The eBay Foundation has announced $10 million in grants this week to support COVID-19 relief worldwide, which increases the Foundation’s contribution to pandemic relief to $15 million. The Foundation tripled its funding in 2019, and this week’s funding is the largest in its history. These new grants will be given to local, national, and international organizations like Kiva, the World Health Organization, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Start Small Think Big, and ICA Fund Good Jobs.
“As we navigate our ‘new normal’ amid COVID-19, we all hear — and say — what an unprecedented time this is, and that is undoubtedly true,” said Allie Ottoboni, president, eBay Foundation in a press release. “And so, we felt it was critical to meet the moment and provide an unprecedented level of funding from the eBay Foundation to underrepresented entrepreneurs and small businesses who make our communities what they are.”
Part of the funding will also be going to Global Give, which is eBay’s annual employee grantmaking program to support small businesses and entrepreneurs.
“eBay has been an important partner to us over the years as we’ve partnered on employee lending initiatives,” said Neville Crawley, CEO of Kiva in the same news release. “We are thrilled and incredibly proud to receive this additional funding from eBay, which comes at a crucial time for small businesses and entrepreneurs around the world needing necessary funds due to COVID-19.”
The Foundation also helped the Silicon Valley Strong Fund in April by donating $500,000 to support low-income residents who have lost wages and facing economic hardship as well as $1 million to Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s regional response and nonprofit emergency funds. The Foundation is also matching employee donations up to an additional $1 million in response to this pandemic.
“This incredibly generous grant from the eBay Foundation will help save small businesses on the front lines of this unparalleled crisis,” said Jennifer DaSilva, executive director, Start Small Think Big, in the eBay Foundation press release as well. “With eBay’s support, Start Small Think Big will be able to ensure that small businesses, who are so often left behind, have critical access to the services they need the most now.”
The eBay Foundation was founded in 1998 and was the first corporate foundation to be endowed with pre-IPO stocks. Thanks to the additional funds in 2020, the Foundation will have now provided nearly $60 million in grants globally.