I don't feel that I need them to live; I appreciate TV Tropes more and that's where a donation would go first. They are a nice luxury, but I opt for the non-Wikipedia answers where possible, because Wikipedia tends to explain things in a convoluted manner.
Plus they do make a lot of money and I feel the fundraising copy has been misleading about that.
I feel that the Wikipedia model doesn't work as a non-profit. I'd be happy to subscribe to some paid version where contributors get distributed a portion of the earnings, ala Spotify. Right now, it feels like some contributors get nothing, while some have a happy full time, full salary job. It's brought some good to the world, and I'd like the Wikipedia staff to make above average salaries, but it should be taken fairly out of everyone's pockets.
WTF? You really don't have enough money to support the cause?
Someone need to write Chrome extension to hide this.
Content, occasionally.
Money? Not yet.
> Is their donation request motivating?
Well, obviously not sufficiently to cause me to give them money.