Giving back to the community has been an essential part of eBay since the very beginning. In 1998, with a donation of 107,250 shares of pre-IPO stock, eBay created a charitable fund known as the eBay Foundation™. Today, eBay Foundation remains an important part of eBay and serves as the primary vehicle through which eBay contributes to community organizations. Annually, eBay Foundation provides grants to numerous non-profit groups that are working to make local communities better places to live and work.

eBay also believes that individuals are the backbone of any community. Active involvement is critical to make a community grow and flourish. That is why eBay Foundation encourages and supports philanthropic and volunteer efforts of eBay employees through matching gifts, volunteer grants, and the Champion A Charity program. This program enables eBay employees to recommend non-profit organizations for Foundation funding. Last year, eBay Foundation also began a special initiative that allowed eBay users to recommend a non-profit organization for funding during the December holiday season.

Since its inception, eBay Foundation has contributed more than $8 million to non-profit organizations. The Foundation recently received the Outstanding Corporate Grantmaker Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Silicon Valley Chapter. In addition, the San Francisco Business Times recognized eBay Foundation as one of the Bay Area's top corporate philanthropists.