Grants:Project/Example agreements/Organizations and Groups

The Project Grant program ended 30 June 2021. This page is no longer applicable, and for now, remains as a historical reference for the grant agreement template used for the Project Grant program.

For current grant programs, go to Grants:Start.

Purpose and background

This type of grant agreement is used by WMF to make grants to both incorporated nonprofit organizations and non-incorporated groups. Some requirements in the agreement are specific to organizations and other requirements are specific to groups.

This grant agreement example is provided for information only. They are not intended for use with any specific project or grant, and may not be suitable for the needs of other projects or organizations. These examples do no constitute a grant offer or legal advice. If you receive a grant offer from the Wikimedia Foundation, Wikimedia Foundation will contact you at that time to provide an appropriate grant agreement specific to your project and your organization. While these examples are updated regularly, minor changes do sometimes occur. If you have concerns, you may need to contact the WMF Grants Administrator for the most current version of this example.

Highlights

These highlights are a user-friendly summary of some important parts of the Grant Agreement. They are not part of the Grant Agreement.

Congratulations! We are providing you Grant money for approved charitable or educational purposes.

In return, you agree to:

Submit all grant progress and financial reports to us on time.
Maintain accurate and detailed records about your use of the grant money.
Notify us about major changes in your organization, any conflicts of interest, and legal allegations against your organization or employees.
Comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

You should use the grant money for: charitable and educational activities consistent with the specific purposes of the Grant (as set out in Appendix 1) and the Wikimedia mission.

You may not use the grant funds for: lobbying, support of political candidates or campaigns, voter registration drives, or other propaganda.

If you are unable to comply, we will discuss with you, but we may:

Reduce the Grant funding; or
Terminate the Grant and ask for return of the Grant funds.

If you have any questions, please contact the WMF Grants Administrator <grantsadmin wikimedia.org>

Agreement text

Introduction

This agreement will be addressed to the person/s at this organization or group who will sign the agreement on behalf of the organization or group.

The first paragraph of the grant agreement will be specific to this grant and this grantee and will include details about the grant, including the grantee name, the grant amount, the grant term, the effective date of the agreement. It informs that the Grantee will use this Grant only for the specific purposes set forth in Appendix 1 (“Purposes”).

1. Dedicated Bank Account:

a. Organizational Account: If Grantee is a legal entity, Grantee will account for Grant funds by maintaining those funds in a separate bookkeeping account that is maintained as part of Grantee’s financial records. Grantee must ensure an acceptable finance system that allows for the tracking of all deposits, withdrawals, and expenditures of Grant funds so as to distinguish between Grant funds and non-Grant funds.

b. Joint Account: If Grantee is a group of individuals, Grantee will designate two (2) individuals to serve as its agents. Grantee’s agents will open and be responsible for a joint bank account to hold the Grant funds. The personal funds of Grantee’s agents will not be commingled with the Grant funds.

2. Payments and Funding Requirements:

a. Payment: WMF will pay the Grant in one or more installments on a schedule set in consultation with Grantee, contingent upon Grantee’s compliance with the terms of this Grant Agreement. If WMF pays any costs that Grantee incurs in connection with the Grant (e.g. travel or lodging), WMF may reduce the amount of the Grant funds paid to Grantee by that amount.

b. Funds Transfer: WMF will pay the Grant funds to Grantee by a payment processing service or by wire transfer according to the wire transfer instructions that Grantee provides to WMF. See Appendix 2.

c. Use of Grant Funds: Grantee will use the Grant funds, and any interest earned on the funds, only for charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code (“Code”). Grant funds may not be used to support activities conducted prior to the Effective Date of this Grant Agreement.

d. Return of Excess Funds: Grantee will return any Grant funds that are unexpended within thirty (30) days of the Grant Term to WMF or spend them as instructed by WMF.

e. Termination: WMF may terminate or reduce Grant funding in the event of non-compliance for the following routine performance requirements:

i. The Grantee is misappropriating the Grant funding in a manner that is inconsistent with the Grantee’s mission;

ii. The Grantee has failed to provide WMF with notifications of material changes or with timely and accurate Reports;

iii. The Grantee has failed to maintain accurate and current records of expenditures and make them available to WMF upon reasonable requests for review; or

iv. The Grantee has engaged in illegal activity.

