← Back to US Funders Directory

Omidyar Network Fund Inc

Annual Giving
$29.3M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.7M
Decision Time
1mo

Omidyar Network Fund Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $29.3 million (2023)
  • Total Committed: $1.94+ billion since inception
  • Average Grant: $174,500
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $650,000+
  • Geographic Focus: National/International (primarily large organizations)
  • Application Process: Invitation only (except Tech Journalism Fund)

Contact Details

Address: 1991 Broadway St Ste 200, Redwood City, CA 94063-1958

Phone: (650) 482-2500

Email: info@omidyar.com

Website: https://omidyar.com

Tech Journalism Fund Applications: https://omidyar.com/tech-journalism-fund-application/

Overview

Omidyar Network Fund Inc was established in 2004 by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam Omidyar from a transfer of funds from the Omidyar Foundation. The organization operates as a hybrid philanthropic investment firm with both a 501(c)(3) foundation and LLC structure, enabling it to make grants to nonprofits and investments in for-profit social enterprises. To date, Omidyar Network has committed more than $1.94 billion to initiatives aligned with their mission to "bend the arc of the digital revolution toward shared power, prosperity, and possibility." The organization operates with approximately 126 staff members and maintains offices in Redwood City, California and Washington, D.C. Michele Jawando became president in 2025, working alongside CEO Mike Kubzansky. In 2024, the organization led a consortium of philanthropies investing in Anthropic, a generative AI company, and created the Data Empowerment Fund to promote greater individual and community control in information privacy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Tech Journalism Fund: $5,000 - $25,000 (rolling applications, US-based journalists only)

  • Supports investigative reporting on technology and society, AI policy, and technology's impact on children and the workplace
  • Applications reviewed on a rolling basis with decisions within 30 days
  • Covers travel, research, fact-checking, multimedia enhancement, data access, and reporting stipends

Reporters in Residence: $50,000 over six months

  • Provides $8,000 monthly stipend plus $2,000 travel budget
  • Supports freelance journalists researching big-picture economic issues
  • Launched in 2022

General Grantmaking: Average $174,500 (2023-2024: average $205,000)

  • Research, convenings, white papers, and general operating support for nonprofits
  • Support for 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations
  • Both project-specific and general operating grants

Priority Areas

Responsible Technology

  • Investing in generative AI for equitable futures
  • Curbing harmful effects of Big Tech
  • Ensuring digital safety and trust
  • Building alternative tech ecosystems
  • Digital identity and emerging technologies

Reimagining Capitalism

  • Building economic systems that are more equitable, sustainable, and inclusive
  • Financial inclusion initiatives
  • Property rights and economic opportunity

Building Cultures of Belonging

  • Strengthening civic and cultural infrastructure
  • Inspiring Americans to build belonging, practice repair, and pursue healing
  • Supporting pluralism across the US

Cross-Cutting Areas

  • Journalism and media
  • Global development
  • Racial justice and equity
  • Arts and culture
  • Work and opportunity
  • Governance and citizen engagement

What They Don't Fund

  • Candidates, political parties, PACs, or Super PACs
  • Unsolicited proposals from unknown organizations
  • Small, grassroots organizations (primarily support large, well-established organizations operating nationally or globally)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Pierre Omidyar - Co-Founder and Founding Partner
  • Pam Omidyar - Board Member
  • Jeff Alvord - Managing Director, The Omidyar Group
  • Pat Christen - Managing Director, The Omidyar Group
  • Dr. Marta L. Tellado - Board Member (added 2023)
  • Mona Sutphen - Board Member (added 2023)
  • Mike Kubzansky - CEO

Executive Leadership

  • Michele Jawando - President (2025), formerly Senior Vice President for Programs (2023)
  • Mike Kubzansky - CEO (as of 2022)

The organization's staff brings expertise in impact investing, technology policy, law, startup and industry leadership, economics, business strategy, research, social science, community organizing, journalism, and creative arts.

On their investment philosophy: Omidyar Network defines philanthropy broadly as "improving the lives of others, independent of the mechanism," which informs their dual-checkbook approach to influence systems both as an investor advising founders on responsible practices and as a funder supporting organizations shaping technology's culture, governance, and business practices.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: Omidyar Network does not have a public application process for general funding. They explicitly state: "We do not have the capacity to manage and vet the hundreds of unsolicited requests that come in each week."

