From Meta, a wiki about Wikimedia
I really don't like the idea of advertising in a place like this made with the work of so many people. I cannot think of a single way to guarantee that it will not be used for personal profit or for Bomis' profit. Nor I see how can you guarantee the "ethics" of the advertisments in the long term. I understand that part of the software may need some kind of continuous support, but that can be handled very much in the way other free software projects are handled, and they do not involve advertising.
You talk about raising money. Have you explored the possibilities of sponsorship? This means usually a single link somewhere to the list of sponsors and is totally non intrusive.
-- Gonis (in spanish wikipedia)
You have a couple of comments in english in the spanish wikipedia (which is almost stoped after a really big development because of this advertisment issue) in this page
Too often with internet ventures, both capitalist and non-capitalist, we can be faced with funding demands about which members had no previous idea. In many of these circumstances when the demand is made the leadership has already put the venture into a crisis, and only the unpleasant solutions remain available. A short practical question that could come out of this discussion might be: "Why should we suffer advertising that is any more intrusive than necessary for the funds that are needed?
If you think this debate should come under a better title, I'm receptive to having it moved there. Eclecticology
 The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference |
 Ogilvy on Advertising |
 Search Engine Advertising : Buying Your Way to the Top to Increase Sales |
 Tested Advertising Methods (Prentice Hall Business Classics) | ||||
 How Customers Think: Essential Insights into the Mind of the Market |
 My Life in Advertising and Scientific Advertising: Two Works (Advertising Age Classics Library) |
 The Fall of Advertising and the Rise of PR |
 The 33 Ruthless Rules of Local Advertising | ||||
 Designing Brand Identity: A Complete Guide to Creating, Building, and Maintaining Strong Brands |