In the event of non-compliance related only to the above routine performance requirements, Grantee agrees to repay within ten (10) business days (i) any portion of unspent Grant funds designated by WMF as of the date of WMF’s notice of termination or reduction; and (ii) a sum equal to any amount of Grant funds expended in violation of this Grant Agreement.

3. Reporting and Notifications:

a. Reports: You agree to publish complete and accurate reports listed below on Meta according to the instructions provided to grantees at https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Project/Report, and you will deliver such other Reports as WMF may request (collectively referred to as “Reports”). You will also submit a link to all reports to the WMF Program Officer, Project Grants at projectgrants@wikimedia.org. You must submit all required Reports on or before their due dates as instructed by WMF.

Monthly Update: You will submit a brief Monthly Update Report within fifteen (15) days of the end of each month of the Grant Term. If requested, you will also engage in a monthly check-in with the WMF Program Officer, Project Grants.

Midpoint Report: You will submit a more detailed Midpoint Report within fifteen (15) days after the end of the midpoint of the grant term. In this report, you will describe your progress and knowledge learned and any other information requested by WMF.

Final Report: You will submit a Final Report within thirty (30) days of the end of the Grant Term. In this report, you will describe the outcomes and knowledge learned, and provide an impact assessment of the Grant and any other information requested by WMF.

b. Follow-up: WMF may request meetings with Grantee to review or discuss Grantee’s activities or Reports. WMF may withhold Grant funds until receiving complete and adequate Reports from Grantee.

c. Notification of Changes: Grantee will promptly notify WMF of any of the following:

i. a a material change in Grantee’s ability to fulfill the Purposes of the Grant;

ii. any financial variation of 20% or more from any line-item in Grantee’s project proposal;

iii. any change in Grantee’s governing body, senior management, or other key personnel, including the individuals who have control of or access to Grantee’s bank account; or

iv. any actual, potential, or threatened legal or regulatory actions; any claims or charges of impropriety; or any alleged regulatory or legal violations relating to Grantee’s operations or organization.

v. WMF may modify the above threshold for reporting a financial variation from any line-item in the project plan by providing Grantee written notice to that effect.

4. Re-granting:

Grantee may undertake re-granting of Grant funds to a qualifying third party, provided that Grantee complies with the requirements set forth in Appendix 3, which is hereby incorporated into this Grant Agreement.

5. Maintenance of Financial Records:

Grantee will keep copies of all Reports and financial records, including receipts and other expense documentation, for at least four (4) years after completing the Grant. Grantee will make its Reports and financial records available to WMF staff or agents at reasonable times for review or audit.

6. Legal Compliance and Governance:

a. Compliance with Law: In administering the Grant funds, Grantee will comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including (but not limited to): anti-terrorism regulations; money laundering, anti-corruption, and anti-bribery regulations; registration, filing, reporting, and disclosure requirements imposed by local governments or local financial institutions; import/export regulations and trade sanctions programs (including embargo regulations); and foreign exchange controls.

b. No Lobbying or Political Campaign Activities: Grantee will not use the Grant to engage in any attempt to influence legislation; to intervene in any election campaign to support or oppose any candidate for public office; to support voter registration drives; or to support any partisan political purpose.

c. Verification and Screening: Grantee will assist and cooperate with WMF to comply with requirements under U.S. laws and regulations as determined necessary by WMF. Grantee will assist WMF as provided in Appendix 4, which is hereby incorporated into this Grant Agreement.

d. Conflict of Interests: Grantee will promptly notify WMF through the WMF Grants Administrator at grantsadmin@wikimedia.org of any actual or potential conflict of interest that arises in connection with the Grant.

e. Tax Obligations: Grantee is responsible for any tax associated with its receipt of the Grant funds. Grantee should consult with its tax advisor if Grantee has any questions about its tax reporting or compliance obligations under this Grant Agreement.

f. Best Organizational Practices: Consistent with local law and to the extent applicable, Grantee will meet the organizational best practices issued by the WMF Board of Trustees in its March 2012 resolution as set out here: https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Resolution:Organizational_best_practices. Grantee agrees to abide by all other existing obligations and agreements between Grantee and WMF, including, as applicable, the WMF trademark policy, applicable WMF Board of Trustee resolutions and statements (including those on movement governance), chapter agreements, and fundraising agreements. Grantee’s failure to comply with other agreements may result in WMF determining that Grantee is not eligible for future grants.

g. Safe Space Policy: Grantee will have a safe space (e.g. friendly space) policy for and to enforce the WMF event ban policy (https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Event_Ban_policy) at any in-person events funded from Grant funds. Grantee will report violations of their safe spaces policy, incidents requiring the removal of an individual from an event, or other concerns about the mental or physical safety of attendees to the WMF Grants Administrator at grantsadmin

wikimedia.org .

7. Translations:

This Agreement is in the English language only, and all versions in any other language shall be for accommodation only and shall not be binding upon the parties. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this English version of the Agreement and any other language version, this English language version shall prevail.

8. No Agency:

This Agreement creates a grantor-grantee relationship, and does not create any employment or agency relationship, partnership, or joint venture between Grantee and WMF. Grantee will not represent otherwise to anyone.

9. Limitation of Liability:

In no event will either party be liable to the other party for any indirect, special, incidental, punitive, or consequential losses or damages arising out of or in connection with this Grant Agreement.

10. Notice:

Grantee will publish notices, Reports, and other information in the manner and time set out in this Grant Agreement. Grantee will provide notices, Reports, and other information to WMF by sending an email (with appropriate links to the relevant materials) to the WMF Grants Administrator at grantsadmin wikimedia.org at the time they are due.

11. Waiver:

Failure to enforce any provision shall not constitute a waiver. All terms, conditions and obligations under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect at all times during the duration of this Agreement except where otherwise amended or modified by mutual written agreement.

12. Choice of Law:

This Grant Agreement is governed by and must be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, USA, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. The jurisdictional venue for any legal proceedings involving this Grant Agreement is in any appropriate state or federal court located in San Francisco County, and each party waives any objection based on jurisdiction or venue.

13. Final Agreement:

Grantee and WMF may execute this Grant Agreement in counterparts. This Grant Agreement may only be amended by a written agreement signed by both parties. This Grant Agreement supersedes any prior oral or written agreements and constitutes the entire agreement between the parties concerning the Grant. WMF has not agreed to provide Grantee with any funds except as set forth in this Grant Agreement.

Signature page

The signature page will follow the last section and will include instructions for returning the agreement, a signature from a WMF representative and a place for the grantee representative to add their signature, name, title and the date.

Appendices

Appendix 1: Purposes of the Grant

Your program officer or the grants administrator will provide your grant details in the appendix, which is based on the information you provided in your grant submission. It also links to the URL of your approved submission.

Full project name: This will be the name of your project as it appears on your approved grant submission.

Date of approval: This date is recorded by the grant administrator and in the history of your approved grant submission. Changes to your grant submission after this date may not be included in this grant agreement unless you have notified WMF of these changes and they have been approved in writing.

Start date: This is the date listed in your approved grant submission, and confirmed by the grants administrator.

Completion date: This is the date listed in your approved grant submission, and confirmed by the grants administrator.

URL of the approved grant submission: This will be a link to your approved grant submission.

Project goal:

This information will be pulled from your approved grant proposal. It may be summarized by your program officer or the grants administrator, since this appendix is usually between one and two pages long. This section describes what you will achieve through your project.

Project scope and list of activities:

This information will be pulled from your approved grant proposal. It may be summarized by your program officer or the grants administrator, since this appendix is usually between one and two pages long. This section describes what you will do to complete your project.

Appendix 2: Wire Transfer Information

The form in this appendix is included for your information. You do not need to complete it here if you have already returned a completed copy to the grants administrator.

Congratulations on your approved grant submission! Please complete this form, which we will use to send you funds for this grant and future grants, and return it to the grants administrator. It is very important that you complete this entire form, and that you check with your banking institution to be sure that this information is complete and accurate, and also that you may receive a wire transfer from the US. Within the US, we may also send grant funds by check, but you will still need to provide your bank account information below and meet the requirements listed here. Individuals receiving grants (except Travel and Participation grantees) are encouraged to establish a separate project-specific account used only for your project whenever that option is available. In some cases we may also consider sending funds to an individual's personal account, but we cannot send funds to an account in the name of a for-profit business. You should receive and store the funds in the same account unless you have received permission from WMF to do otherwise. If you have questions about using this form, please visit http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Bank_information_form.

