Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[Andreas Kolbe]

An e-mail comment from Jimmy Wales, quoted just now in a Digital Spy
article[1]:

"I'm happy to inform you that our current fundraiser is the most successful
in our entire history."

The bottom line is that the present banners are evidently more effective at
monetising the brand than those used in previous years, and an extra 10, 20
or 30 million dollars in revenue speaks a lot louder than the qualms voiced
by a few easily expendable volunteers here.


[1]
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/news/a617618/wikipedias-jimmy-wales-replies-to-gamergate-criticism.html
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Some bugs in payment form (was: Why is bank transfer no longer possible?)

[Andy Mabbett]

On 19 December 2014 at 21:02, Lodewijk  wrote:

> (offlist)

Nope ;-)

-- 
Andy Mabbett
@pigsonthewing
http://pigsonthewing.org.uk

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[Wikimedia-l] Start of writing weeks about Baltic region on Dutch Wikipedia

[Romaine Wiki]

 

Hello!

Today the writing weeks about the Baltic region have started on the Dutch
Wikipedia!

Several times a year, especially during holidays, we organize on the Dutch
Wikipedia writing weeks to focus much of our attention to a specific region
in the world that can use some improvements, based on reasons. This edition
is about the Baltic region, because on 1 January Latvia becomes the
president of the Council of the European Union and Lithuania becomes member
of the Eurozone and adopts the Euro as currency. But what do we know about
these countries?

Everyone can participate in writing about Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and
the Kaliningrad Oblast. We work on both improving existing articles as
writing new articles.

The Dutch project page is at
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikiproject/Schrijfweek/Baltische_regio


Got interested?

You can create a project page on your wiki and copy the initiative.

You can also just start writing or improving articles.

Be welcome! Let's make Wikipedia better!!


Romaine
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Why is bank transfer no longer possible?

[Mathias Damour]

Le 19/12/2014 08:33, Gerard Meijssen a écrit :

Hoi,
I blogged about this [1]. By ignoring the rest of the world, they
effectively give ownership to the WMF to the USA way of working. On a more
practical level, they hand over money for their convenience that is in my
opinion an absolute waste. By using a UK organisation to process donations,
they ignore the UK chapter while they make demands of chapters to raise
funds.

PS I do hope the WMF gets all the money it is seeking.


+1

Funny I first read your last sentence:
''PS I do hope the WMF gets all the money its sinking.''
...

--
Mathias Damour
User:Astirmays

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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: It's the end

[James Alexander]

On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 1:00 PM, Brad Courcelles 
wrote:

> Perhaps because that is the address they want people to use if they are
> mailing in a check for a donation?
>
>
Obviously not in Fundraising so grain of salt but I think that's exactly
the reason. If someone is using the address on a donation email it's
usually for a donation (and any real mail that gets sent there can likely
be forwarded on to us easily).

James [Switching to personal account since this isn't my work anymore]
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[Wikimedia-l] Some bugs in payment form (was: Why is bank transfer no longer possible?)

[Lodewijk]

Hi Pats,

(offlist)
The English form seems to work fine. However, if I am clicking iDEAL in
Dutch, it puts the address/name as a required field - while this should not
be necessary in iDEAL. Seems like an easy bug to fix.

But also when I enter a name etc, it simply returns to the same page,
unlike in ENglish, where it takes me to the bank. Maybe reset the
translations?

Also, in English the Friesland Bank option seems to be broken. Not sure if
that is a bug on your side or at iDEAL.

Just some bugs I was able to spot without too much effort - hope you can
pass it on to the right people.

Thanks,

Lodewijk

On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 9:30 PM, Patricia Pena  wrote:
>
> Hi Lodewijk,
>
> Thanks for letting us know! IDEAL has been back up in the page, but we
> recently made a few changes that ended up accidentally removing the option
> from the form. It's all fixed now :)
>
> Regarding IBAN: Finance is still working with our bank and we should be
> sending an update once we hear from them.
>
> Thanks,
> Pats
>
> On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 2:39 PM, Lodewijk 
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Pats,
> >
> > Please be aware that iDEAL is still not functional on the Dutch
> fundraiser
> > page. Also, IBAN is missing.
> >
> > Best,
> > Lodewijk
> >
> > On Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 10:16 PM, Lodewijk 
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi Patricia,
> > >
> > > Thanks for telling that the iDEAL will be back soon. I don't quite
> > > understand from your answer why you add the increased hurdle of
> emailing
> > > the team for the IBAN though. Am I overlooking something?
> > >
> > > Best,
> > > Lodewijk
> > >
> > > On Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 10:06 PM, Patricia Pena 
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > >> Hi Lodewijk,
> > >>
> > >> Currently IDEAL is temporarily down on our pages (it went into
> > maintenance
> > >> mode after our annual campaign), but should be back up soon :)  We
> know
> > >> the importance of this method for Dutch donors and have supported this
> > >> option since we started fundraising in the NL. We also support offline
> > >> bank
> > >> transfer (IBAN) and donors can get the account number with our Donor
> > >> Services team.
> > >>
> > >> We had an extremely successful Fundraising campaign this year, and
> there
> > >> will be some great mobile optimization coming up in the next few
> months,
> > >> which will allow mobile donors to complete their donations in a much
> > >> faster
> > >> and easier way.
> > >>
> > >> Thanks!
> > >> Pats
> > >>
> > >> On Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 11:28 AM, Lodewijk <
> lodew...@effeietsanders.org
> > >
> > >> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > A while back now, the chapters were no longer allowed to fundraise,
> > >> because
> > >> > the Wikimedia Foundation argued they would be better able to do
> this.
> > At
> > >> > the time, this sounded somewhat reasonable. However, since then,
> there
> > >> have
> > >> > been some disturbing developments - at least for Dutch donors.
> > >> >
> > >> > No longer it is possible to pay electronically (iDEAL, one of the
> most
> > >> > common methods is no longer supported - 'electronic banking' simply
> > >> refers
> > >> > you back to the credit card page) or even via regular bank transfer
> > >> (using
> > >> > an IBAN) in the Netherlands. The donation page
> > >> > <
> > >> >
> > >>
> >
> https://donate.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:FundraiserLandingPage&country=NL&uselang=en&utm_medium=spontaneous&utm_source=fr-redir&utm_campaign=spontaneous
> > >> > >
> > >> > only
> > >> > allows credit card and paypal, and the 'other ways to give' simply
> > sends
> > >> > you to the helpdesk if you want to make a bank transfer payment.
> > >> >
> > >> > What is the reasoning behind this? Have bank transfers become a
> legal
> > >> > swamp? Are there statistics suggesting that this method was no
> longer
> > >> > required by donors? Did the European bank account somehow get
> > >> temporarily
> > >> > suspended?
> > >> >
> > >> > If it has become so hard to donate, maybe it makes more sense to
> send
> > >> the
> > >> > donors to the local chapter pages where they can actually donate in
> > the
> > >> > local suitable methods (in this case, Wikimedia Netherlands offers
> > both
> > >> > iDEAL and IBAN
> > >> > ).
> > >> >
> > >> > One of the Dutch OTRS team members asked for elaboration, but didn't
> > >> quite
> > >> > get a satisfying answer. I hope this is a temporary situation, and
> > that
> > >> > this threshold will be removed again. It would be sad if we go
> through
> > >> all
> > >> > kind of trouble to enable long tail methods like bitcoin, but skip
> > bank
> > >> > transfer...
> > >> >
> > >> > Best,
> > >> >
> > >> > Lodewijk
> > >> > ___
> > >> > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> > >> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
> > >> > Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> > >> > Unsubscribe:
> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
> >

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: It's the end

[Brad Courcelles]

Perhaps because that is the address they want people to use if they are
mailing in a check for a donation?

On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 3:59 PM, Itzik - Wikimedia Israel <
it...@wikimedia.org.il> wrote:

> Yeah I know. But I still don't understand why we the foundation have P.O.
> box address at the bottom of the email and not the S.F office. It's not
> that the office address is not public
>
> - Sent from my mobile device.
> On Dec 19, 2014 10:36 PM, "Pharos"  wrote:
>
> > For those unfamiliar with the glories of the United States Postal
> Service,
> > a "P.O. Box" is simply a rented mail slot in a public post office.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Pharos
> >
> > On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 3:25 PM, Itzik - Wikimedia Israel <
> > it...@wikimedia.org.il> wrote:
> > >
> > > "Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
> > > P.O. Box 98204
> > > Washington, DC 20090-8204"
> > >
> > > We have a new office at D.C? :)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > *Regards,Itzik Edri*
> > > Chairperson, Wikimedia Israel
> > > +972-(0)-54-5878078 | http://www.wikimedia.org.il
> > > Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in
> the
> > > sum of all knowledge. That's our commitment!
> > >
> > >
> > > -- Forwarded message --
> > > From: Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia 
> > > Date: Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 8:18 PM
> > > Subject: It's the end
> > > To: itz...@wikimedia.org.il
> > >
> > > *If all our past donors simply gave again today, we wouldn't have to
> > worry
> > > about fundraising for the rest of the year.*
> > >
> > > Dear Itzik,
> > >
> > > This is the last email reminder you'll receive. We hope the response to
> > > today's email will let us end the fundraiser. Please take one minute to
> > > keep Wikipedia online and ad-free another year
> > > <
> > >
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=6&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > > >
> > > .
> > >
> > > To protect our independence, we'll never run ads. We receive no
> > government
> > > funds. We survive on donations from our readers. If all our past donors
> > > simply gave again today, we could end the fundraiser. Please help us
> > forget
> > > fundraising and get back to improving Wikipedia.
> > >
> > > We are deeply grateful for your past support. This year, please
> consider
> > > making another donation to protect and sustain Wikipedia
> > > <
> > >
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=6&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > > >
> > > .
> > >
> > > Click to donate $5 right away.
> > > <
> > >
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=2&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > > >
> > >
> > > Click to donate $25 right away.
> > > <
> > >
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=1&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > > >
> > >
> > > Click to donate $50 right away.
> > > <
> > >
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=5&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > > >
> > >
> > > Or click to donate another amount.
> > > <
> > >
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=7&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > > >
> > >
> > > Thank you,
> > > Jimmy Wales
> > > Wikipedia Founder
> > >   *DONATE NOW »*
> > > <
> > >
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=6&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > You are receiving this email at itz...@wikimedia.org.il as a valued
> > donor
> > > of the Wikimedia Foundation. If you do not wish to receive any future
> > > emails from the Wikimedia Foundation, unsubscribe instantly
> > > <
> > >
> >
> http://wikimedia.pages04.net/WMFUnsubscribe/Unsubscribe?spMailingID=47664916&spUserID=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&spJobID=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&spReportId=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0
> > > >
> > > .
> > >
> > > Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
> > > P.O. Box 98204
> > > Washington, DC 20090-8204
> > > United States of America
> > >
> > > enUS14
> > > ___
> > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
> > > Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> > > 
> > ___
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> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
> > Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> > 
> ___
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> Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> Unsubscribe: ht

