Omidyar Network

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Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay, and his wife, Pam, established Omidyar Network based on the belief that every person has the potential to make a difference. Since 2004, Omidyar Network has worked with its partners to create opportunities for people to tap that potential, enabling them to improve their lives and make powerful, lasting contributions to their communities. Omidyar Network makes both grants and investments, identifying likeminded organizations to support, scale, and champion to maximize their social impact.

Omidyar Network sees philanthropy as more than a type of funding and as a tool for improving the lives of others, independent of the mechanism. Therefore, the organization uses a wide range of tools in its work, embracing market-based systems and open, web-enabled platforms as key means for making the world a better place.

Composed of a 501(c)(3) and a Limited Liability Company (LLC), Omidyar Network is uniquely structured to work across the social, business, and government sectors. Like a traditional foundation, it makes grants through its 501(c)(3) entity; Through its LLC, it invests in for-profit entities. Inspired by the social impact of eBay, Omidyar Network's work is based on the belief that business can create extraordinary opportunity and value, and that market-based solutions can generate significant social returns. The Network recognizes sustainability, innovation, and scale as hallmarks of the private sector that are critical to addressing the global challenges we face today.

The managing partner of Omidyar Network is Matt Bannick, the former general manager of eBay International.