Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Omidyar Network
Investment firm founded by Pierre and Pamela Omidyar From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
Omidyar Network is a self-styled "philanthropic investment firm," composed of a foundation and an impact investment firm.[3] Established in 2004 by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam,[4][5][6] Omidyar Network has committed over US$1.5 billion to nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies across multiple investment areas.[7]
The organization is based in Redwood City, California,[8] with an office in Washington, D.C., United States.[9]
Remove ads
History
The Omidyar Network comprises a 501(c)(3) and a Limited Liability Company (LLC), and part of The Omidyar Group.[10][11] It was established in 2004 by Pierre Omidyar and his wife, Pam.[6]
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.[12]
People
As of 2022, the CEO of Omidyar Network is Mike Kubzansky.[5] Its board of directors include the managing directors of The Omidyar Group, Jeff Alvord and Pat Christen[13] and in 2023 Michele Jawando was senior vice president for programs.[14]
Jawando became president of the organization in 2025.[15] Pam Omidyar is also on the organization's board,[16] which in 2023 added Marta L. Tellado and Mona Sutphen.[17]
Remove ads
Investees
Omidyar Network invested in the microfinance sector, including Unitus Inc.[18]
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.[19][20]
From 2012, Omidyar Network has been a partner of Better Than Cash Alliance.[21][22]
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.[23]
In 2020, it invested $150,000 in the legal assistance organization Whistleblower Aid.[24]
In 2024, the organization created the Data Empowerment Fund to support initiatives promoting greater individual and community control in information privacy.[25]
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.[26][27]
Spinoff organizations
Summarize
Perspective
In 2011, Democracy Fund was established as an Omidyar Network initiative; three years later, it became an independent foundation.[28] Omidyar Network spun out Spero Ventures, a venture capital fund, in March 2018.[29]
In 2018, Omidyar Network spun off its Governance & Citizen Engagement initiative.[30] The group now operates as Luminate, a global philanthropic organization that invests in civic empowerment, data and digital rights, financial transparency, and independent media.[30] Melanie Hui is its CEO.[31] In 2019, Omidyar Network spun off its Financial Inclusion initiative.[32] 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.[32]
In January 2020, Omidyar Network spun out its property rights initiative as a new nonprofit organization called PlaceFund.[33]
India
 | A major contributor to this section appears to have a close connection with its subject. (September 2025) |
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.[34]
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.[34][35]
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.[34]
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,".[34]
Remove ads
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
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads