It is with deep regret that WordPress Community Support must share the news that surplus funds from a 2024 WordCamp were used by an organizer for personal expenses. Despite several attempts to recover these funds, it is now clear that the organizer does not intend to return the money, and the program considers it lost. The total amount taken was approximately $734.
The surplus occurred in a locale where the team managed the money locally, versus through WPCS. To help prevent this from happening again, WPCS will now send Global Sponsorship Grants in several smaller payments. This change in our policy will be effective as of today, September 30, 2025, and will apply to all events managing funds locally.
To expand on the process further, the first payment under the Global Sponsorship Grant program will cover initial event deposits. As the event date approaches and the number of attendees becomes more clear, the remainder of the funds needed can be requested. This process should reduce the occurence of extra money being left over after an event concludes that must then be returned to WPCS.
The following actions are being taken against the individual responsible for the misappropriation:
- A legal report will be filed with the local authority responsible for monitoring ethics and corruption.
- The individual is banned for life from organizing or attending any WordPress events.
- Their .org account is permanently banned, which also removes their access to the Make WordPress Slack.
These measures may seem severe, but the organizer was given multiple chances to communicate and set up a repayment plan. Unfortunately, no effort was made to resolve the issue.
The WordPress events program is built on trust. Organizers are trusted from the beginning, as representatives of WordPress in their communities and as caretakers of event funds. Even when faced with challenges, our aim is to support each other and work from a place of trust.