkiye (Turkey, Central & Eastern Europe & Central Asia) Fortalecimiento de la incubadora de la Wikipedia maya kaqchikel -Wikiwuj- (Guatemala, Latin America & Caribbean) Wikidata para bibliotecários brasileiros:edição e visualização de dados (Brazil, Latin America & Caribbean) Review all applications and reports This fund is for you if you: Are applying for funds between 500 - 5000 USD or its equivalent in another currency at the time of the application.

Funds are distributed in your local currency. Are a Wikimedia community member, or part of a group or organisation from the Wikimedia movement. Applicants that are not actively engaged with Wikimedia projects must involve relevant community members or affiliates on their team.

Have a 1-12 months long project in mind. Projects must be for future, planned work. Are an individual who does not have any other open Rapid Funds.

Before applying for a new Rapid Fund, you will need to submit the report for the open Rapid Fund. In some cases, the Program Officer may request to review the report before the applicant is able to submit a new grant request. The total fund amount an individual can access per fiscal year (e.g. July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024) is up to USD 10,000.

Are an organisation or group with less than 2 open grants at any given time. The total fund amount an organisation or group can access per fiscal year (e.g. July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024) is up to USD 10,000. You are encouraged to have access to a joint bank account.

Have current contribution history and experience on the target Wikimedia project(s) mentioned in your grant application. You also need to have organising experience or training experience. For example, if you are planning to train newcomers on Wikidata, you must demonstrate editing and training history on Wikidata.

This required experience may be supported by members of your team. Have informed the team members about your grant and involved the community in discussing the proposal. You are not eligible for funding if: The project you have in mind aims to improve third-party websites.

The project includes lobbying activities, as per United States Internal Revenue Service definitions. [ 1 ] Works and contributions are not published under ethical, open access agreements. You are a General Support Fund grantee partner.

You are a board member, leader (including Wikimedia affiliate contacts submitted to the Affiliations Committee), president, bank account signatory [ 2 ] , executive director, or other paid staff member or contractor of a Wikimedia affiliate, group, or organisation with existing General Support Fund or Rapid Fund awards.

To request an exception to this criterion: Board or staff members of affiliates or allied organisations applying for the Rapid Funds are required to provide a formal board or organisational decision confirming that the board has reviewed and approved the individual's application, receipt, and use of funds from the same donor supporting the organisation.

Applications without this documentation will not proceed to review and will be declined. You are an individual applying on behalf of different groups or organisations. Behavioral and legal requirements Primary and secondary contacts, agreement signatories, bank account signatories, and any individuals in roles that direct the implementation of grant activities, must: Follow the Universal Code of Conduct and Friendly Space Policies .

Comply with all requirements and be in good standing for any current activities funded through the Wikimedia Foundation. Be in good standing in regard to ethical behavior within the community (e.g. social behavior, financial behavior, legal behavior, etc.), as determined through the due diligence process of the grant program.

Have no recent or recurring violations: Must not be blocked on any Wikimedia project, even if the proposed work is unrelated to that project. Within the past year, must not have been blocked, banned, or flagged by Wikimedia Foundation staff or affiliates for violations of the Universal Code of Conduct, Friendly Space Policies, or other conduct issues.

Must not have been repeatedly blocked or flagged for the same issue on a Wikimedia project. If prior issues or blocks have occurred, must demonstrate learning and understanding in regard to the cause for the issue, such that they are ready to serve as a role model for others as a grantee. Not appear on the United States Department of Treasury Specially Designated Nationals And Blocked Persons List (SDN) .

Be located in a country that can legally receive funding for the described activities and expenses in accordance with the laws governing the sending and receiving of funds in the United States and their respective country. Not be Wikimedia Foundation staff members or contractors working more than part time (over 20 hours per week).

Please refer to the Policy:WMF staff eligibility for Wikimedia Foundation funding for further information and required steps if you request exceptions to this criterion. Provide all information and documentation needed to receive the funding from the Wikimedia Foundation. Youth Safety Policy must be in place for any activity that involves underage community members.

If the proposal indicates direct contact with children or youth, it also outlines compliance with international and local laws for working with children and youth, and provides documentation of the local laws in the annex. The proposal demonstrates how they will ensure the safe engagement of young people in all of the project’s activities.

The proposal demonstrates that any adults who will be working in close contact with young people have been properly vetted and trained. The proposal outlines an action protocol in the case that incidents occur relating to the physical and psychological safety of young people.

Applicants implementing projects involving underage community members are encouraged to complete the Safety for Young Wikimedians course: Safety for young Wikimedians on WikiLearn . Additional note: We recommend applying for micro-funding programs and other similar opportunities in local communities where they are available, and where you can coordinate and work with other groups in your geography.

