[gadders]

I agree, but it's not a shoestring budget. They also seem to run a surplus every year:

The Wikimedia Foundation (WMF) maintains a significant financial surplus and a growing, healthy balance sheet, with net assets reaching approximately $271.5 million in the 2023–2024 fiscal year. This surplus is largely driven by consistent, high-volume, small-dollar donations, with total annual revenue often exceeding $180 million.

[josefresco]

Surplus is a good thing right? Long term stability, responsible financial management, healthy margins? If they said one year "You know what? We're good on donations this year." it would never be restarted.

[gadders]

Very prudent, but far from "operating on a shoestring".