Omidyar Network
Template:Short description Template:Infobox company Omidyar Network is a self-styled "philanthropic investment firm," composed of a foundation and an impact investment firm.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Established in 2004 by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Omidyar Network has committed over US$1.5Template:Nbspbillion to nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies across multiple investment areas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The organization is based in Redwood City, California,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with an office in Washington, D.C., United States.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
History
The Omidyar Network comprises a 501(c)(3) and a Limited Liability Company (LLC), and part of The Omidyar Group.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was established in 2004 by Pierre Omidyar and his wife, Pam.<ref name=":1" />
By 2025, Omidyar Network had awarded almost $2 billion to more than 700 organizations, encompassing spending on grants to nonprofits and investments in for-profit companies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
People
As of 2022, the CEO of Omidyar Network is Mike Kubzansky.<ref name=":3" /> Its board of directors include the managing directors of The Omidyar Group, Jeff Alvord and Pat Christen<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and in 2023 Michele Jawando was senior vice president for programs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Jawando became president of the organization in 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pam Omidyar is also on the organization's board,<ref>https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/major-donors/pierre-and-pam-omidyar</ref> which in 2023 added Marta L. Tellado and Mona Sutphen.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Investees
Omidyar Network invested in the microfinance sector, including Unitus Inc.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2009, the Omidyar Network donated $2 million over two years to the Wikimedia Foundation, and during that same time, Matt Halprin of Omidyar Network was appointed to Wikimedia's board of directors.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
From 2012, Omidyar Network has been a partner of Better Than Cash Alliance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2017, Omidyar Network together with AVINA Americas and Avina Foundation founded the Latin American Alliance for Civic Technology (ALTEC) to invest in and support the development in Latin America of civic technology platforms and related scalable technologies.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2020, it invested $150,000 in the legal assistance organization Whistleblower Aid.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2024, the organization created the Data Empowerment Fund to support initiatives promoting greater individual and community control in information privacy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Reporters in Residence Program
The Reporters in Residence program was launched in 2022 and is designed to give freelance reporters financial support (in the form of a monthly stipend) in an effort to increase coverage of deeper and more pressing economic issues.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Spinoff organizations
In 2011, Democracy Fund was established as an Omidyar Network initiative; three years later, it became an independent foundation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Omidyar Network spun out Spero Ventures, a venture capital fund, in March 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2018, Omidyar Network spun off its Governance & Citizen Engagement initiative.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref> The group now operates as Luminate, a global philanthropic organization that invests in civic empowerment, data and digital rights, financial transparency, and independent media.<ref name=":4" /> Melanie Hui is its CEO.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2019, Omidyar Network spun off its Financial Inclusion initiative.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> The group now operates as Flourish and is led by Tilman Ehrbeck, Arjuna Costa, and Emmalyn Shaw. A year later, the organization spun off its education portfolio as Imaginable Futures.<ref name=":0" />
In January 2020, Omidyar Network spun out its property rights initiative as a new nonprofit organization called PlaceFund.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
India
Template:Coi In 2010, Omidyar Network established an operation in India to invest in Indian start-ups seeking to solve problems faced by half a billion people.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>
In July 2023, it was reported the company had $673 million worth of investments under management in Indian and had made investments in companies including 1mg, Bounce, Vedantu, Bijak, DealShare, Doubtnut, Entri, HealthKart, Indifi, M2P and Pratilipi.<ref name=":2" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2022, it was reported that the company was investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation in India over alleged violation on the receivership of oversees donations.<ref name=":2" />
In December 2023, the company announced it would cease operations in India by the end of 2024, saying it had "achieved its primary objective of catalysing impact,".<ref name=":2" />
See also
- Acumen Fund
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- Blue Haven Initiative
- Jasmine Social Investments
- Mulago Foundation
- Mahmud Mir-Djalali
- Peery Foundation
- Philanthrocapitalism
- Skoll Foundation