Name of account holder:
Address of account holder:
What is this account used for?
List all people with access to this account here:
Name of financial institution:
Address of bank branch: (include country)
Bank account number : (IBAN outside US)
SWIFT or BIC code (outside US): / Routing number or ABA (within US):
Tax ID if required in your country:
Preferred currency for grants:

Please attach any special instructions to this form and bring them to the attention of the grants administrator. 'Note about bank fees and documents: If you need to be reimbursed for bank fees, please determine the exact amount to be charged by your bank and contact the grants administrator before any grant funds are sent. If you require additional documents along with the funds transfer for your records, please let the grants administrator know now.

Appendix 3: Re-Granting of Funds

If Grantee uses the Grant funds to make a grant to any organization that has an IRS determination letter recognizing it as a public charity described in Sections 509(a)(1), (2) or (3) of the Code, Grantee must maintain a written record setting forth the terms and conditions of the grant, which record must be made available to WMF upon request.
2. If Grantee uses the Grant funds to make a grant to any organization that does not have an IRS determination letter recognizing it as a public charity described in Sections 509(a)(1), (2) or (3) of the Code, Grantee shall:
- Require the recipient organization to use the Grant funds to achieve the Mission and Purposes of the Grant;
- Enter into a written grant agreement with the recipient organization that requires such organization to use the Grant funds in a manner consistent with the requirements of section 501(c)(3) of the Code;
- Conduct appropriate oversight to ensure that the recipient organization uses the Grant funds for their intended purposes;
- Require the recipient organization to provide Grantee with written reports, no less frequently than annually, describing how the recipient organization expended the funds;
- Make copies of such grant agreement and written reports available to WMF upon request; and
- In the event of any misuse of Grant funds by the recipient organization, make reasonable attempts to have the Grant funds restored to their original purpose.
If Grantee uses the Grant funds to make a grant to an individual for travel, study, or other similar purposes, Grantee must:
- Ensure that such Grant funds are used to achieve the Mission and Purposes of the Grant;
- Ensure that such grant is consistent with the requirements of section 501(c)(3) of the Code;
- Conduct appropriate oversight to ensure that the individual uses the funds for their intended purposes;
- Maintain a written record setting forth the terms and conditions of the grant, which record will be made available to WMF upon request; and
- In the event of any misuse of grant funds by the recipient, make reasonable attempts to have the Grant funds restored to their original purpose.

Appendix 4: Verification and Screening

If WMF determines it necessary for compliance with U.S. laws or regulations, upon request of WMF, Grantee agrees to provide identifying information, including the full and correct names (in English and the language of origin); addresses; dates of birth; nationality; and citizenship of (1) any individuals who have control of, have access to, or are account holders on the dedicated bank account where the Grant funds are deposited and maintained; (2) any individuals who administer the Grant or this Grant Agreement; and (3) any individuals who serve as the Grantee’s trustees, directors, officers, or key employees. As requested by WMF, the Grantee agrees to provide valid photographic identification for such individuals.
Grantee agrees to provide a written statement setting out a description and identifying information of the dedicated bank account (as described in §1 of this Grant Agreement) that will receive and handle the Grant funds (with a copy of a bank statement showing the names of the account holders).
If WMF requests identifying information on the above individuals, Grantee agrees to obtain and provide that information in compliance with applicable local laws. WMF may screen such individuals against U.S. government watch lists, including (but not limited to):
- Specially Designated Nationals List, which is published by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control, in order to prevent terrorist financing and to ensure compliance with appropriate U.S. laws; and
- Terrorist Exclusion List, which is published by the U.S. Department of State in order to prevent terrorist financing and terrorist activities.
If Grantee discovers through its own due diligence or through any other means that any individual associated with Grantee appears on one of the lists or may be involved in terrorist activities, Grantee will promptly notify WMF. In no instance will Grantee provide Grant funds to any person or entity that appears on any such U.S. government watch lists or who may be involved in violent or terroristic activities.