Nonprofit People in the News: Omidyars are No. 1

EBay founder and Honolulu resident Pierre Omidyar and his wife, Pam, have the most impact when it comes to philanthropy, according to a business magazine. The couple was also named to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin's 10 Who Made a Difference list for 2009.

Financial magazine Barron’s, along with consulting firm Global Philanthropy Group created a “25 Best Givers” list of philanthropists whose gifts get the most results. Barron’s and Global Philanthropy Group rated the philanthropists on criteria such as innovation, quality of alliances with other groups, the effects of their giving and success of their projects. The Omidyar Network, the Omidyar’s philanthropic foundation, was named No. 1 on the list of Top 25 Givers.

The Omidyars were noted for running their foundation more like a venture-capital outfit, for investing in businesses and nonprofits that “aim for social change,” the report said. Others on the list include Jeff Skoll, also of eBay; Bill and Melinda Gates; Richard Branson; Bill and Hillary Clinton; Jimmy Carter; Brad Pitt and Magic Johnson.

The couple recently made a $50 million donation to the Hawaii Community Foundation. The donation, believed to be the largest single gift by living donors in the state's history, is to be used over six years to launch several community initiatives. Among these is an effort to provide local families with financial counseling, which will be anchored with an initial $2.25 million grant from the Omidyar Ohana Fund; the launch of a new innovation fund next year; and a six-year challenge grant to help build a new kindergarten-first grade complex at Punahou School.

"The Omidyars are regarded globally as leading philanthropists," said Hawaii Community Foundation President and CEO Kelvin Taketa. "For the foundation to have an opportunity to work with Pierre and Pam, and all the people associated with their global philanthropy, has been an incredible experience for us."

Pierre, best known as the founder of eBay in 1995, attended Punahou in eighth and ninth grades, and was appointed to the President's Commission on White House Fellowships this year. His wife, who grew up in Hawaii Kai, is a major supporter of the He'e Nalu Learning Center, which teaches life skills to at-risk youth through surfing.