How to Create a Wikipedia Page for a Nonprofit Organization?

At Wikiconsult, we are often approached by employees or volunteers of nonprofit organizations looking to create or update their Wikipedia page.

In this article, you’ll discover why it’s important for a nonprofit organization to consider Wikipedia, when you can have your own page, and how to edit your nonprofit’s Wikipedia article without risking deletion.

Why Should an Association Care About Wikipedia?

What happens when you search for an nonprofit’s name on Google or another search engine?

If the nonprofit organization has a Wikipedia page, it often appears as the top search result—even before its own website.

This boosts the nonprofit’s notability and credibility, which can sometimes help with:

• Securing grants,
• Establishing new partnerships,
• Winning bids,
• Attracting journalists’ interest,
• Convincing donors, new members, or volunteers.

These are the most common reasons nonprofit members reach out to us at Wikiconsult.

Being mentioned on Wikipedia pages related to your industry also increases discoverability, as Wikipedia consistently ranks among the world’s top 10 most visited websites.

When Can a Nonprofit Organization Have Its Own Wikipedia Page?

To have its own dedicated page, an nonprofit must meet Wikipedia’s notability criteria.

There are:

• Specific notability criteria depending on the nonprofit’s field (political parties, sports, cultural, social organizations, etc.).
• General notability criteria that apply to everyone.

Specific Criteria for Nonprofits

Wikipedia’s English-language guidelines for the notability of organizations and companies can be found here.

Different types of nonprofits may have specific criteria, including:

• Sports organizations
• Professional associations
• Political parties
• Religious groups
• Cultural associations

For instance, a professional association may need to demonstrate significant influence within its industry, while a sports federation may require recognition at a national or international level.

General Notability Criteria

If a nonprofit does not meet specific criteria, it may still qualify for a Wikipedia page under general notability guidelines (here).

According to Wikipedia’s policies, an organization is generally considered notable if it has received significant, independent, and sustained coverage in reliable sources.

In practice, this means:

• At least two significant media publications
• Published at least two years apart
• Focused solely on the organization
• Featured in nationally recognized media outlets (not just local newspapers or industry journals)
• Not based on press releases or sponsored content
• Not merely interviews but rather investigative pieces analyzing the organization’s work

These sources will serve as the foundation for drafting the Wikipedia article.

Why Does Another Nonprofit Have a Wikipedia Page While Mine Does Not?

You might notice that some nonprofits have Wikipedia pages despite not meeting these criteria. The most likely explanation is that these pages were created many years ago when Wikipedia’s standards were less strict.

Such pages can be deleted at any time, as Wikipedia regularly reviews older articles for compliance with current notability requirements. Today, it is almost impossible to create a page without strictly adhering to the guidelines.

What Should a Nonprofit’s Wikipedia Page Contain?

When writing a Wikipedia article, it is helpful to look at high-quality Wikipedia articles for inspiration. For example, the one about Manchester United Football Club.

A typical nonprofit organization page should include:

• An infobox with the association’s logo and key details
• Images of events or members
• An introduction summarizing the entire article
• A history section (with possible sub-sections)
• An activities section
• External links (including the association’s official website)
• Categories and portals relevant to the nonprofit’s field

What If Your Edits Get Removed?

Do you know about Wikipedia’s patrollers?

They are users who monitor Wikipedia for edits that do not comply with the platform’s rules. They can undo changes that violate Wikipedia’s editorial standards.

When an edit is reverted, the reason is usually provided in the edit history (accessible at the top right under “View history”).

If an edit is removed, consider the feedback before trying again.

🛑 Do not repeatedly resubmit the same edit without changes, as this may result in a blocked account or the page being locked for editing by new users.

What If Your Nonprofit Organization Is Not Eligible for Wikipedia?

If your nonprofit organization does not yet meet the notability criteria, consider adding a mention of it on an existing Wikipedia page where it is relevant.

This should not be done solely for promotional purposes. Instead, look for a win-win situation where the information benefits Wikipedia readers.

You must support any added information with a reliable source (not your own website or a blog).

Examples:

• Mentioning a political association on the Wikipedia page of one of its founders
• Mentioning a cycling advocacy group on a Wikipedia page about urban mobility policies in its city
• Mentioning a scout organization on Wikipedia’s main article about scouting

Finally, if Wikipedia is not yet an option, consider optimizing your nonprofit’s website and increasing its media coverage. This will help establish its notability and improve its chances of meeting Wikipedia’s criteria in the future.