Review documents required See also: Grants:Project/Rapid/Review process After submission, the application will be processed according to the following steps: Pre-screening eligibility check by Outreach to relevant groups and communities for feedback Eligibility and documents checks by Review and feedback by Program Officer and/or Applicant receives and engages with feedback of proposal, making adjustments Decisions and agreement (18 days) Decisions are announced by Program Officer Grant agreement is signed between you and the Wikimedia Foundation Project start date should be after all described steps are completed Reporting (30 days after the project end date) Cycle 1 (Deadline: July 1, 2025) July 2, 2025 - July 29, 2025 July 30, 2025 - August 12, 2025 Compliance check and decision announced August 12, 2025 - August 26, 2025 Grant processing and payment Earliest project start date Cycle 2 (Deadline: September 1, 2025) September 2, 2025 - September 29, 2025 September 30, 2025 - October 13, 2025 Compliance check and decision announced October 13, 2025 - October 27, 2025 Grant processing and payment Earliest project start date Cycle 3 (Deadline: November 1, 2025) November 2, 2025 - November 29, 2025 November 30, 2025 - December 13, 2025 Compliance check and decision announced December 13, 2025 - January 9, 2026 Grant processing and payment Earliest project start date Cycle 4 (Deadline: February 1, 2026) February 2, 2026 - March 2, 2026 March 3, 2026 - March 16, 2026 Compliance check and decision announced March 16, 2026 - March 30, 2026 Grant processing and payment Earliest project start date Cycle 5 (Deadline: April 1, 2026) April 2, 2026 - April 29, 2026 April 30, 2026 - May 13, 2026 Compliance check and decision announced May 13, 2026 - May 27, 2026 Grant processing and payment Earliest project start date Full timeline for all rounds (2025–2026) Submission deadline of applications in Cycle 1 Review and feedback of proposals by Program Officer and Regional Funds Committee Reaching out to all relevant groups, organizations, communities, and teams Applicant receives and engages with feedback on the proposal, making adjustments Eligibility and compliance check by Grant Administrators Grant processing, signing agreement, and making grant payment by Grant Admins Earliest project start date Submission deadline for the next cycle Submission deadline of applications for Cycle 2 Review and feedback of proposals by Program Officer and Regional Funds Committee Reaching out to all relevant groups, organizations, communities, and teams Applicant receives and engages with feedback on the proposal, making adjustments Eligibility and compliance check by Grant Administrators Grant processing, signing agreement, and making grant payment by Grant Admins Earliest project start date Submission deadline for the next cycle Submission deadline of applications for Cycle 3 Review and feedback of proposals by Program Officer and Regional Funds Committee Reaching out to all relevant groups, organizations, communities, and teams Applicant receives and engages with feedback on the proposal, making adjustments Eligibility and compliance check by Grant Administrators Grant processing, signing agreement, and making grant payment by Grant Admins Earliest project start date Submission deadline for the next cycle Submission deadline of applications for Cycle 4 Review and feedback of proposals by Program Officer and Regional Funds Committee Reaching out to all relevant groups, organizations, communities, and teams Applicant receives and engages with feedback on the proposal, making adjustments Eligibility and compliance check by Grant Administrators Grant processing, signing agreement, and making grant payment by Grant Admins Earliest project start date Submission deadline for the next cycle Submission deadline of applications for Cycle 5 Review and feedback of proposals by Program Officer and Regional Funds Committee Reaching out to all relevant groups, organizations, communities, and teams Applicant receives and engages with feedback on the proposal, making adjustments Eligibility and compliance check by Grant Administrators Grant processing, signing agreement, and making grant payment by Grant Admins Earliest project start date If your Rapid Fund is approved, you will need to send a report.

Send the report within 30 days after you complete the project. Go to Wikimedia Foundation Grantee Portal (Fluxx) and log in. Find the Reports section on the left sidebar.

Select the Upcoming link and you will see all upcoming reports. Select the Rapid Fund report and click Edit . Answer the questions in the form.

You can write it in any preferred language. When your report is complete, click Submit to send it for review. You can prepare the report offline.

Make a copy of the report form, answer the questions and copy the text to Fluxx. Rapid Fund Report Form (Google Docs) Grantee Portal (Fluxx) video tutorials . Review all applications and reports Request merchandise from Wikipedia Store Recommendations for developing fund proposals Editing Events, Writing Contents and Content Campaigns Many Wikimedia affiliates offer grants to their local communities.

Check out some of their programs . Contact the Program Officer in any preferred language: Middle East & North Africa East, Southeast Asia, & Pacific eseap_rapid wikimedia. org Latin America & Caribbean Northern & Western Europe Central & Eastern Europe & Central Asia ceeca_rapid wikimedia.

org ↑ https://www. irs. gov/charities-non-profits/lobbying .

↑ Individuals who have access to the organisational bank account. The Community Resources team at Wikimedia Foundation supports the Wikimedia Foundation Funds. We offer funding opportunities, guidance, and other resources to the Wikimedia Movement.

Community Resources and Partnerships Global Resource Distribution Committee Retrieved from " https://meta. wikimedia. org/w/index.

php? title=Grants:Project/Rapid&oldid=30009167 " Wikimedia Foundation Funds Maintained by Community Resources This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 07:07. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply.

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