[Foundation-l] fund drive update - why was the message removed from en.wikipedia?

Thu Jul 22 16:27:54 UTC 2004

I will try to find out when my answers will be posted, so that we can
be prepared a couple of hours in advance.

Angela_ wrote:
> As it was only supposed to be a temporary measure, there is no reason
> for it currently to be up. However, perhaps we should consider whether
> it needs to be a more permanent measure. If the notice is bringing in
> significantly more donations than we normally get, should it be there
> permanently, and just made more prominent during the fundraising
> drives?

In this regard, it is important to remember that if we can balance the
intrusiveness/tackiness of the notice properly against the usefulness
of the money that it brings in, we will have a steadier revenue stream
and not need to rely on "crisis" fundraising calls as much.

I think what we should do is move the notice toward the bottom of the
page, and have it read something like this: "If you found this article
or other Wikipedia articles to be useful to you, please visit our
<a>donation page</a> to find out how you can help support the
nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation."

It will be less prominent there, but I think highly effective.  Even
if it brings in less month than a top-page notice, it will likely
bring in enough that we can delay much longer between major begging.

--Jimbo