Wikimedia Foundation

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The Wikimedia Foundation is a nonprofit organization that operates Wikipedia and other free knowledge projects, funded primarily through user donations.

San Francisco, CA
wikimediafoundation.org

About Wikimedia Foundation

The Wikimedia Foundation is the nonprofit organization behind Wikipedia and a family of free, collaboratively edited knowledge projects such as Wikimedia Commons, Wikidata, and Wiktionary. Headquartered in San Francisco, it relies on donations from individuals and institutions around the world to keep its websites online and free of advertising.

A charge described as "PAYPAL *WIKIPEDIA" typically indicates a donation you made to the Wikimedia Foundation in support of Wikipedia or related projects, processed via PayPal. This can be a one‑time donation or a recurring monthly or annual contribution, depending on what you selected on the donation page. The date in the descriptor (e.g., 2026‑05‑14) usually reflects when PayPal processed the donation.

If you have questions about this charge, first check your email for a donation receipt from the Wikimedia Foundation or from PayPal, and review your PayPal account or bank statement for matching amounts and dates. To resolve issues—such as canceling a recurring donation, correcting an amount, or requesting a refund—you can visit the Wikimedia donation help page, contact them via the email address listed on your receipt, or use PayPal’s transaction details to open a support request. Having the transaction ID, date, and amount handy will speed up any inquiry.

Bank Statement Variations

2 known variations

These are the raw merchant codes that appear on bank and credit card statements that we've identified as belonging to Wikimedia Foundation.

  1. Visa purchase PAYPAL *WIKIPEDIA 2474 2026-05-14
  2. Wikimedia Gifsan Francisco

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my statement show a charge as "PAYPAL *WIKIPEDIA"?

This descriptor indicates a donation made to the Wikimedia Foundation (the nonprofit behind Wikipedia) that was processed via PayPal. The word "WIKIPEDIA" appears because the donation page you used likely referenced Wikipedia directly.

Is the "PAYPAL *WIKIPEDIA" charge a recurring donation?

It may be. The Wikimedia Foundation offers both one‑time and recurring (monthly or annual) donations. Log into your PayPal account and view the transaction details or your pre‑approved payments to see whether you set up a recurring contribution.

How can I cancel a recurring donation to the Wikimedia Foundation made through PayPal?

To cancel, log into PayPal, go to Settings > Payments > Manage automatic payments, find the Wikimedia Foundation or Wikipedia donation agreement, and click "Cancel". You can also visit the Wikimedia donation help page and follow their instructions, but PayPal is usually the fastest way to stop future charges.

How do I request a refund for a Wikimedia Foundation donation?

Locate your donation receipt email from the Wikimedia Foundation or the transaction in your PayPal account, then use the contact email or form linked in the receipt or on the Wikimedia donation help page. Provide your name, the email used for the donation, the transaction ID, date, and amount. They generally review refund requests on a case‑by‑case basis.

I don’t remember donating to Wikipedia—how can I verify this charge?

Check your email inbox (including spam) for a donation receipt from the Wikimedia Foundation or PayPal around the charge date. Also review your PayPal account’s activity for a matching transaction labeled as a donation. If you still can’t identify it, contact PayPal support or the Wikimedia Foundation with the transaction details from your card statement.

What are common amounts for Wikimedia Foundation charges via PayPal?

Common donation amounts range from small contributions like US$2–$20 to larger one‑time gifts. The exact amount depends on what you selected on the donation form; occasional campaigns also suggest specific amounts that may appear frequently in statements.

Can I get an official donation receipt or tax acknowledgment for my Wikimedia donation?

Yes. The Wikimedia Foundation typically emails a receipt immediately after your donation. If you need another copy or a consolidated annual receipt, visit the Wikimedia donation help page or reply to your original receipt email requesting a duplicate, including the email address and approximate date of your donation.

How can I update the payment method or amount for my recurring Wikipedia donation?

If your recurring donation is managed through PayPal, you’ll need to cancel the existing automatic payment in PayPal and then set up a new recurring donation with your desired amount or payment method on the Wikimedia donation page. Changes to amount or card details can’t usually be edited directly without creating a new recurring arrangement.

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