Experience

Wikimedia Foundation

• United States
• Software Development
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Lead Program Officer, Wikimedia Community Fund and Strategic Initiatives

  • Jul 2020 - Present

  San Francisco, California, United States I work on a collaborative team that leads the philanthropic arm of the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit responsible for Wikipedia and several related open source educational websites. We collectively manage one of the world's largest participatory grantmaking portfolios, working with volunteers and organizations in more than 70 countries, managing programs and projects that contribute to the global open-culture movement, with an emphasis on fostering and supporting diversity. In total, our… Show more I work on a collaborative team that leads the philanthropic arm of the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit responsible for Wikipedia and several related open source educational websites. We collectively manage one of the world's largest participatory grantmaking portfolios, working with volunteers and organizations in more than 70 countries, managing programs and projects that contribute to the global open-culture movement, with an emphasis on fostering and supporting diversity. In total, our programs distribute ~$10 million annually across more than 70 countries. I manage the Wikimedia Community Fund program in the Northern and Western Europe region and the globally lead the Strategic Initiatives program. The first program employs a participatory grantmaking model with a focus on equity, power-sharing and trust-building, awarding approximately $3 million annually to individuals, grassroots groups and organizations that cultivate free knowledge in the region. The second program offers tailored funding pathways in tandem with training cohorts and/or organizational partnerships selected for their potential to deliver high impact for targeted strategic goals.

• Senior Program Officer, Project Grants

  • Jul 2019 - Jun 2020

  San Francisco Bay Area I oversaw the Project Grants programs at the Wikimedia Foundation, awarding approximately $750,000 annually to individuals and organizations with good ideas for improving Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects. As part of our public and participatory grant making process, I led an international volunteer committee through a rigorous decisionmaking protocol emphasizing robust, mentorship-oriented engagement with applicants. Together, we cultivated a diverse portfolio that supported individuals… Show more I oversaw the Project Grants programs at the Wikimedia Foundation, awarding approximately $750,000 annually to individuals and organizations with good ideas for improving Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects. As part of our public and participatory grant making process, I led an international volunteer committee through a rigorous decisionmaking protocol emphasizing robust, mentorship-oriented engagement with applicants. Together, we cultivated a diverse portfolio that supported individuals, grassroots groups and organizations to build, organize, or research new areas aimed at having positive impact on a global open-culture movement, with an emphasis on fostering and supporting knowledge equity. We made awards in four areas: online and offline community organizing, software development and research.

• Program Officer, Individual Grants, Project Grants

  • Apr 2015 - Jun 2019

  San Francisco, California, United States I oversaw the Individual Engagement Grants (IEG) program, and the Travel and Participation Support program. Later, I helped create and served as manager of the Project Grants program. You can read about some of the projects funded through IEG and Project Grants on the Wikimedia Foundation blog: https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/author/marti-johnson/

• Project Coordinator for Grantmaking, Learning & Evaluation and Education Programs

  • Sep 2014 - Apr 2015

  San Francisco, CA I provided programmatic and logistical support to the grantmaking, education programs and learning and evaluation teams at the Wikimedia Foundation. My role was primarily focused on coordinating cross-team planning and communication processes. Frequently, I also managed logistical planning for international events.



Resource Conservation District of San Mateo County (RCDSMC)

• Conservation Project Manager

  • Oct 2008 - Jan 2012

  Half Moon Bay, CA The RCDSMC is a non-regulatory special district to help people protect, conserve, and restore natural resources through information, education, and technical assistance programs. ....................................................... • Managed public outreach for development of 2-County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) in partnership with CalFire • Developed and implemented Green Jobs program for detained youth facility, public high school and community youth… Show more The RCDSMC is a non-regulatory special district to help people protect, conserve, and restore natural resources through information, education, and technical assistance programs. ....................................................... • Managed public outreach for development of 2-County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) in partnership with CalFire • Developed and implemented Green Jobs program for detained youth facility, public high school and community youth center • Worked closely with Executive Director to translate annually identified priorities of the organization into targeted, concrete proposals and communication materials that drove the creation of new programs and projects • Communicated with governmental grant programs and private foundations to investigate funders’ priorities and identify appropriate nexus with RCD action plans • Exercised exceptional diplomacy skills and maintained excellent relationships with diverse partners, often in the context of controversial conservation projects Show less



Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County (RCDSCC)

• Resource Conservation District Regional Coordinator, Agriculture Water Quality Alliance (AWQA)

  • 2009 - Aug 2011

  The Agriculture Water Quality Alliance is a partnership of agriculture industry groups, Federal and State resource conservation agencies, researchers, and environmental organizations working to protect and enhance water in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary through voluntary collaboration with managers of agricultural and rural lands. ....................................................... • Represented 6 Resource Conservation Districts as Steering Committee member for… Show more The Agriculture Water Quality Alliance is a partnership of agriculture industry groups, Federal and State resource conservation agencies, researchers, and environmental organizations working to protect and enhance water in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary through voluntary collaboration with managers of agricultural and rural lands. ....................................................... • Represented 6 Resource Conservation Districts as Steering Committee member for Agriculture Water Quality Alliance • Directed a coordinated effort among RCDs in six counties to achieve regional strategic planning, progress reporting, response to regulatory change, fundraising and resource-sharing • Wrote grant proposals and annual reports, including a federal grant program proposal that received the largest award in the country • Built wiki site to facilitate multi-county resource-sharing among central coast RCDs • Managed project to design and create database to track implementation data from six RCDs over six counties • Led trainings in board fundraising, project tracking and wiki software • Independently coordinated and facilitated bi-annual meetings for six-county RCD leadership collaboration Show less



Planning & Conservation League Foundation - Central Coast Watersheds Program

• Project Coordinator, Coast & Ocean Regional Roundtable

  • May 2007 - Dec 2010

  PCLF’s Central Coast Watersheds Program was directed by Dr. Monica Hunter to establish new partnerships among local and regional government and community-based organizations to protect and restore watershed resources. The Coast and Ocean Regional Roundtable is a regional planning process that supports implementation of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative for the South Central Coast of California through restoration projects, advocacy, policy change, regional planning initiatives… Show more PCLF’s Central Coast Watersheds Program was directed by Dr. Monica Hunter to establish new partnerships among local and regional government and community-based organizations to protect and restore watershed resources. The Coast and Ocean Regional Roundtable is a regional planning process that supports implementation of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative for the South Central Coast of California through restoration projects, advocacy, policy change, regional planning initiatives, etc. I managed logistics and assistant managed design and implementation of three-year collaborative roundtable series for governmental and nonprofit leaders to drive proactive, local-level planning and implementation of the MLPA (legislation with no provision for governmental funding). I also spearheaded development of a wiki site to facilitate multi-regional collaboration on innovative ideas and multi-county resource-sharing. I created corollary training for leadership staff and delivered to many nonprofits whose work touches upon marine conservation. Show less



Upper Salinas-Las Tablas Resource Conservation District (US-LT RCD)

• Conservation Planner

  • Jan 2004 - Jun 2006

  US-LT RCD is a non-regulatory special district that provides services and education to landowners supporting environmental management and stewardship of soil, water and natural resources. ....................................................... • Participated in development and execution of programs addressing diverse priority areas including environmental education for both adults and children, wildlife protection, water quality monitoring and public trail development •… Show more US-LT RCD is a non-regulatory special district that provides services and education to landowners supporting environmental management and stewardship of soil, water and natural resources. ....................................................... • Participated in development and execution of programs addressing diverse priority areas including environmental education for both adults and children, wildlife protection, water quality monitoring and public trail development • Assistant writer, copy editor and data analyst for major action plans, diverse reports and grant proposals • Independently managed public relations project to create calling card documentary about US-LT RCD • Lead role in collecting, recording and interpreting morphological and water quality data Show less