eBay founder’s investment model for social impact examined

The economic climate of the past several years has fueled interest and innovation in investments and philanthropy.

Matt Halprin, a former vice president at eBay and now a partner at the Omidyar Network, will discuss Omidyar’s innovative approach to philanthropic investment at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation’s  Gilson Global Impact Series event on Tuesday, June 1, at 5 p.m. at the Fluno Center, 601 University Ave.

eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, and wife Pam, created this hybrid model for a philanthropic investment firm when they founded the Omidyar Network in 2004. The model is based on their founding philosophy that every person has the power to make a difference and recognizes social impact as the unifying criteria for the organization’s investment practices. Omidyar supports innovative market-based approaches across industry sectors with the potential to make large-scale, catalytic and sustainable impact. Since its inception in 1995, the network has committed $325 million of investments.

Halprin will share how Omidyar’s practices transcend typical boundaries between for-profit investing and traditional philanthropy, and why it invests in for-profit companies as well as awarding grants to nonprofit organizations.

Omidyar’s investments in technologies promote openness, accountability and trust across media, markets and government. The Gilson event is free and open to the public. The presentation is followed by a networking reception at 6 p.m. Complimentary parking is available by registering online or by calling (608) 890-1621.

In 2002, UW–Madison alumnus, faculty member and entrepreneur Warren Gilson bequeathed a generous gift to WARF to promote entrepreneurialism in Wisconsin. Since 2005, WARF has hosted a series of events in his name to help connect the university with the Madison community.