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: It's the end

[Itzik - Wikimedia Israel]

Yeah I know. But I still don't understand why we the foundation have P.O.
box address at the bottom of the email and not the S.F office. It's not
that the office address is not public

- Sent from my mobile device.
On Dec 19, 2014 10:36 PM, "Pharos"  wrote:

> For those unfamiliar with the glories of the United States Postal Service,
> a "P.O. Box" is simply a rented mail slot in a public post office.
>
> Thanks,
> Pharos
>
> On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 3:25 PM, Itzik - Wikimedia Israel <
> it...@wikimedia.org.il> wrote:
> >
> > "Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
> > P.O. Box 98204
> > Washington, DC 20090-8204"
> >
> > We have a new office at D.C? :)
> >
> >
> >
> > *Regards,Itzik Edri*
> > Chairperson, Wikimedia Israel
> > +972-(0)-54-5878078 | http://www.wikimedia.org.il
> > Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the
> > sum of all knowledge. That's our commitment!
> >
> >
> > -- Forwarded message --
> > From: Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia 
> > Date: Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 8:18 PM
> > Subject: It's the end
> > To: itz...@wikimedia.org.il
> >
> > *If all our past donors simply gave again today, we wouldn't have to
> worry
> > about fundraising for the rest of the year.*
> >
> > Dear Itzik,
> >
> > This is the last email reminder you'll receive. We hope the response to
> > today's email will let us end the fundraiser. Please take one minute to
> > keep Wikipedia online and ad-free another year
> > <
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=6&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > >
> > .
> >
> > To protect our independence, we'll never run ads. We receive no
> government
> > funds. We survive on donations from our readers. If all our past donors
> > simply gave again today, we could end the fundraiser. Please help us
> forget
> > fundraising and get back to improving Wikipedia.
> >
> > We are deeply grateful for your past support. This year, please consider
> > making another donation to protect and sustain Wikipedia
> > <
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=6&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > >
> > .
> >
> > Click to donate $5 right away.
> > <
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=2&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > >
> >
> > Click to donate $25 right away.
> > <
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=1&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > >
> >
> > Click to donate $50 right away.
> > <
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=5&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > >
> >
> > Or click to donate another amount.
> > <
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=7&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > >
> >
> > Thank you,
> > Jimmy Wales
> > Wikipedia Founder
> >   *DONATE NOW »*
> > <
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=6&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > >
> > --
> >
> > You are receiving this email at itz...@wikimedia.org.il as a valued
> donor
> > of the Wikimedia Foundation. If you do not wish to receive any future
> > emails from the Wikimedia Foundation, unsubscribe instantly
> > <
> >
> http://wikimedia.pages04.net/WMFUnsubscribe/Unsubscribe?spMailingID=47664916&spUserID=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&spJobID=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&spReportId=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0
> > >
> > .
> >
> > Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
> > P.O. Box 98204
> > Washington, DC 20090-8204
> > United States of America
> >
> > enUS14
> > ___
> > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
> > Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> > 
> ___
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> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
> Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> 
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Why is bank transfer no longer possible?

[Lodewijk]

Hi Pats,

Thanks.

Lodewijk

On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 9:30 PM, Patricia Pena  wrote:
>
> Hi Lodewijk,
>
> Thanks for letting us know! IDEAL has been back up in the page, but we
> recently made a few changes that ended up accidentally removing the option
> from the form. It's all fixed now :)
>
> Regarding IBAN: Finance is still working with our bank and we should be
> sending an update once we hear from them.
>
> Thanks,
> Pats
>
> On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 2:39 PM, Lodewijk 
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Pats,
> >
> > Please be aware that iDEAL is still not functional on the Dutch
> fundraiser
> > page. Also, IBAN is missing.
> >
> > Best,
> > Lodewijk
> >
> > On Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 10:16 PM, Lodewijk 
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi Patricia,
> > >
> > > Thanks for telling that the iDEAL will be back soon. I don't quite
> > > understand from your answer why you add the increased hurdle of
> emailing
> > > the team for the IBAN though. Am I overlooking something?
> > >
> > > Best,
> > > Lodewijk
> > >
> > > On Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 10:06 PM, Patricia Pena 
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > >> Hi Lodewijk,
> > >>
> > >> Currently IDEAL is temporarily down on our pages (it went into
> > maintenance
> > >> mode after our annual campaign), but should be back up soon :)  We
> know
> > >> the importance of this method for Dutch donors and have supported this
> > >> option since we started fundraising in the NL. We also support offline
> > >> bank
> > >> transfer (IBAN) and donors can get the account number with our Donor
> > >> Services team.
> > >>
> > >> We had an extremely successful Fundraising campaign this year, and
> there
> > >> will be some great mobile optimization coming up in the next few
> months,
> > >> which will allow mobile donors to complete their donations in a much
> > >> faster
> > >> and easier way.
> > >>
> > >> Thanks!
> > >> Pats
> > >>
> > >> On Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 11:28 AM, Lodewijk <
> lodew...@effeietsanders.org
> > >
> > >> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > A while back now, the chapters were no longer allowed to fundraise,
> > >> because
> > >> > the Wikimedia Foundation argued they would be better able to do
> this.
> > At
> > >> > the time, this sounded somewhat reasonable. However, since then,
> there
> > >> have
> > >> > been some disturbing developments - at least for Dutch donors.
> > >> >
> > >> > No longer it is possible to pay electronically (iDEAL, one of the
> most
> > >> > common methods is no longer supported - 'electronic banking' simply
> > >> refers
> > >> > you back to the credit card page) or even via regular bank transfer
> > >> (using
> > >> > an IBAN) in the Netherlands. The donation page
> > >> > <
> > >> >
> > >>
> >
> https://donate.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:FundraiserLandingPage&country=NL&uselang=en&utm_medium=spontaneous&utm_source=fr-redir&utm_campaign=spontaneous
> > >> > >
> > >> > only
> > >> > allows credit card and paypal, and the 'other ways to give' simply
> > sends
> > >> > you to the helpdesk if you want to make a bank transfer payment.
> > >> >
> > >> > What is the reasoning behind this? Have bank transfers become a
> legal
> > >> > swamp? Are there statistics suggesting that this method was no
> longer
> > >> > required by donors? Did the European bank account somehow get
> > >> temporarily
> > >> > suspended?
> > >> >
> > >> > If it has become so hard to donate, maybe it makes more sense to
> send
> > >> the
> > >> > donors to the local chapter pages where they can actually donate in
> > the
> > >> > local suitable methods (in this case, Wikimedia Netherlands offers
> > both
> > >> > iDEAL and IBAN
> > >> > ).
> > >> >
> > >> > One of the Dutch OTRS team members asked for elaboration, but didn't
> > >> quite
> > >> > get a satisfying answer. I hope this is a temporary situation, and
> > that
> > >> > this threshold will be removed again. It would be sad if we go
> through
> > >> all
> > >> > kind of trouble to enable long tail methods like bitcoin, but skip
> > bank
> > >> > transfer...
> > >> >
> > >> > Best,
> > >> >
> > >> > Lodewijk
> > >> > ___
> > >> > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> > >> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
> > >> > Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> > >> > Unsubscribe:
> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
> > ,
> > >> >  ?subject=unsubscribe>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >>
> > >> Pats Pena | Sr. Manager, Global Operations
> > >> Wikimedia Foundation
> > >> office +1 (415) 839 6885 x6764
> > >> cell:   +1 (415) 816 3349
> > >> fax: +1 (415) 284 9511
> > >> pp...@wikimedia.org
> > >>
> > >> *Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in
> > the
> > >> sum of all knowledge. That's our commitment. Donate.
> > >> *
> > >> ___
> >

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[Mathias Damour]

Le 19/12/2014 00:08, Liam Wyatt a écrit :

This email was sent by WMF fundraising today.
I'm embarrassed. Read the email first, then I'll tell you why, below.


Then what ?
I suggest the reasons why the WMF and Sue Gardner did struggle for years 
against the ability of the chapters to fundraise were bad, or at least 
not good enough.
They were complaint about the fundraising banners and messages, I guess 
one of the reason to centralize fundraising was to have full control on 
it and be able to switch it on and off at any time in any country (such 
as Russia), yet I don't think that it's even desirable.
Furthermore the WMF shouldn't process the "Project and Event Grants" and 
"Individual Engagement Grants" in the countries were there is an active 
chapter.


--
Mathias Damour
User:Astirmay

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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: It's the end

[Pharos]

For those unfamiliar with the glories of the United States Postal Service,
a "P.O. Box" is simply a rented mail slot in a public post office.

Thanks,
Pharos

On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 3:25 PM, Itzik - Wikimedia Israel <
it...@wikimedia.org.il> wrote:
>
> "Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
> P.O. Box 98204
> Washington, DC 20090-8204"
>
> We have a new office at D.C? :)
>
>
>
> *Regards,Itzik Edri*
> Chairperson, Wikimedia Israel
> +972-(0)-54-5878078 | http://www.wikimedia.org.il
> Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the
> sum of all knowledge. That's our commitment!
>
>
> -- Forwarded message --
> From: Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia 
> Date: Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 8:18 PM
> Subject: It's the end
> To: itz...@wikimedia.org.il
>
> *If all our past donors simply gave again today, we wouldn't have to worry
> about fundraising for the rest of the year.*
>
> Dear Itzik,
>
> This is the last email reminder you'll receive. We hope the response to
> today's email will let us end the fundraiser. Please take one minute to
> keep Wikipedia online and ad-free another year
> <
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=6&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >
> .
>
> To protect our independence, we'll never run ads. We receive no government
> funds. We survive on donations from our readers. If all our past donors
> simply gave again today, we could end the fundraiser. Please help us forget
> fundraising and get back to improving Wikipedia.
>
> We are deeply grateful for your past support. This year, please consider
> making another donation to protect and sustain Wikipedia
> <
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=6&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >
> .
>
> Click to donate $5 right away.
> <
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=2&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >
>
> Click to donate $25 right away.
> <
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=1&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >
>
> Click to donate $50 right away.
> <
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=5&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >
>
> Or click to donate another amount.
> <
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=7&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >
>
> Thank you,
> Jimmy Wales
> Wikipedia Founder
>   *DONATE NOW »*
> <
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=6&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >
> --
>
> You are receiving this email at itz...@wikimedia.org.il as a valued donor
> of the Wikimedia Foundation. If you do not wish to receive any future
> emails from the Wikimedia Foundation, unsubscribe instantly
> <
> http://wikimedia.pages04.net/WMFUnsubscribe/Unsubscribe?spMailingID=47664916&spUserID=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&spJobID=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&spReportId=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0
> >
> .
>
> Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
> P.O. Box 98204
> Washington, DC 20090-8204
> United States of America
>
> enUS14
> ___
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: It's the end

[James Alexander]

Also: We've actually had the DC Address for a couple years now, it's for a
check processing service (Years ago they were processed by hand at the
office but that took a lot longer and was no longer the most cost or time
efficient way to do it).

