Greater reach, increased interest, but room for improvement in strategic communication: these are the key findings of the fourth community survey conducted by Wikimedia CH in spring 2025. The survey confirms that the community is committed and experienced but also shows that many members and contributors know little about the association’s strategic direction or budget allocation. The newsletter has now established itself as the most important source of information.
Key findings at a glance:
- Wide reach beyond members:
70% of respondents are not members of the association but are nevertheless active – a strong signal of the open structure of Wikimedia CH. - Extensive experience:
85% of participants have been involved for at least one year, half of them for five years or more. - Interest in strategic communication could be developed:
Over half of respondents are not familiar with the association’s strategy, even though it is publicly available. - Newsletter becomes the most important channel:
This is a clear improvement compared to 2016, when most respondents did not follow any activities. - Only a third are active in association activities:
Despite broad involvement in projects such as Wikipedia, Commons and Wikidata, only 33% of respondents are involved in association activities.
Overview
Wikimedia CH conducted its fourth community survey from February to March 2025, primarily based on the 2025-2017 questionnaires for comparison purposes. The survey aimed to gather feedback on the association’s strategic direction and better understand the needs of Wikimedia CH communities and members. With 105 respondents, the survey was distributed in four languages through central notice banners and mailing lists.
Key findings
Community composition
The survey successfully reached a diverse audience, with 70% of participants being Wikipedians who are not association members, demonstrating effective outreach beyond the formal membership. The community shows strong experience levels, with 85% having contributed for at least one year and half having five or more years of experience. Contributors are actively engaged across the main Wikimedia projects, particularly Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikidata.
Membership and engagement
The 31 association members surveyed represent a mix of long-standing and newer members. Members are motivated primarily by supporting free knowledge access and connecting with like-minded contributors. Regarding satisfaction, roughly 60% report being fully or rather happy with their experience, while engagement in association activities involves about one-third of all participants. These patterns provide valuable insights for future member engagement strategies.
Strategic awareness
The survey revealed opportunities for improved strategic communication, with over half of respondents indicating they were unaware of the association’s strategy. Among those familiar with it, satisfaction levels suggest room for enhanced visibility. Similarly, awareness of budget allocation could be strengthened, though this information is publicly available.
The survey revealed varied levels of engagement with strategic and financial matters, with over half of respondents unaware of the association’s strategy and most not aware of spending details, suggesting room for greater visibility. Survey participants show different levels of interest—some are satisfied, some seek more information, and others don’t particularly care about strategy or spending.
Information channels and outreach
A notable positive development is that the newsletter has become the primary channel for following association activities, representing significant improvement from 2016 when most participants didn’t follow any activities. Information adequacy shows mixed results, with responses evenly distributed between those feeling adequately informed, those seeking more information, and those not responding. This suggests opportunities for more targeted communication approaches.
Strategic implications and future directions
The survey provides valuable data for the ongoing 2027-2031 strategy development process. Additional insight will be needed to fully understand the underlying factors behind some of the responses. Key areas for future initiatives include enhancing communication about the association’s strategy and activities, developing more effective engagement mechanisms for the broader community, and exploring ways to better align member expectations with experiences. To this end, the collaborative strategic process that began at Wikipedia Day 2025 will continue to involve the community and association members.
Conclusion
The survey demonstrates robust community engagement with Wikimedia CH’s development process and establishes a solid foundation for strategic planning. The results reveal positive trends such as increased activity following and sustained community interest, alongside opportunities for improvement in communication and engagement. The association is committed to using these insights to guide future strategic considerations and practical activities responsive to community and member needs.