Exception - Tech Journalism Fund Only: The Tech Journalism Fund accepts applications through their online portal at https://omidyar.com/tech-journalism-fund-application/

For all other funding, Omidyar Network takes a proactive approach, identifying funding opportunities through:

  • Research conducted by their Exploration and Future Sensing Team
  • Introductions by existing partners
  • Referrals from other funders
  • Events and conferences
  • Media coverage

Getting on Their Radar

Based on Omidyar Network's documented practices, organizations seeking funding should:

Monitor their research priorities: The Exploration and Future Sensing Team posts information about current research on their webpage. Grantseekers should consult Omidyar's News and Insights page to stay informed about latest funding priorities.

Leverage existing partners: Omidyar explicitly states they source opportunities through "introductions by existing partners" and "referrals from other funders." If your organization has relationships with current Omidyar grantees or other philanthropies that have co-funded with Omidyar, these connections may be valuable.

Participate in funder collaboratives: Omidyar partners with dozens of other investors and philanthropic initiatives, including The AI Collaborative, New Pluralists, Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund, and Better Than Cash Alliance. Active participation in these collaboratives may increase visibility.

Strategic partnership opportunities: While they don't accept funding proposals, Omidyar suggests organizations can "contact them to explore a strategic partnership" if collaboration aligns with shared goals. Contact: info@omidyar.com

Decision Timeline

Tech Journalism Fund: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis with decisions communicated within 30 days of submission.

General Grantmaking: Program and policy staff primarily lead individual funding decisions, relying on multi-year organizational priorities approved by the executive team. Depending on the size and type of award, an investment committee including representatives from the board of directors and executive, programs, legal, finance, and communications teams may review the funding opportunity. No specific timeline is publicly available for general grants.

Success Rates

No public data available on application success rates. However, by 2025, Omidyar Network had awarded almost $2 billion to more than 700 organizations, indicating a highly selective approach given they do not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for general funding given the invitation-only model. For the Tech Journalism Fund, reapplication policies are not publicly specified.

Application Success Factors

Given Omidyar Network's proactive, invitation-only approach (except for the Tech Journalism Fund), traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on their publicly documented priorities and funded organizations, the following factors appear critical:

Alignment with current research priorities: Organizations should closely monitor the Exploration and Future Sensing Team's research topics. Omidyar explicitly states that grantmaking decisions are sourced from this team's work, making alignment with their active research areas essential.

Scale and national/international reach: Omidyar "primarily supports large, well-established organizations that operate nationally or globally rather than grassroots and smaller outfits." Organizations should have demonstrated capacity to operate at significant scale.

Integration of equity lens: "All grantmaking occurs through an equity lens," indicating that racial justice and equity considerations must be central to organizational approach, not peripheral.

Innovative use of technology: Given their mission to "bend the arc of the digital revolution," organizations should demonstrate sophisticated understanding and use of technology to advance their mission, particularly in responsible and beneficial ways.

Systems-change orientation: Their "Reimagining Capitalism" focus and investment philosophy suggest preference for organizations working on systemic solutions rather than direct service delivery.

Recent funded organizations provide examples of alignment:

  • International Consortium of Investigative Journalists ($4.5 million) - investigative journalism with global impact
  • Anthropic (2024 investment) - AI company with commitment to transparency, accountability, and safety
  • Mojaloop Foundation - open source software for digital and financial inclusion
  • Free Press Action Fund, Consumer Reports, Public Knowledge - policy advocacy organizations
  • Whistleblower Aid - governance and accountability

For Tech Journalism Fund specifically:

  • Priority topics: AI regulation, tech sector policy, impacts on children/youth/families, technology in the workplace
  • Preference for "journalists from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented groups in media and technology reporting"
  • Must maintain editorial independence and disclose funding support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Understand the invitation-only model: Except for the Tech Journalism Fund, direct applications are not accepted. Focus on relationship-building through existing partners, funder collaboratives, and strategic visibility.

  • Monitor their research agenda: The Exploration and Future Sensing Team drives grantmaking decisions. Stay current with their research priorities through their News and Insights page.

  • Demonstrate scale and national reach: This funder explicitly prioritizes large, well-established organizations. Small or grassroots organizations should seek alternative funders unless they have exceptional circumstances or strong partner referrals.

  • Embed equity throughout: With all grantmaking occurring through an equity lens, racial justice and equity must be fundamental to organizational DNA, not add-ons.

  • Leverage the dual investment structure: Understanding that Omidyar uses both nonprofit grants and for-profit investments allows organizations to position themselves appropriately. For-profit social enterprises may be candidates for LLC investment rather than foundation grants.

  • Consider funder partnerships: Omidyar participates in numerous funder collaboratives (AI Collaborative, New Pluralists, Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund, Better Than Cash Alliance). These may provide alternative pathways to funding and relationship-building.

  • Tech journalists have direct access: The Tech Journalism Fund offers the only public application pathway. US-based journalists working on technology and society issues should apply directly through the online portal, with decisions within 30 days.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory