Our 2024-2025 Annual Report gives you the people behind the knowledge that we all rely on . These people are editors . And donors . And software engineers . And they all have this in common: They improved Wikipedia not just once but repeatedly throughout the year . Wikipedia benefits the world because of their commitment to knowledge . Knowledge is human . Knowledge is the people you’ll meet in this year’s report .
At the start of 2026, the Wikimedia Foundation welcomed new leadership with the appointment of Bernadette Meehan as Chief Executive Officer. Bernadette joined the Foundation in January, bringing extensive international experience in diplomacy, public service, and global leadership. Most recently, she served as U.S. Ambassador to Chile, and previously led global leadership initiatives at the Obama Foundation. Her career has been defined by a commitment to collaboration, public engagement, and strengthening institutions that serve the public good — an approach that aligns closely with Wikimedia’s mission to ensure knowledge is available to everyone. Below, Bernadette shares her early reflections as CEO.
“In a digital world shaped by algorithms, profits, and self-interest, Wikipedia stands apart.”
More than 340 edits every minute. More than 66 million articles. By any measure, Wikipedia is extraordinary. But its true power isn’t the information it holds—it’s the people who bring it to life.
People are at the heart of everything we do. Volunteers build and steward each article with care and rigor, ensuring knowledge remains accurate, current, and trustworthy. Readers turn to Wikipedia every day in moments of curiosity and discovery, carrying that knowledge into classrooms, conversations, and communities. Donors make it all possible, powering the infrastructure, independence, and global reach of free knowledge.
When I joined the Wikimedia Foundation as CEO in January 2026, I began by listening. I’ve spoken with hundreds of volunteers, colleagues, partners, and readers worldwide. I want to understand why they choose Wikipedia in a world with countless sources of information, and what they need from us to carry this shared work forward.
What I’ve heard is both sobering and energizing: Human knowledge has never been more essential, yet it is increasingly under threat. At the same time, there’s a strong sense of possibility and responsibility: a moment for Wikipedia, other Wikimedia projects, and all who care about free knowledge, to collectively shape the next 25 years.
That belief is at the heart of this year’s annual report theme: “The People’s Knowledge, built by and for humans.”
You already know Wikipedia. In this report, we invite you to meet the people who bring it to life every day. You’ll follow the journey of one article and see the curiosity, care, and collaboration of the many perspectives that together shape the knowledge that informs and connects the world.
ChuckDC62, CC0,
via Wikimedia Commons