In 2015, the WordPress Foundation provided support and guidance for a total of 89 WordCamps, organized by volunteers in communities all over the world. There were 42 events in the US and 47 events outside the US, with 29 of those in Europe. A whopping 18 WordPress communities organized their very first WordCamp in 2015.
The Foundation’s total revenue was $ 2,878,475, the vast majority of which related to the 84 WordCamps that used the WordPress Foundation as their financial entity:
- $2,285,563 — Sponsorship donations to WordCamps (79% total revenue).
- $587,873 — WordCamp ticket sales (20% total revenue).
- $4,894 — Donations unrelated to WordCamps (>1% total revenue).
- $145 — Royalty income (>1% total revenue).
Total Foundation’s expenditures equaled $2,256,529, as detailed below:
- $2,046,400 (91%) related to WordCamps that used the WordPress Foundation as their financial entity
- $119,042 (5%) related to WordPress.tv content production
- $63,533 (3%) related to operational expenses
- $27,554 (1%) spent supporting local WordPress meetup groups (of which $17,190 was for Meetup.com dues)
As usual, major WordCamp expenses were concentrated in venue and food & beverage.
Expense |
Percentage of total expense |
Average |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Food & beverage, including after-parties and speaker events | $867,332 | 42% | $10,325 |
| Venue rental | $620,010 | 30% | $7,381 |
| Event tees and other swag* | $218,240 | 11% | $2,598 |
| Wireless/AV Setup |
$91,177 | 4% | $1,085 |
| International WordCamp grants*** | $79,860 | 4% | N/A |
| Event Supplies | $57,043 | 3% | $679 |
| Printing & signage | $40,869 | 2% | $487 |
| Speaker Gifts |
$31,822 | 2% | $379 |
| Refunds | $23,736 | 1% | $283 |
| Travel scholarships** | $6,788 | >1% | N/A |
| Advertising | $3,686 | >1% | N/A |
| Furnishing rentals | $5,836 | >1% | $69 |
* Classified as advertising and promotion on tax documents.
** The WordPress Foundation occasionally pays travel expenses for commit-level contributors who require financial assistance to travel to WordCamps and speak.
*** The WordPress Foundation helped some 2015 WordCamps that didn’t use the Foundation as their financial entity by forwarding corporate sponsorship payments from companies unable to send them money directly.
The WordPress Foundation also supported the publishing of videos from WordCamps held in 2015 to WordPress.tv by providing video camera kits to WordCamps. These kits include an HD camcorder, tripod, external microphone, SD cards, lavolier microphone, and a hard case for shipping.
The total expenditure of this program was $119,042:
- Video Kit Shipping: $6,558
- Video Kits & A/V Equipment: $6,294
- Web services (livestream & file transfer fees): $1,823
- Video Processing or Videography: $104,367
Major Foundation operational expenses included:
- Legal and accounting fees: $7,260
- Banking fees (which allow us to execute international wire transfers): $7,286
- Insurance: $10,445
- Paypal fees: $37,790