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Wikipedia is operated by Wikimedia Foundation under a board of directors controlled owners in [[Bomis.com]], and relies on Bomis.com for in-kind support. The foundations three original board members were partners in ownership of [http://bomis.com Bomis.com]. Jim Wales, chairman of the Wikimedia Foundation board of directors, announced after criticism in April, 2004, that he is resigning as CEO of Bomis, but apparently retains financial interests in the for-profit internet company. Bomis.com produces a site titled Bomis Babe Report [http://babes.bomis.com], and maintains what it describes as a libertarian blog site titled Jerk Sauce [http://blog.bomis.com] that features links to right-wing commentary.
Bomis.com, a company founded by Wales, is the largest contributor to Wikipedia, providing building space, bandwidth and technical support. When Wikimedia emerged as a non-profit company , Wales announced its Wikipedia's first independent financial support in December, 2003, with donations reported on-line at Wikipedia of about $20,000, but or as reported in a an April Salon.com article the same month reported , Wikimedia had received $50,000 in donations.
Wales also announced in May, 2004 that he envisions himself as eventually being paid to "run" Wikimedia Foundation. No plans have been announced to hold open elections that would allow Wikipedia contributors or the Wikimedia Foundation to select their own board of directors, to free the Foundation from Wale's control or wean the non-profit from dependence on Bomis.com as the primary financial contributor. Elections in May, 2004, were set to appoint two Foundation members to the five member board, leaving control of the Foundation under the leadership of Wales and his Bomis.com partners.
