Mariana Iskander, the CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation, which operates Wikipedia, has reportedly stepped down. This announcement comes just two weeks after allegations surfaced accusing the foundation of breaching its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status by allowing misinformation from foreign sources to proliferate on its platform. Iskander has indicated she will continue in her role for a while longer.
An internal memo reveals that a search for Iskander’s replacement is currently in progress. Iskander has been at the helm since 2022.
“I will stay on until a new CEO is appointed,” Iskander informed the staff in the memo, adding, “I hope to welcome my successor by January 2026, which coincides with Wikipedia’s 25th anniversary.”
She explained that her departure has been part of a well-considered succession plan discussed with the board for over a year.
Iskander noted to Axios that her tenure as CEO has seen a significant expansion of the organization’s technological framework. This encompasses more locations, additional data centers, and a greater number of donors.
Furthermore, the platform, which some have described as having a strong leftist slant, has broadened its initiative encouraging the use of its data for economic contributions.
Raju Narisetti, a member of the Wikimedia Board, is heading the search for a new CEO and praised Iskander’s contributions, stating that the foundation has matured greatly during her leadership.
However, the atmosphere around the Wikimedia Foundation isn’t universally positive at the moment.
A recent report highlighted that legal representatives for DC’s Edward Martin have accused the foundation of violating its tax-exempt status.
Concerns about Wikimedia’s tax-exempt status were raised by DC lawyers in a letter dated April 24, suggesting that it could be infringing on federal law beyond just issues of bias.
To maintain its tax-exempt privileges, Martin explained, the Wikimedia Foundation must focus on activities aligned with charitable, educational, and public safety objectives.
Instead, it allegedly permits foreign entities to manipulate information and disseminate propaganda to American audiences.
“Disguising propaganda that sways public opinion as educational information undermines Wikimedia’s mission,” remarked one of the DC lawyers.
Furthermore, Martin pointed out that Wikipedia is primarily governed by a board largely composed of non-American members, which he argued could jeopardize the interests of US taxpayers.
As a result, the Wikimedia Foundation has been instructed to respond to several inquiries by May 15 to determine its compliance with US laws regarding tax-exempt status.
