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The mission of eBay Foundation is to make investments that improve the economic and social well-being of local communities. eBay Foundation works to fulfill its mission by collaborating with non-profit organizations and funding innovative programs primarily in microenterprise development . Through its Community Grants program, eBay Foundation also provides support to community organizations in areas where eBay employees are located such as the Silicon Valley, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; Vancouver, BC; and Omaha, NE.
Microenterprise Development Grants
eBay Foundation's long-term goal is to help strengthen the livelihood of communities by supporting non-profit organizations committed to microenterprise development. The Foundation views microenterprise development as a successful poverty alleviation and human and economic development strategy. Funding is provided for several areas, including: technical assistance and training; credit and access to credit; access to markets; and economic literacy and asset development. Support is targeted for programs that cater to underserved or low income populations. Past grants have been made to Lenders for Community Development (San Jose, CA) to support a microloan, training and savings program for low-income entrepreneurs. Support has also been provided for One Economy (Washington, DC) which developed the Entrepreneurs Center on the http://www.beehive.org website which supports entrepreneurs looking to start a new business or grow an existing business. Last year, eBay Foundation established an annual prize with The Grameen Foundation (Washington, DC) that recognizes best practices in microcredit.
Community Grants
As an active corporate citizen and community member, eBay Foundation contributes to communities where eBay employees are located. Currently community grants are made in San Jose, CA and the greater Silicon Valley area; Salt Lake City, UT; Vancouver, BC and Omaha, NE. Grants in each location vary in scope and purpose and are made to organizations selected by local employees in consultation with eBay Foundation. In most cases, recipient organizations are those where eBay employees are actively volunteering on an ongoing basis.
Special Initiatives
Periodically, eBay Foundation will sponsor special grant-making initiatives such as programs that support the charities important to eBay users. For the past two years, eBay Foundation has made grants to charities selected by eBay users inducted into the Community Hall of Fame. In December 2003, the Foundation introduced the Holiday Grant Program, through which eBay members were given the opportunity to recommend a non-profit organization serving homeless families and children for a Foundation grant. Information about future initiatives will be posted on the eBay Foundation website.
Grants Process
eBay Foundation proactively seeks out non-profit partners where the size and scope of the Foundation's support can make a significant difference. The majority of non-profit partnerships are initiated by eBay Foundation. Therefore, at this time, eBay Foundation does not fund or accept unsolicited requests for funding.
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