James Alexander
Legal and Community Advocacy
Wikimedia Foundation
(415) 839-6885 x6716 @jamesofur

On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 12:36 PM, Pharos 
wrote:
>
> For those unfamiliar with the glories of the United States Postal Service,
> a "P.O. Box" is simply a rented mail slot in a public post office.
>
> Thanks,
> Pharos
>
> On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 3:25 PM, Itzik - Wikimedia Israel <
> it...@wikimedia.org.il> wrote:
> >
> > "Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
> > P.O. Box 98204
> > Washington, DC 20090-8204"
> >
> > We have a new office at D.C? :)
> >
> >
> >
> > *Regards,Itzik Edri*
> > Chairperson, Wikimedia Israel
> > +972-(0)-54-5878078 | http://www.wikimedia.org.il
> > Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the
> > sum of all knowledge. That's our commitment!
> >
> >
> > -- Forwarded message --
> > From: Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia 
> > Date: Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 8:18 PM
> > Subject: It's the end
> > To: itz...@wikimedia.org.il
> >
> > *If all our past donors simply gave again today, we wouldn't have to
> worry
> > about fundraising for the rest of the year.*
> >
> > Dear Itzik,
> >
> > This is the last email reminder you'll receive. We hope the response to
> > today's email will let us end the fundraiser. Please take one minute to
> > keep Wikipedia online and ad-free another year
> > <
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=6&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > >
> > .
> >
> > To protect our independence, we'll never run ads. We receive no
> government
> > funds. We survive on donations from our readers. If all our past donors
> > simply gave again today, we could end the fundraiser. Please help us
> forget
> > fundraising and get back to improving Wikipedia.
> >
> > We are deeply grateful for your past support. This year, please consider
> > making another donation to protect and sustain Wikipedia
> > <
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=6&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > >
> > .
> >
> > Click to donate $5 right away.
> > <
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=2&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > >
> >
> > Click to donate $25 right away.
> > <
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=1&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > >
> >
> > Click to donate $50 right away.
> > <
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=5&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > >
> >
> > Or click to donate another amount.
> > <
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=7&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > >
> >
> > Thank you,
> > Jimmy Wales
> > Wikipedia Founder
> >   *DONATE NOW »*
> > <
> >
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=6&ms=NDc2NjQ5MTYS1&r=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&b=0&j=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&mt=1&rt=0
> > >
> > --
> >
> > You are receiving this email at itz...@wikimedia.org.il as a valued
> donor
> > of the Wikimedia Foundation. If you do not wish to receive any future
> > emails from the Wikimedia Foundation, unsubscribe instantly
> > <
> >
> http://wikimedia.pages04.net/WMFUnsubscribe/Unsubscribe?spMailingID=47664916&spUserID=NjI3MjkzMTU0NzAS1&spJobID=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0&spReportId=NTgzNjIxMTAzS0
> > >
> > .
> >
> > Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
> > P.O. Box 98204
> > Washington, DC 20090-8204
> > United States of America
> >
> > enUS14
> > ___
> > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
> > Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> > 
> ___
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> 
>
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Why is bank transfer no longer possible?

[Patricia Pena]

Hi Lodewijk,

Thanks for letting us know! IDEAL has been back up in the page, but we
recently made a few changes that ended up accidentally removing the option
from the form. It's all fixed now :)

Regarding IBAN: Finance is still working with our bank and we should be
sending an update once we hear from them.

Thanks,
Pats

On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 2:39 PM, Lodewijk 
wrote:
>
> Hi Pats,
>
> Please be aware that iDEAL is still not functional on the Dutch fundraiser
> page. Also, IBAN is missing.
>
> Best,
> Lodewijk
>
> On Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 10:16 PM, Lodewijk 
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Patricia,
> >
> > Thanks for telling that the iDEAL will be back soon. I don't quite
> > understand from your answer why you add the increased hurdle of emailing
> > the team for the IBAN though. Am I overlooking something?
> >
> > Best,
> > Lodewijk
> >
> > On Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 10:06 PM, Patricia Pena 
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Hi Lodewijk,
> >>
> >> Currently IDEAL is temporarily down on our pages (it went into
> maintenance
> >> mode after our annual campaign), but should be back up soon :)  We know
> >> the importance of this method for Dutch donors and have supported this
> >> option since we started fundraising in the NL. We also support offline
> >> bank
> >> transfer (IBAN) and donors can get the account number with our Donor
> >> Services team.
> >>
> >> We had an extremely successful Fundraising campaign this year, and there
> >> will be some great mobile optimization coming up in the next few months,
> >> which will allow mobile donors to complete their donations in a much
> >> faster
> >> and easier way.
> >>
> >> Thanks!
> >> Pats
> >>
> >> On Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 11:28 AM, Lodewijk  >
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> > A while back now, the chapters were no longer allowed to fundraise,
> >> because
> >> > the Wikimedia Foundation argued they would be better able to do this.
> At
> >> > the time, this sounded somewhat reasonable. However, since then, there
> >> have
> >> > been some disturbing developments - at least for Dutch donors.
> >> >
> >> > No longer it is possible to pay electronically (iDEAL, one of the most
> >> > common methods is no longer supported - 'electronic banking' simply
> >> refers
> >> > you back to the credit card page) or even via regular bank transfer
> >> (using
> >> > an IBAN) in the Netherlands. The donation page
> >> > <
> >> >
> >>
> https://donate.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:FundraiserLandingPage&country=NL&uselang=en&utm_medium=spontaneous&utm_source=fr-redir&utm_campaign=spontaneous
> >> > >
> >> > only
> >> > allows credit card and paypal, and the 'other ways to give' simply
> sends
> >> > you to the helpdesk if you want to make a bank transfer payment.
> >> >
> >> > What is the reasoning behind this? Have bank transfers become a legal
> >> > swamp? Are there statistics suggesting that this method was no longer
> >> > required by donors? Did the European bank account somehow get
> >> temporarily
> >> > suspended?
> >> >
> >> > If it has become so hard to donate, maybe it makes more sense to send
> >> the
> >> > donors to the local chapter pages where they can actually donate in
> the
> >> > local suitable methods (in this case, Wikimedia Netherlands offers
> both
> >> > iDEAL and IBAN
> >> > ).
> >> >
> >> > One of the Dutch OTRS team members asked for elaboration, but didn't
> >> quite
> >> > get a satisfying answer. I hope this is a temporary situation, and
> that
> >> > this threshold will be removed again. It would be sad if we go through
> >> all
> >> > kind of trouble to enable long tail methods like bitcoin, but skip
> bank
> >> > transfer...
> >> >
> >> > Best,
> >> >
> >> > Lodewijk
> >> > ___
> >> > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> >> > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
> >> > Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> >> > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l
> ,
> >> > 
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >>
> >> Pats Pena | Sr. Manager, Global Operations
> >> Wikimedia Foundation
> >> office +1 (415) 839 6885 x6764
> >> cell:   +1 (415) 816 3349
> >> fax: +1 (415) 284 9511
> >> pp...@wikimedia.org
> >>
> >> *Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in
> the
> >> sum of all knowledge. That's our commitment. Donate.
> >> *
> >> ___
> >> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at:
> >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
> >> Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> >> <
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/guidelineswikimedi...@lists.wikimedia.org
> >
> >> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l,
> >> 
> >
> >
> >
> _

[Wikimedia-l] Fwd: It's the end

[Itzik - Wikimedia Israel]

"Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 98204
Washington, DC 20090-8204"

We have a new office at D.C? :)



*Regards,Itzik Edri*
Chairperson, Wikimedia Israel
+972-(0)-54-5878078 | http://www.wikimedia.org.il
Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the
sum of all knowledge. That's our commitment!


-- Forwarded message --
From: Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia 
Date: Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 8:18 PM
Subject: It's the end
To: itz...@wikimedia.org.il

*If all our past donors simply gave again today, we wouldn't have to worry
about fundraising for the rest of the year.*

Dear Itzik,

This is the last email reminder you'll receive. We hope the response to
today's email will let us end the fundraiser. Please take one minute to
keep Wikipedia online and ad-free another year

.

To protect our independence, we'll never run ads. We receive no government
funds. We survive on donations from our readers. If all our past donors
simply gave again today, we could end the fundraiser. Please help us forget
fundraising and get back to improving Wikipedia.

We are deeply grateful for your past support. This year, please consider
making another donation to protect and sustain Wikipedia

.

Click to donate $5 right away.


Click to donate $25 right away.


Click to donate $50 right away.


Or click to donate another amount.


Thank you,
Jimmy Wales
Wikipedia Founder
  *DONATE NOW »*

--

You are receiving this email at itz...@wikimedia.org.il as a valued donor
of the Wikimedia Foundation. If you do not wish to receive any future
emails from the Wikimedia Foundation, unsubscribe instantly

.

Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 98204
Washington, DC 20090-8204
United States of America

enUS14
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Spam] Re: Fwd: Our final email

[Bjoern Hoehrmann]

* Andrew Gray wrote:
>(In all seriousness: I generally agree with Liam's concerns, but I'd
>also like to note that the banners running on mobile are much more
>discreet, though are just as eye-catching. Well done to whoever
>thought of those.)

When I encountered one of those I had to scroll four screens down to
notice that it's actually an overlay and obscuring the content below it,
and so I had to scroll back up and find a tiny hard-to-tap "x" to close
it. You must be seeing very different ones.
-- 
Björn Höhrmann · mailto:bjo...@hoehrmann.de · http://bjoern.hoehrmann.de
D-10243 Berlin · PGP Pub. KeyID: 0xA4357E78 · http://www.bjoernsworld.de
 Available for hire in Berlin (early 2015)  · http://www.websitedev.de/ 

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Re: [Wikimedia-l] [Spam] Re: Fwd: Our final email

[Andrew Gray]

It's now "If everyone reading this right now gives £3, our fundraiser
will be done within an hour. That's right, the price of a cup of
coffee is all we need."

So I suppose the take-home message is that WMF fundraising has high
estimates of what a coffee costs, rather than their programmers having
expensive tastes ;-)

(In all seriousness: I generally agree with Liam's concerns, but I'd
also like to note that the banners running on mobile are much more
discreet, though are just as eye-catching. Well done to whoever
thought of those.)

Andrew.

On 19 December 2014 at 08:44, WereSpielChequers
 wrote:
> Two weeks ago I emailed the fundraising team with the following note, quietly 
> and discretely pointing out an error in their messaging. Sadly I haven't had 
> a reply and I think that in the UK they are still using the £3 buys a coffee 
> for a programmer line:
>
>> Aside from the incidental nature of the appeal, £3 and $3 are very different 
>> sums of money. When I saw $3 I thought that was an expensive way to buy 
>> coffees and that the WMF should invest in a kettle and some mugs. But £3 for 
>> a coffee, now that just looks wasteful, even to someone living in an 
>> expensive part of London. I dread to think what it looks like to someone 
>> living in other parts of England, let alone cheaper parts of the world. "£3 
>> gets coffee and biscuits for a potential wikipedian coming to a training 
>> session", that I could defend.
>>
>> There's also the honesty/credibility factor. I doubt I am the only person 
>> seeing different versions of these ads including different currencies, if 
>> the sums are this far apart the suspicion has to be that none of the figures 
>> are to be trusted. Not a great help to our program of improving Wikipedia 
>> quality and getting such details right in our articles.
>
>
> Regards
>
> Jonathan Cardy
>
>
>>
>>   3.
>>>
>>>
>>> To protect our independence, we'll never run ads. We receive no government
>>> funds. We survive on donations from our readers. If all our past donors
>>> simply gave again today, we could end the fundraiser. Please help us forget
>>> fundraising and get back to improving Wikipedia.
>>>
>>> We are deeply grateful for your past support. This year, please consider
>>> making another donation to protect and sustain Wikipedia
>>> 
>>> .
>>>
>>> https://donate.wikimedia.org
>>> 
>>>
>>> Thank you,
>>> Jimmy Wales
>>> Wikipedia Founder
>>>
>>> PS: Less than 1% of our readers donate enough to keep Wikipedia running.
>>> Your contribution counts!
>>> *DONATE NOW »*
>>> 
>>> --
>>>
>>>
>>> "our final email"?
>>> This is the last email reminder you'll receive"?
>>> Surely that should be qualified with "... this year."??
>>> If that weren't embarrassing, what about...
>>>
>>>   - Using *bold* AND *italics *AND yellow backgroud colouring all at the
>>>   same time in the heading.
>>>   - Sending an email on the 18th of December saying that if "ALL past
>>>   donors simply gave AGAIN today" [my emphasis] then you wouldn't need to do
>>>   any more fundraising "for the rest of the year", i.e. for 2 weeks!!
>>>   - On the one had it says "we'll never run ads" but in the sentence
>>>   immediately beforehand pleads help to us stay "ad-free another year".
>>>   - Does the phrase "Less than 1% of our readers donate enough to keep
>>>   Wikipedia running" mean a) that less than 1% of readers donate, which is
>>>   enough to keep us running, or b) that less than 1% of readers who have
>>>   donated, donated enough to keep us running (implying that the other 99% of
>>>   donors didn't donate enough)?
>>>   - Finally, this email is addressed from Jimmy, but when you receive a
>>>   "thank you for donating" email, it's addressed from Lila. [I should note
>>>   that the thank you for donating email IS very positive and
>>>   mission-oriented].
>>>
>>>
>>> *Effectiveness != Efficiency*
>>> One of the official WMF Fundraising principles
>>>  is "*minimal
>>> disruption*...aim to raise money from donors *effectively*" [emphasis is
>>> original].
>>> I believe that this wording has been interpreted by the fundraising team to
>>> mean *"*do the fundraising as quickly as possible". However, I contest that
>>> "less disruption" and "more effective" is not the same as "shorter
>>> fundraiser". i.e.: Effectiveness != Efficiency.
>>>
>>> I am sure that these desperate fundraising emails/banners are *efficient *at
>>> getting the most amount of money as fast as possible (they have been honed
>>> with excellent A/B testing), but, they achieve this by sacrific

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[Liam Wyatt]

There are some valid differences of opinion being expressed about the
cultural-linguistic appropriateness of the language used in the fundraising
email.

But these are tangential to the substantive issue I was attempting to raise.

Ideally, Wikimedians should feeling empowered and excited to share the
message that we need to fundraise to continue our movement's important work
with my friends and family.
Instead, I feel embarrassed (and consequently demotivated and unempowered)
by the fundraising campaign - and I believe a lot of others in the
community are too.

Let me reiterate the final, official WMF fundraising principle
:

> "Maximal participation: Consistent with the principles of empowerment
> underlying Wikimedia’s success, we should empower individuals and groups
> world-wide to constructively contribute to direct messaging, public
> outreach, and other activities that drive the success of Wikimedia’s
> fundraising efforts."


Now, we can debate the minutiae of the fundraising banners/emails - and I
am certainly guilty of raising a series of very specific
linguistic/stylistic critiques - but the more strategic issue is that I
believe that this "maximal participation" principle has been completely
left behind. Furthermore, that the principle of "minimal disruption" has
become to be defined as "get the money as fast as possible".
To reiterate: efficiency != effectiveness.

The feeling being generated is that fundraising is a "necessary evil" that
we all have to suffer through. But the "maximal participation" principle
implies that fundraising should be an opportunity for us all as a community
to FEEL PROUD to tell our friends that what we do is important and that if
they can't provide time or expertise, then at least provide some money to
show their support.  I USED to do that. I want to again.

So, How can we move from a position where I (and presumably many others) in
the community are merely "enduring" the fundraising season, to a position
where we can be proud ambassadors of our movement? We should get back to
using this time as an opportunity to share our movement's value - We should
celebrate collectively when we reach the fundraising goal because we know
that means we can achieve the awesome things planned to do with that money.
This requires seeking "buy in" from the community at all stages - from the
annual budget to the banner translation to email responders. Not simply
"tolerating" fundraising season

Less "efficient" fundraising, more "effective" fundraising.
WMF Board of Trustees, I'm looking at you to set a direction
-Liam

wittylama.com
Peace, love & metadata
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[Wikimedia-l] [Wikimedia Announcements] The Signpost -- Volume 10, Issue 49 -- 17 December 2014

[Wikipedia Signpost]

In the media: Wikipedia's year in review video; Checking in with Wikipedia's 
founders
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2014-12-17/In_the_media

Arbitration report: Arbitration Committee election results
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2014-12-17/Arbitration_report

Featured content: Tripping hither, tripping thither, Nobody knows why or 
whither; We must dance and we must sing, Round about our fairy ring!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2014-12-17/Featured_content

Traffic report: A December Lull
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2014-12-17/Traffic_report


Single page view
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Signpost/Single

PDF version
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book:Wikipedia_Signpost/2014-12-17


https://www.facebook.com/wikisignpost / https://twitter.com/wikisignpost
--
Wikipedia Signpost Staff
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost

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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[Bjoern Hoehrmann]

* Peter Southwood wrote:
>OK, I was just wondering if acceptance of this form of marketing was an 
>American thing or  more generally an English language thing. Obviously 
>not universally acceptable to English speakers, even in USA and England, 
>but possibly more offensive to people with other cultural backgrounds.

I have found http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13545386 useful on
this point, comparing the German and British as an example.
-- 
Björn Höhrmann · mailto:bjo...@hoehrmann.de · http://bjoern.hoehrmann.de
D-10243 Berlin · PGP Pub. KeyID: 0xA4357E78 · http://www.bjoernsworld.de
 Available for hire in Berlin (early 2015)  · http://www.websitedev.de/ 

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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[Andrea Zanni]

I support the idea that "translation" also needs to happen between cultures
within the same language.
I made the example of the Italian because it is my own, but of course there
are other English-speaking cultures other the American one, and they would
deserve the same attention.
Of course it is difficult, and of course it would be a burden for the
Fundraising team to have different messages for different nations [1], but
I think it's worth a real effort.
The Wikimedia movement is multicultural and multilanguage. We need to keep
it that way, also in delicate but fundamental aspects as the fundraising.
As the WMF feels entitled to fundraise for the whole movement, she would
feel the responsibility of speaking the movement language (meaning, all of
them :-D).

I really don't want to give the impression of  *trashing* everything the
WMF does: I already said it, but I 'll repeat here that the Edit 2014 video
is passionate, clear, moving, inspiring and *honest*. I made me feel proud
of being part of the movement, and I think it is a great result for a 2
minutes video :-) [2]

Aubrey


[1] I'm still assuming a centralised, WMF-driven fundraising, please don't
we start with chapters fundraising in this very moment, although it could
be part of the solution).

[2] On a totally unrelated matter, I thought the same for the other
Victor's video about the kids from South Africa. (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j-ktiYTTds)
He also set a crowdfunding for actually buying the laptops (
http://www.gofundme.com/74kx3g).
It's maybe me, but I don't really understand why we don't use the
sitenotice to spread these messages.


On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 1:43 PM, Peter Southwood <
peter.southw...@telkomsa.net> wrote:
>
> Not even slightly, even though I speak English.
> Cheers,
> Peter
>
> -Original Message-
> From: wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org [mailto:
> wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Chris Keating
> Sent: 19 December 2014 02:41 PM
> To: Wikimedia Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email
>
> Are you American?
> On 19 Dec 2014 12:35, "Peter Southwood" 
> wrote:
>
> > I can only assume this is intended as some form of humour, but I don’t
> > get it.
> > Cheers,
> > Peter
> >
> > -Original Message-
> > From: wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org [mailto:
> > wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of David Gerard
> > Sent: 19 December 2014 02:25 PM
> > To: Wikimedia Mailing List
> > Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email
> >
> > Everyone who speaks English is American, particularly the English.
> >
> > On 19 December 2014 at 12:21, Peter Southwood <
> > peter.southw...@telkomsa.net> wrote:
> > > Are you by any chance American?
> > > Cheers,
> > > peter
> > >
> > > -Original Message-
> > > From: wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org
> > > [mailto:wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Chris
> > > Keating
> > > Sent: 19 December 2014 01:47 PM
> > > To: Wikimedia Mailing List
> > > Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email
> > >
> > > I have to say, I don't see anything remotely objectionable in that
> email.
> > > Bold italicised text on a yellow background might not win any design
> > > awards but effective fundraising often doesn't win design awards.*
> > >
> > > I am not 100% sure how much donors care how soon our fundraiser ends
> > (these days at least, a few years ago they did get fed up with the
> > perpetual Jimmy banners). However talking about that does give a sense
> > of urgency to the copy, which again is a key part of fundraising that
> > actually raises money.
> > >
> > > It is of course a reasonable point of view that the WMF and
> > > Wikimedia
> > movement have too much money and shouldn't really try to raise any
> > more. If you hold that view then I suppose it's reasonable to ask the
> > fundraising team to make their emails more inept. However, I don't
> > think that is a sensible view to take at the moment (or, probably, ever).
> > >
> > > Chris
> > >
> > > *(Actually, the only fundraising industry award I've ever been
> > > involved in winning were for things that looked very nice, but that
> > > doesn't disprove the general principle)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 11:08 PM, Liam Wyatt 
> > wrote:
> > >>
> > >> This email was sent by WMF fundraising today.
> > >> I'm embarrassed. Read the email first, then I'll tell you why, below.
> > >>
> > >> *Da:* "Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia" 
> > >> *Data:* 17 December 2014 10:15:56 pm GMT+1
> > >> *A: [email address removed]*
> > >> *Oggetto:* *Our final email*
> > >> *Rispondi a:* don...@wikimedia.org
> > >>
> > >> *If all our past donors simply gave again today, we wouldn't have
> > >> to worry about fundraising for the rest of the year.*
> > >>
> > >> Dear [name removed],
> > >>
> > >> This is the last email reminder you'll receive. We hope the
> > >> response to today's email will let us end the fundraiser. Please
> > 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[Chris Keating]

On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 12:40 PM, Peter Southwood <
peter.southw...@telkomsa.net> wrote:
>
> OK, I was just wondering if acceptance of this form of marketing was an
> American thing or  more generally an English language thing. Obviously not
> universally acceptable to English speakers, even in USA and England, but
> possibly more offensive to people with other cultural backgrounds.
> Cheers,
> Peter.
>

Ah, I wondered if that might have been your underlying point!

I'm pretty sure the differences of views on this list on this subject
reflect different individual perspectives, not a bigger point about
cultural norms. This email could have originated from a British, Australian
or Dutch non-profit just as easily - and probably would still be effective
for the same reasons in a much wider range of cultures - I highlight those
3 because approaches to fundraising and philanthropy are pretty similar in
them.

There is a bigger difference in expected/preferred payment methods (which,
obviously, is also a subject of debate here, and one I have quite strong
views on) but that is a different question.

Chris
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[svetlana]

Hi,

David Gerard wrote:
> Everyone who speaks English is American, particularly the English.

Peter Southwood wrote:
> I can only assume this is intended as some form of humour, but I don’t get it.

This line is a parody. Similarly to "Everything that is eatable is an apple, 
particularly oranges". ("The English" = "people from the UK" = "not American").

--
svetlana

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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[Peter Southwood]

Not even slightly, even though I speak English.
Cheers,
Peter

-Original Message-
From: wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org 
[mailto:wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Chris Keating
Sent: 19 December 2014 02:41 PM
To: Wikimedia Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

Are you American?
On 19 Dec 2014 12:35, "Peter Southwood" 
wrote:

> I can only assume this is intended as some form of humour, but I don’t 
> get it.
> Cheers,
> Peter
>
> -Original Message-
> From: wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org [mailto:
> wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of David Gerard
> Sent: 19 December 2014 02:25 PM
> To: Wikimedia Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email
>
> Everyone who speaks English is American, particularly the English.
>
> On 19 December 2014 at 12:21, Peter Southwood < 
> peter.southw...@telkomsa.net> wrote:
> > Are you by any chance American?
> > Cheers,
> > peter
> >
> > -Original Message-
> > From: wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org
> > [mailto:wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Chris 
> > Keating
> > Sent: 19 December 2014 01:47 PM
> > To: Wikimedia Mailing List
> > Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email
> >
> > I have to say, I don't see anything remotely objectionable in that email.
> > Bold italicised text on a yellow background might not win any design 
> > awards but effective fundraising often doesn't win design awards.*
> >
> > I am not 100% sure how much donors care how soon our fundraiser ends
> (these days at least, a few years ago they did get fed up with the 
> perpetual Jimmy banners). However talking about that does give a sense 
> of urgency to the copy, which again is a key part of fundraising that 
> actually raises money.
> >
> > It is of course a reasonable point of view that the WMF and 
> > Wikimedia
> movement have too much money and shouldn't really try to raise any 
> more. If you hold that view then I suppose it's reasonable to ask the 
> fundraising team to make their emails more inept. However, I don't 
> think that is a sensible view to take at the moment (or, probably, ever).
> >
> > Chris
> >
> > *(Actually, the only fundraising industry award I've ever been 
> > involved in winning were for things that looked very nice, but that 
> > doesn't disprove the general principle)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 11:08 PM, Liam Wyatt 
> wrote:
> >>
> >> This email was sent by WMF fundraising today.
> >> I'm embarrassed. Read the email first, then I'll tell you why, below.
> >>
> >> *Da:* "Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia" 
> >> *Data:* 17 December 2014 10:15:56 pm GMT+1
> >> *A: [email address removed]*
> >> *Oggetto:* *Our final email*
> >> *Rispondi a:* don...@wikimedia.org
> >>
> >> *If all our past donors simply gave again today, we wouldn't have 
> >> to worry about fundraising for the rest of the year.*
> >>
> >> Dear [name removed],
> >>
> >> This is the last email reminder you'll receive. We hope the 
> >> response to today's email will let us end the fundraiser. Please 
> >> take one minute to keep Wikipedia online and ad-free another year < 
> >> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r
> >> =N
> >> z
> >> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >> >
> >> .
> >>
> >> To protect our independence, we'll never run ads. We receive no 
> >> government funds. We survive on donations from our readers. If all 
> >> our past donors simply gave again today, we could end the fundraiser.
> >> Please help us forget fundraising and get back to improving Wikipedia.
> >>
> >> We are deeply grateful for your past support. This year, please 
> >> consider making another donation to protect and sustain Wikipedia < 
> >> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r
> >> =N
> >> z
> >> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >> >
> >> .
> >>
> >> https://donate.wikimedia.org
> >> <
> >> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r
> >> =N
> >> z
> >> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >> >
> >>
> >> Thank you,
> >> Jimmy Wales
> >> Wikipedia Founder
> >>
> >> PS: Less than 1% of our readers donate enough to keep Wikipedia running.
> >> Your contribution counts!
> >> *DONATE NOW »*
> >> <
> >> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r
> >> =N
> >> z
> >> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >> >
> >> --
> >>
> >>
> >> "our final email"?
> >> This is the last email reminder you'll receive"?
> >> Surely that should be qualified with "... this year."??
> >> If that weren't embarrassing, what about...
> >>
> >>- Using *bold* AND *italics *AND yellow backgroud colouring all 
> >> at
> the
> >>same time in the heading.
> >>- Sending an email on the 18th of December saying that if "ALL past
> >>donors simply gave AGAIN today" [my emphasis] then you wouldn't 
> >> need 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[Peter Southwood]

OK, I was just wondering if acceptance of this form of marketing was an 
American thing or  more generally an English language thing. Obviously not 
universally acceptable to English speakers, even in USA and England, but 
possibly more offensive to people with other cultural backgrounds.
Cheers, 
Peter.

-Original Message-
From: wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org 
[mailto:wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Chris Keating
Sent: 19 December 2014 02:27 PM
To: Wikimedia Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

> Are you by any chance American?
> Cheers,
> peter
>

No, I'm English. :)

Chris
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[Chris Keating]

Are you American?
On 19 Dec 2014 12:35, "Peter Southwood" 
wrote:

> I can only assume this is intended as some form of humour, but I don’t get
> it.
> Cheers,
> Peter
>
> -Original Message-
> From: wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org [mailto:
> wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of David Gerard
> Sent: 19 December 2014 02:25 PM
> To: Wikimedia Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email
>
> Everyone who speaks English is American, particularly the English.
>
> On 19 December 2014 at 12:21, Peter Southwood <
> peter.southw...@telkomsa.net> wrote:
> > Are you by any chance American?
> > Cheers,
> > peter
> >
> > -Original Message-
> > From: wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org
> > [mailto:wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Chris
> > Keating
> > Sent: 19 December 2014 01:47 PM
> > To: Wikimedia Mailing List
> > Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email
> >
> > I have to say, I don't see anything remotely objectionable in that email.
> > Bold italicised text on a yellow background might not win any design
> > awards but effective fundraising often doesn't win design awards.*
> >
> > I am not 100% sure how much donors care how soon our fundraiser ends
> (these days at least, a few years ago they did get fed up with the
> perpetual Jimmy banners). However talking about that does give a sense of
> urgency to the copy, which again is a key part of fundraising that actually
> raises money.
> >
> > It is of course a reasonable point of view that the WMF and Wikimedia
> movement have too much money and shouldn't really try to raise any more. If
> you hold that view then I suppose it's reasonable to ask the fundraising
> team to make their emails more inept. However, I don't think that is a
> sensible view to take at the moment (or, probably, ever).
> >
> > Chris
> >
> > *(Actually, the only fundraising industry award I've ever been
> > involved in winning were for things that looked very nice, but that
> > doesn't disprove the general principle)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 11:08 PM, Liam Wyatt 
> wrote:
> >>
> >> This email was sent by WMF fundraising today.
> >> I'm embarrassed. Read the email first, then I'll tell you why, below.
> >>
> >> *Da:* "Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia" 
> >> *Data:* 17 December 2014 10:15:56 pm GMT+1
> >> *A: [email address removed]*
> >> *Oggetto:* *Our final email*
> >> *Rispondi a:* don...@wikimedia.org
> >>
> >> *If all our past donors simply gave again today, we wouldn't have to
> >> worry about fundraising for the rest of the year.*
> >>
> >> Dear [name removed],
> >>
> >> This is the last email reminder you'll receive. We hope the response
> >> to today's email will let us end the fundraiser. Please take one
> >> minute to keep Wikipedia online and ad-free another year <
> >> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=N
> >> z
> >> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >> >
> >> .
> >>
> >> To protect our independence, we'll never run ads. We receive no
> >> government funds. We survive on donations from our readers. If all
> >> our past donors simply gave again today, we could end the fundraiser.
> >> Please help us forget fundraising and get back to improving Wikipedia.
> >>
> >> We are deeply grateful for your past support. This year, please
> >> consider making another donation to protect and sustain Wikipedia <
> >> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=N
> >> z
> >> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >> >
> >> .
> >>
> >> https://donate.wikimedia.org
> >> <
> >> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=N
> >> z
> >> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >> >
> >>
> >> Thank you,
> >> Jimmy Wales
> >> Wikipedia Founder
> >>
> >> PS: Less than 1% of our readers donate enough to keep Wikipedia running.
> >> Your contribution counts!
> >> *DONATE NOW »*
> >> <
> >> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=N
> >> z
> >> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >> >
> >> --
> >>
> >>
> >> "our final email"?
> >> This is the last email reminder you'll receive"?
> >> Surely that should be qualified with "... this year."??
> >> If that weren't embarrassing, what about...
> >>
> >>- Using *bold* AND *italics *AND yellow backgroud colouring all at
> the
> >>same time in the heading.
> >>- Sending an email on the 18th of December saying that if "ALL past
> >>donors simply gave AGAIN today" [my emphasis] then you wouldn't
> >> need to do
> >>any more fundraising "for the rest of the year", i.e. for 2 weeks!!
> >>- On the one had it says "we'll never run ads" but in the sentence
> >>immediately beforehand pleads help to us stay "ad-free another year".
> >>- Does the phrase "Less than 1% of our readers donate enough to keep
> >>Wikipedia running" mean a) that less than 1% of readers d

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[Peter Southwood]

I can only assume this is intended as some form of humour, but I don’t get it.
Cheers,
Peter

-Original Message-
From: wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org 
[mailto:wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of David Gerard
Sent: 19 December 2014 02:25 PM
To: Wikimedia Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

Everyone who speaks English is American, particularly the English.

On 19 December 2014 at 12:21, Peter Southwood  
wrote:
> Are you by any chance American?
> Cheers,
> peter
>
> -Original Message-
> From: wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org 
> [mailto:wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Chris 
> Keating
> Sent: 19 December 2014 01:47 PM
> To: Wikimedia Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email
>
> I have to say, I don't see anything remotely objectionable in that email.
> Bold italicised text on a yellow background might not win any design 
> awards but effective fundraising often doesn't win design awards.*
>
> I am not 100% sure how much donors care how soon our fundraiser ends (these 
> days at least, a few years ago they did get fed up with the perpetual Jimmy 
> banners). However talking about that does give a sense of urgency to the 
> copy, which again is a key part of fundraising that actually raises money.
>
> It is of course a reasonable point of view that the WMF and Wikimedia 
> movement have too much money and shouldn't really try to raise any more. If 
> you hold that view then I suppose it's reasonable to ask the fundraising team 
> to make their emails more inept. However, I don't think that is a sensible 
> view to take at the moment (or, probably, ever).
>
> Chris
>
> *(Actually, the only fundraising industry award I've ever been 
> involved in winning were for things that looked very nice, but that 
> doesn't disprove the general principle)
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 11:08 PM, Liam Wyatt  wrote:
>>
>> This email was sent by WMF fundraising today.
>> I'm embarrassed. Read the email first, then I'll tell you why, below.
>>
>> *Da:* "Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia" 
>> *Data:* 17 December 2014 10:15:56 pm GMT+1
>> *A: [email address removed]*
>> *Oggetto:* *Our final email*
>> *Rispondi a:* don...@wikimedia.org
>>
>> *If all our past donors simply gave again today, we wouldn't have to 
>> worry about fundraising for the rest of the year.*
>>
>> Dear [name removed],
>>
>> This is the last email reminder you'll receive. We hope the response 
>> to today's email will let us end the fundraiser. Please take one 
>> minute to keep Wikipedia online and ad-free another year < 
>> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=N
>> z
>> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
>> >
>> .
>>
>> To protect our independence, we'll never run ads. We receive no 
>> government funds. We survive on donations from our readers. If all 
>> our past donors simply gave again today, we could end the fundraiser.
>> Please help us forget fundraising and get back to improving Wikipedia.
>>
>> We are deeply grateful for your past support. This year, please 
>> consider making another donation to protect and sustain Wikipedia < 
>> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=N
>> z
>> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
>> >
>> .
>>
>> https://donate.wikimedia.org
>> <
>> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=N
>> z
>> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
>> >
>>
>> Thank you,
>> Jimmy Wales
>> Wikipedia Founder
>>
>> PS: Less than 1% of our readers donate enough to keep Wikipedia running.
>> Your contribution counts!
>> *DONATE NOW »*
>> <
>> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=N
>> z
>> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
>> >
>> --
>>
>>
>> "our final email"?
>> This is the last email reminder you'll receive"?
>> Surely that should be qualified with "... this year."??
>> If that weren't embarrassing, what about...
>>
>>- Using *bold* AND *italics *AND yellow backgroud colouring all at the
>>same time in the heading.
>>- Sending an email on the 18th of December saying that if "ALL past
>>donors simply gave AGAIN today" [my emphasis] then you wouldn't 
>> need to do
>>any more fundraising "for the rest of the year", i.e. for 2 weeks!!
>>- On the one had it says "we'll never run ads" but in the sentence
>>immediately beforehand pleads help to us stay "ad-free another year".
>>- Does the phrase "Less than 1% of our readers donate enough to keep
>>Wikipedia running" mean a) that less than 1% of readers donate, which is
>>enough to keep us running, or b) that less than 1% of readers who have
>>donated, donated enough to keep us running (implying that the 
>> other 99% of
>>donors didn't donate enough)?
>>- Finally, this email is addressed from Jimmy, but when you receive a
>>"thank you for donating" 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[Chris Keating]

> Are you by any chance American?
> Cheers,
> peter
>

No, I'm English. :)

Chris
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[David Gerard]

Everyone who speaks English is American, particularly the English.

On 19 December 2014 at 12:21, Peter Southwood
 wrote:
> Are you by any chance American?
> Cheers,
> peter
>
> -Original Message-
> From: wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org 
> [mailto:wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Chris Keating
> Sent: 19 December 2014 01:47 PM
> To: Wikimedia Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email
>
> I have to say, I don't see anything remotely objectionable in that email.
> Bold italicised text on a yellow background might not win any design awards 
> but effective fundraising often doesn't win design awards.*
>
> I am not 100% sure how much donors care how soon our fundraiser ends (these 
> days at least, a few years ago they did get fed up with the perpetual Jimmy 
> banners). However talking about that does give a sense of urgency to the 
> copy, which again is a key part of fundraising that actually raises money.
>
> It is of course a reasonable point of view that the WMF and Wikimedia 
> movement have too much money and shouldn't really try to raise any more. If 
> you hold that view then I suppose it's reasonable to ask the fundraising team 
> to make their emails more inept. However, I don't think that is a sensible 
> view to take at the moment (or, probably, ever).
>
> Chris
>
> *(Actually, the only fundraising industry award I've ever been involved in 
> winning were for things that looked very nice, but that doesn't disprove the 
> general principle)
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 11:08 PM, Liam Wyatt  wrote:
>>
>> This email was sent by WMF fundraising today.
>> I'm embarrassed. Read the email first, then I'll tell you why, below.
>>
>> *Da:* "Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia" 
>> *Data:* 17 December 2014 10:15:56 pm GMT+1
>> *A: [email address removed]*
>> *Oggetto:* *Our final email*
>> *Rispondi a:* don...@wikimedia.org
>>
>> *If all our past donors simply gave again today, we wouldn't have to
>> worry about fundraising for the rest of the year.*
>>
>> Dear [name removed],
>>
>> This is the last email reminder you'll receive. We hope the response
>> to today's email will let us end the fundraiser. Please take one
>> minute to keep Wikipedia online and ad-free another year <
>> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=Nz
>> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
>> >
>> .
>>
>> To protect our independence, we'll never run ads. We receive no
>> government funds. We survive on donations from our readers. If all our
>> past donors simply gave again today, we could end the fundraiser.
>> Please help us forget fundraising and get back to improving Wikipedia.
>>
>> We are deeply grateful for your past support. This year, please
>> consider making another donation to protect and sustain Wikipedia <
>> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=Nz
>> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
>> >
>> .
>>
>> https://donate.wikimedia.org
>> <
>> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=Nz
>> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
>> >
>>
>> Thank you,
>> Jimmy Wales
>> Wikipedia Founder
>>
>> PS: Less than 1% of our readers donate enough to keep Wikipedia running.
>> Your contribution counts!
>> *DONATE NOW »*
>> <
>> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=Nz
>> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
>> >
>> --
>>
>>
>> "our final email"?
>> This is the last email reminder you'll receive"?
>> Surely that should be qualified with "... this year."??
>> If that weren't embarrassing, what about...
>>
>>- Using *bold* AND *italics *AND yellow backgroud colouring all at the
>>same time in the heading.
>>- Sending an email on the 18th of December saying that if "ALL past
>>donors simply gave AGAIN today" [my emphasis] then you wouldn't
>> need to do
>>any more fundraising "for the rest of the year", i.e. for 2 weeks!!
>>- On the one had it says "we'll never run ads" but in the sentence
>>immediately beforehand pleads help to us stay "ad-free another year".
>>- Does the phrase "Less than 1% of our readers donate enough to keep
>>Wikipedia running" mean a) that less than 1% of readers donate, which is
>>enough to keep us running, or b) that less than 1% of readers who have
>>donated, donated enough to keep us running (implying that the other
>> 99% of
>>donors didn't donate enough)?
>>- Finally, this email is addressed from Jimmy, but when you receive a
>>"thank you for donating" email, it's addressed from Lila. [I should note
>>that the thank you for donating email IS very positive and
>>mission-oriented].
>>
>>
>> *Effectiveness != Efficiency*
>> One of the official WMF Fundraising principles
>>  is "*minimal
>> disruption*...aim to raise money from donors *effectively*" [emphasis
>> is or

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[Peter Southwood]

Are you by any chance American?
Cheers,
peter

-Original Message-
From: wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org 
[mailto:wikimedia-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Chris Keating
Sent: 19 December 2014 01:47 PM
To: Wikimedia Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

I have to say, I don't see anything remotely objectionable in that email.
Bold italicised text on a yellow background might not win any design awards but 
effective fundraising often doesn't win design awards.*

I am not 100% sure how much donors care how soon our fundraiser ends (these 
days at least, a few years ago they did get fed up with the perpetual Jimmy 
banners). However talking about that does give a sense of urgency to the copy, 
which again is a key part of fundraising that actually raises money.

It is of course a reasonable point of view that the WMF and Wikimedia movement 
have too much money and shouldn't really try to raise any more. If you hold 
that view then I suppose it's reasonable to ask the fundraising team to make 
their emails more inept. However, I don't think that is a sensible view to take 
at the moment (or, probably, ever).

Chris

*(Actually, the only fundraising industry award I've ever been involved in 
winning were for things that looked very nice, but that doesn't disprove the 
general principle)





On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 11:08 PM, Liam Wyatt  wrote:
>
> This email was sent by WMF fundraising today.
> I'm embarrassed. Read the email first, then I'll tell you why, below.
>
> *Da:* "Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia" 
> *Data:* 17 December 2014 10:15:56 pm GMT+1
> *A: [email address removed]*
> *Oggetto:* *Our final email*
> *Rispondi a:* don...@wikimedia.org
>
> *If all our past donors simply gave again today, we wouldn't have to 
> worry about fundraising for the rest of the year.*
>
> Dear [name removed],
>
> This is the last email reminder you'll receive. We hope the response 
> to today's email will let us end the fundraiser. Please take one 
> minute to keep Wikipedia online and ad-free another year <
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=Nz
> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >
> .
>
> To protect our independence, we'll never run ads. We receive no 
> government funds. We survive on donations from our readers. If all our 
> past donors simply gave again today, we could end the fundraiser. 
> Please help us forget fundraising and get back to improving Wikipedia.
>
> We are deeply grateful for your past support. This year, please 
> consider making another donation to protect and sustain Wikipedia <
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=Nz
> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >
> .
>
> https://donate.wikimedia.org
> <
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=Nz
> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >
>
> Thank you,
> Jimmy Wales
> Wikipedia Founder
>
> PS: Less than 1% of our readers donate enough to keep Wikipedia running.
> Your contribution counts!
> *DONATE NOW »*
> <
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=Nz
> U3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >
> --
>
>
> "our final email"?
> This is the last email reminder you'll receive"?
> Surely that should be qualified with "... this year."??
> If that weren't embarrassing, what about...
>
>- Using *bold* AND *italics *AND yellow backgroud colouring all at the
>same time in the heading.
>- Sending an email on the 18th of December saying that if "ALL past
>donors simply gave AGAIN today" [my emphasis] then you wouldn't 
> need to do
>any more fundraising "for the rest of the year", i.e. for 2 weeks!!
>- On the one had it says "we'll never run ads" but in the sentence
>immediately beforehand pleads help to us stay "ad-free another year".
>- Does the phrase "Less than 1% of our readers donate enough to keep
>Wikipedia running" mean a) that less than 1% of readers donate, which is
>enough to keep us running, or b) that less than 1% of readers who have
>donated, donated enough to keep us running (implying that the other 
> 99% of
>donors didn't donate enough)?
>- Finally, this email is addressed from Jimmy, but when you receive a
>"thank you for donating" email, it's addressed from Lila. [I should note
>that the thank you for donating email IS very positive and
>mission-oriented].
>
>
> *Effectiveness != Efficiency*
> One of the official WMF Fundraising principles 
>  is "*minimal 
> disruption*...aim to raise money from donors *effectively*" [emphasis 
> is original].
> I believe that this wording has been interpreted by the fundraising 
> team to mean *"*do the fundraising as quickly as possible". However, I 
> contest that "less disruption" and "more effective" is not the same as 
> "shorter fundraiser". i.e.: 

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[Chris Keating]

I have to say, I don't see anything remotely objectionable in that email.
Bold italicised text on a yellow background might not win any design awards
but effective fundraising often doesn't win design awards.*

I am not 100% sure how much donors care how soon our fundraiser ends (these
days at least, a few years ago they did get fed up with the perpetual Jimmy
banners). However talking about that does give a sense of urgency to the
copy, which again is a key part of fundraising that actually raises money.

It is of course a reasonable point of view that the WMF and Wikimedia
movement have too much money and shouldn't really try to raise any more. If
you hold that view then I suppose it's reasonable to ask the fundraising
team to make their emails more inept. However, I don't think that is a
sensible view to take at the moment (or, probably, ever).

Chris

*(Actually, the only fundraising industry award I've ever been involved in
winning were for things that looked very nice, but that doesn't disprove
the general principle)





On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 11:08 PM, Liam Wyatt  wrote:
>
> This email was sent by WMF fundraising today.
> I'm embarrassed. Read the email first, then I'll tell you why, below.
>
> *Da:* "Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia" 
> *Data:* 17 December 2014 10:15:56 pm GMT+1
> *A: [email address removed]*
> *Oggetto:* *Our final email*
> *Rispondi a:* don...@wikimedia.org
>
> *If all our past donors simply gave again today, we wouldn't have to worry
> about fundraising for the rest of the year.*
>
> Dear [name removed],
>
> This is the last email reminder you'll receive. We hope the response to
> today's email will let us end the fundraiser. Please take one minute to
> keep Wikipedia online and ad-free another year
> <
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=NzU3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >
> .
>
> To protect our independence, we'll never run ads. We receive no government
> funds. We survive on donations from our readers. If all our past donors
> simply gave again today, we could end the fundraiser. Please help us forget
> fundraising and get back to improving Wikipedia.
>
> We are deeply grateful for your past support. This year, please consider
> making another donation to protect and sustain Wikipedia
> <
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=NzU3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >
> .
>
> https://donate.wikimedia.org
> <
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=NzU3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >
>
> Thank you,
> Jimmy Wales
> Wikipedia Founder
>
> PS: Less than 1% of our readers donate enough to keep Wikipedia running.
> Your contribution counts!
> *DONATE NOW »*
> <
> http://links.email.donate.wikimedia.org/ctt?kn=3&ms=NDc2NDYzOTUS1&r=NzU3Mzc1MDY0NjcS1&b=0&j=NTgzMzA0NDgwS0&mt=1&rt=0
> >
> --
>
>
> "our final email"?
> This is the last email reminder you'll receive"?
> Surely that should be qualified with "... this year."??
> If that weren't embarrassing, what about...
>
>- Using *bold* AND *italics *AND yellow backgroud colouring all at the
>same time in the heading.
>- Sending an email on the 18th of December saying that if "ALL past
>donors simply gave AGAIN today" [my emphasis] then you wouldn't need to
> do
>any more fundraising "for the rest of the year", i.e. for 2 weeks!!
>- On the one had it says "we'll never run ads" but in the sentence
>immediately beforehand pleads help to us stay "ad-free another year".
>- Does the phrase "Less than 1% of our readers donate enough to keep
>Wikipedia running" mean a) that less than 1% of readers donate, which is
>enough to keep us running, or b) that less than 1% of readers who have
>donated, donated enough to keep us running (implying that the other 99%
> of
>donors didn't donate enough)?
>- Finally, this email is addressed from Jimmy, but when you receive a
>"thank you for donating" email, it's addressed from Lila. [I should note
>that the thank you for donating email IS very positive and
>mission-oriented].
>
>
> *Effectiveness != Efficiency*
> One of the official WMF Fundraising principles
>  is "*minimal
> disruption*...aim to raise money from donors *effectively*" [emphasis is
> original].
> I believe that this wording has been interpreted by the fundraising team to
> mean *"*do the fundraising as quickly as possible". However, I contest that
> "less disruption" and "more effective" is not the same as "shorter
> fundraiser". i.e.: Effectiveness != Efficiency.
>
> I am sure that these desperate fundraising emails/banners are *efficient
> *at
> getting the most amount of money as fast as possible (they have been honed
> with excellent A/B testing), but, they achieve this by sacrificing the core
> WMF fundraising principle of being *minimally disruptive. *In fact, t

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[Andreas Kolbe]

On Thu, Dec 18, 2014 at 11:08 PM, Liam Wyatt  wrote:
>
> *Fundraising "operating principles"*
> I would like to reiterate my call to see us develop some practical
> "operating principles" for fundraising that would give some real-world
> guidelines for website-banners and emails. Board of Trustees member Phoebe
> has done an excellent job of summarising the fundraising conversations on
> this list from the last few weeks here:
> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Fundraising_principles
> I would like the Board to ask the Fundraising team (once this fundraiser is
> finished) to develop these operating principles in a collaborative process
> with interested community members. This is in the hope that in the future,
> the community can help spread the word and feel empowered to join
> the fundraising campaign for our movement, rather than simply hoping it
> will go away as quickly as possible.
>

On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 12:12 AM, MZMcBride  wrote:
>
> In my opinion, the fundraising principles are simply too weak. They seem
> to have been designed with maximum flexibility, which for guiding
> principles would typically be fine, but the fundraising team needs much
> stricter boundaries. Harder rules, backed by a Wikimedia Foundation Board
> of Trustees resolution, are required. Repeated and repeated misbehavior on
> the fundraising team's part makes it clear that the current guidelines
> aren't enough. New rules would specifically address, for example, how
> big and obnoxious in-page donation advertising can be, with hard maximums.
>
> The fundraising rules also need to make explicit that lying is flatly
> unacceptable. Having the first rule be "don't lie" might be the easiest
> solution here, though it's shocking that this needs to be written down.
> The fundraising teams, past and present, regularly lie to our readers in
> an effort to extract donations. Specific examples of lying include calling
> Sue Gardner the "Wikipedia Executive Director", calling Brandon Harris a
> "Wikipedia programmer", and repeatedly making manipulative and misleading
> suggestions that continued donations keep the projects online.
>
> The Wikimedia Foundation recently raised $20 million. Assuming a generous
> $3 million to keep the projects online per year, that's over six _years_
> that the projects could continue operating before needing to ask for money
> again. Contrast with e-mails and in-site donation advertising that
> suggest that the lights will go off soon if readers don't donate today.
>
> MZMcBride
>

On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 12:21 AM, David Gerard  wrote:

> On 19 December 2014 at 00:12, MZMcBride  wrote:
>
> > The fundraising rules also need to make explicit that lying is flatly
> > unacceptable. Having the first rule be "don't lie" might be the easiest
> > solution here, though it's shocking that this needs to be written down.
>
>
> +1
>
> And we're not talking about semantic arguments, we're seeing blatant
> falsehoods.
>
>
> - d.



I share these sentiments, but hasn't it become abundantly clear to you by
now that your appeals are falling on deaf ears? Wake up and smell the
coffee.

In these discussions we have had over the past couple of weeks, I have seen
absolutely no indication to disconfirm the hypothesis that the fundraising
team is doing *exactly* what the Wikimedia board and management wants it to
do, and that they will do *exactly the same thing next year, however much
you object now. *They will weather the storm, and rely on it that everybody
will have forgotten by December 2015.

Unless you are masochists, and thrive on being ignored, I suggest you take
your complaints to journalists and the public, including those currently
suckered into donating under false pretences – because the only way you'll
change this pattern of manipulative campaigning is by making the monetary
cost greater than the monetary benefit.

Social media is that-a-way.
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[Rjd0060]

On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 1:34 AM, Peter Southwood <
peter.southw...@telkomsa.net> wrote:
>
> These objectionable items are all standard advertising practice. No-one
> should be surprised.



Perhaps better is expected of the Foundation that we all support.  Many
people are surprised - I know I was.

We're not McDonalds or Amazon - "standard advertising practices" (curious
as to why you chose the word 'advertising') just might not be appropriate
for a tech/educational non-profit.

-- 

Ryan
User:Rjd0060
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[Andrea Zanni]

On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 9:44 AM, WereSpielChequers <
werespielchequ...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Two weeks ago I emailed the fundraising team with the following note,
> quietly and discretely pointing out an error in their messaging. Sadly I
> haven't had a reply and I think that in the UK they are still using the £3
> buys a coffee for a programmer line:
>
> > Aside from the incidental nature of the appeal, £3 and $3 are very
> different sums of money. When I saw $3 I thought that was an expensive way
> to buy coffees and that the WMF should invest in a kettle and some mugs.
> But £3 for a coffee, now that just looks wasteful, even to someone living
> in an expensive part of London. I dread to think what it looks like to
> someone living in other parts of England, let alone cheaper parts of the
> world. "£3 gets coffee and biscuits for a potential wikipedian coming to a
> training session", that I could defend.
> >
> > There's also the honesty/credibility factor. I doubt I am the only
> person seeing different versions of these ads including different
> currencies, if the sums are this far apart the suspicion has to be that
> none of the figures are to be trusted. Not a great help to our program of
> improving Wikipedia quality and getting such details right in our articles.



That is the problem of having the same message translate in all languages.
If you have a centralised fundraising it's inevitable.
A part for currency (which is a problem), I want to emphasize the fact that
even the best translation maybe dosen "sound right" in different languages
and cultures.

There is for example an American rhetoric that simply doesn't translate in
other languages.
I've translated (as a volunteer) several WMF messages to donors in Italian
and always felt that those messages where made for an American audience.
I would love to see an A/B test with "culture-localized" messages (I think
it is part of the "honesty discourse" above).
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Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[Ed Saperia]

Sent from my iPhone

> On 19 Dec 2014, at 08:44, WereSpielChequers  
> wrote:
> 
> Two weeks ago I emailed the fundraising team with the following note, quietly 
> and discretely pointing out an error in their messaging. Sadly I haven't had 
> a reply and I think that in the UK they are still using the £3 buys a coffee 
> for a programmer line:
> 
>> Aside from the incidental nature of the appeal, £3 and $3 are very different 
>> sums of money. When I saw $3 I thought that was an expensive way to buy 
>> coffees and that the WMF should invest in a kettle and some mugs. But £3 for 
>> a coffee, now that just looks wasteful, even to someone living in an 
>> expensive part of London. I dread to think what it looks like to someone 
>> living in other parts of England, let alone cheaper parts of the world. "£3 
>> gets coffee and biscuits for a potential wikipedian coming to a training 
>> session", that I could defend.
>> 
>> There's also the honesty/credibility factor. I doubt I am the only person 
>> seeing different versions of these ads including different currencies, if 
>> the sums are this far apart the suspicion has to be that none of the figures 
>> are to be trusted. Not a great help to our program of improving Wikipedia 
>> quality and getting such details right in our articles.
> 
> 
> Regards
> 
> Jonathan Cardy
> 
> 
>> 
>>  3. 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> To protect our independence, we'll never run ads. We receive no government
>>> funds. We survive on donations from our readers. If all our past donors
>>> simply gave again today, we could end the fundraiser. Please help us forget
>>> fundraising and get back to improving Wikipedia.
>>> 
>>> We are deeply grateful for your past support. This year, please consider
>>> making another donation to protect and sustain Wikipedia
>>> 
>>> .
>>> 
>>> https://donate.wikimedia.org
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Thank you,
>>> Jimmy Wales
>>> Wikipedia Founder
>>> 
>>> PS: Less than 1% of our readers donate enough to keep Wikipedia running.
>>> Your contribution counts!
>>> *DONATE NOW »*
>>> 
>>> --
>>> 
>>> 
>>> "our final email"?
>>> This is the last email reminder you'll receive"?
>>> Surely that should be qualified with "... this year."??
>>> If that weren't embarrassing, what about...
>>> 
>>>  - Using *bold* AND *italics *AND yellow backgroud colouring all at the
>>>  same time in the heading.
>>>  - Sending an email on the 18th of December saying that if "ALL past
>>>  donors simply gave AGAIN today" [my emphasis] then you wouldn't need to do
>>>  any more fundraising "for the rest of the year", i.e. for 2 weeks!!
>>>  - On the one had it says "we'll never run ads" but in the sentence
>>>  immediately beforehand pleads help to us stay "ad-free another year".
>>>  - Does the phrase "Less than 1% of our readers donate enough to keep
>>>  Wikipedia running" mean a) that less than 1% of readers donate, which is
>>>  enough to keep us running, or b) that less than 1% of readers who have
>>>  donated, donated enough to keep us running (implying that the other 99% of
>>>  donors didn't donate enough)?
>>>  - Finally, this email is addressed from Jimmy, but when you receive a
>>>  "thank you for donating" email, it's addressed from Lila. [I should note
>>>  that the thank you for donating email IS very positive and
>>>  mission-oriented].
>>> 
>>> 
>>> *Effectiveness != Efficiency*
>>> One of the official WMF Fundraising principles
>>>  is "*minimal
>>> disruption*...aim to raise money from donors *effectively*" [emphasis is
>>> original].
>>> I believe that this wording has been interpreted by the fundraising team to
>>> mean *"*do the fundraising as quickly as possible". However, I contest that
>>> "less disruption" and "more effective" is not the same as "shorter
>>> fundraiser". i.e.: Effectiveness != Efficiency.
>>> 
>>> I am sure that these desperate fundraising emails/banners are *efficient *at
>>> getting the most amount of money as fast as possible (they have been honed
>>> with excellent A/B testing), but, they achieve this by sacrificing the core
>>> WMF fundraising principle of being *minimally disruptive. *In fact, they
>>> actually appear to be following a principle of being "as *maximally 
>>> *disruptive
>>> as they can get away with, for as short a time as required".
>>> 
>>> Can the WMF to say how "minimal disruption" and "effective fundraising" is
>>> defined in practice, and how they are measured?
>>> 
>>> *Shareable vs Desperate*
>>> On the same day that the WMF communications team release this inspiring and
>>> positive "year in rev

Re: [Wikimedia-l] Fwd: Our final email

[WereSpielChequers]

Two weeks ago I emailed the fundraising team with the following note, quietly 
and discretely pointing out an error in their messaging. Sadly I haven't had a 
reply and I think that in the UK they are still using the £3 buys a coffee for 
a programmer line:

> Aside from the incidental nature of the appeal, £3 and $3 are very different 
> sums of money. When I saw $3 I thought that was an expensive way to buy 
> coffees and that the WMF should invest in a kettle and some mugs. But £3 for 
> a coffee, now that just looks wasteful, even to someone living in an 
> expensive part of London. I dread to think what it looks like to someone 
> living in other parts of England, let alone cheaper parts of the world. "£3 
> gets coffee and biscuits for a potential wikipedian coming to a training 
> session", that I could defend.
> 
> There's also the honesty/credibility factor. I doubt I am the only person 
> seeing different versions of these ads including different currencies, if the 
> sums are this far apart the suspicion has to be that none of the figures are 
> to be trusted. Not a great help to our program of improving Wikipedia quality 
> and getting such details right in our articles.


Regards

Jonathan Cardy


> 
>   3. 
>> 
>> 
>> To protect our independence, we'll never run ads. We receive no government
>> funds. We survive on donations from our readers. If all our past donors
>> simply gave again today, we could end the fundraiser. Please help us forget
>> fundraising and get back to improving Wikipedia.
>> 
>> We are deeply grateful for your past support. This year, please consider
>> making another donation to protect and sustain Wikipedia
>> 
>> .
>> 
>> https://donate.wikimedia.org
>> 
>> 
>> Thank you,
>> Jimmy Wales
>> Wikipedia Founder
>> 
>> PS: Less than 1% of our readers donate enough to keep Wikipedia running.
>> Your contribution counts!
>> *DONATE NOW »*
>> 
>> --
>> 
>> 
>> "our final email"?
>> This is the last email reminder you'll receive"?
>> Surely that should be qualified with "... this year."??
>> If that weren't embarrassing, what about...
>> 
>>   - Using *bold* AND *italics *AND yellow backgroud colouring all at the
>>   same time in the heading.
>>   - Sending an email on the 18th of December saying that if "ALL past
>>   donors simply gave AGAIN today" [my emphasis] then you wouldn't need to do
>>   any more fundraising "for the rest of the year", i.e. for 2 weeks!!
>>   - On the one had it says "we'll never run ads" but in the sentence
>>   immediately beforehand pleads help to us stay "ad-free another year".
>>   - Does the phrase "Less than 1% of our readers donate enough to keep
>>   Wikipedia running" mean a) that less than 1% of readers donate, which is
>>   enough to keep us running, or b) that less than 1% of readers who have
>>   donated, donated enough to keep us running (implying that the other 99% of
>>   donors didn't donate enough)?
>>   - Finally, this email is addressed from Jimmy, but when you receive a
>>   "thank you for donating" email, it's addressed from Lila. [I should note
>>   that the thank you for donating email IS very positive and
>>   mission-oriented].
>> 
>> 
>> *Effectiveness != Efficiency*
>> One of the official WMF Fundraising principles
>>  is "*minimal
>> disruption*...aim to raise money from donors *effectively*" [emphasis is
>> original].
>> I believe that this wording has been interpreted by the fundraising team to
>> mean *"*do the fundraising as quickly as possible". However, I contest that
>> "less disruption" and "more effective" is not the same as "shorter
>> fundraiser". i.e.: Effectiveness != Efficiency.
>> 
>> I am sure that these desperate fundraising emails/banners are *efficient *at
>> getting the most amount of money as fast as possible (they have been honed
>> with excellent A/B testing), but, they achieve this by sacrificing the core
>> WMF fundraising principle of being *minimally disruptive. *In fact, they
>> actually appear to be following a principle of being "as *maximally 
>> *disruptive
>> as they can get away with, for as short a time as required".
>> 
>> Can the WMF to say how "minimal disruption" and "effective fundraising" is
>> defined in practice, and how they are measured?
>> 
>> *Shareable vs Desperate*
>> On the same day that the WMF communications team release this inspiring and
>> positive "year in review" video
>> ,
>> this fundraising email sounds neg