Grants:TPS/Learn
The TPS Program is closed and no longer accepting applications. Please review our current programs for funding support, resources, and other guidance.
How the program works
Step 1: Apply
- Read about how the program works and make sure you and your request meet the criteria for support. We encourage you to apply as early as possible!
- Create your application by typing a name for your page in the format of YourName/EventName in the input box provided. Enter all information as requested and save your application page.
- Email participation
wikimedia.org to notify the Participation Support Committee that your application is ready for review. Please include your full legal name in this email (this information will only be used internally). - The committee generally reviews applications once a week. If your request has all the details needed to make a decision, your request will be approved or denied within two weeks, with a message on the discussion page of your request.
- If details are missing, the committee will ask for clarifications on the discussion page of your request (so be sure to add it to your watchlist and check back for updates regularly).
Step 2: Travel and participate
- If your request is approved, the Wikimedia Foundation will send you an acceptance letter, to be signed and returned as instructed.
- In many instances, we can book flights and accommodation for you. We can also transfer funds in advance in some cases, provided you submit your application at least 1 month before the event. Otherwise, we'll reimburse your expenses after the event, once you submit your report with all relevant documentation.
- If you'd like to bring some Wikimedia merchandise to hand out to other event participants, please request some.
- Read our checklist for other handy travel tips!
Step 3: Report
- Submit your report within 2 weeks after the end of the event. Use the button provided on your accepted application to start your report. Or, start it using the input box provided here, naming your report in the form of YourName/EventName/Report.
- In your report, you will be asked to tell us how your funds were spent, and provide a link to one outcome from your participation. Instead of writing a detailed account of the event in your report, we want you to share the benefits of your participation more widely with the community. Your outcome could be a learning pattern to teach others something you've learned, a link to something new that was co-created by you and your fellow participants at the event, or a blog post you wrote to share your experience with others after the event.
- Email participationwikimedia.org to notify the Participation Support Committee that your report is ready for review.
- If details are missing, the committee will ask for clarifications on the discussion page of your request (so be sure to add it to your watchlist and check back for updates regularly).
- Please submit complete receipts and other information as requested so that we can get your funds to you as quickly as possible.
Funding decisions
Eligibility criteria
To be considered for support...
- You must have a Username on a Wikimedia project or an endorsement from somebody with a Username.
- You must be an individual or small group (up to 4 people can apply together, if joint presenters); organizations are not eligible.
- Your application must demonstrate that participation in the event or activity is aligned with the Wikimedia Mission.
- You must agree to the reporting requirements, be willing to sign a Travel and Participation Support agreement, and provide the Wikimedia Foundation with information needed to process your funding.
- We support volunteer participation; participation that is tied to paid work is not eligible for funding.
Selection criteria
When selecting applications, we consider the following criteria...
- Fit with Wikimedia’s strategic priorities: How does participation in the event align with strategic priorities?
- Level of participation: What kind of activities will you be engaging in at the event (e.g. presentation, sprint, workshop)? What will your participation contribute to the event?
- Potential outcomes and impact: What are the concrete outcomes that are anticipated as a result of participation in the event? What impact will participation in the event achieve for the movement?
- Investment: Are the costs of participation well balanced with respect to the potential outcomes and impact? Is the proposed budget reasonable? Have you sufficiently pursued other avenues of support and funding if available?
- Contribution record: Do you have a history of engaging with Wikimedia projects and communities, or will your participation in the event enable significant future contributions?
- Support and endorsement: Do you have endorsements from community members or other event participants? Have the event organizers or other event participants shown interest in your participation in the event?
Attending a Wikimedia event
Are you interested in attending Wikimania or another Wikimedia-organized or Wikimedia-funded event? Many Wikimedia events already have their own scholarships process for supporting attendee travel.
Please check whether scholarships are already available from the organizers of the event you are participating in. Travel and Participation Support funding is not available for Wikimedia-funded events that already have their own scholarships process.
For example:
- Wikimania scholarships are funded separately. Learn more about Wikimania scholarships.
- Most Wikimedia chapters, user groups, or other Wikimedia event-organizers have funds set aside for scholarships as part of planning Wikimedia events (conferences, hackathons, workshops, etc).
- Are you the organizer of a Wikimedia event? Please consider applying for funding to administer your own scholarships via the Conference Grant Program. After all, you know best who should attend your event!
- Many non-Wikimedia events also have their own scholarships or other funding for attendees. We encourage you to apply for those funds instead of Travel and Participation Support if so!