Wikimedia Foundation

The Wikimedia Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 2003 to support and maintain Wikipedia and related free knowledge projects. Founded by Jimmy Wales and others, it operates as the legal and financial steward of Wikipedia, the world's largest free online encyclopedia, which is written collaboratively by millions of volunteers across the globe. The Foundation manages the technical infrastructure, fundraising, and governance of Wikipedia and sister projects including Wiktionary, Wikimedia Commons, and others. It operates on the principle that knowledge should be freely available to everyone, regardless of ability to pay, and coordinates a global community of editors and contributors dedicated to creating and maintaining accurate, neutral, and comprehensive reference material.