About Us

Founded on the principles of community and exchange of information, eBay, Inc. is the worldwide leader in person-to-person trading over the Internet. Our trading environment connects people around the world so they can trade and chat about their hobbies and passions. The eBay community is founded on the principal that people are basically honest and trustworthy. But more than that, by fostering open communication and exchange of ideas, this global marketplace can facilitate change and help people improve their lives and communities by linking people with common goals.

In a letter posted to the eBay community in July 1998, Pierre Omidyar, company founder, said "Personally, I have always believed in helping people to become the best they can be." All of us at eBay share this belief as we strive to create a place where people are not only empowered to do business in a trusting environment, but they are also respected for what they contribute to the community. Now, the people of the eBay community are able to contribute to an even larger community. In June 1998, eBay established a charitable fund known as the eBay Foundation™. It was funded through a donation of 107,250 shares of eBay's Common Stock to Community Foundation Silicon Valley (CFSV), a tax-exempt public charity whose mission is to promote philanthropy and build a strong community. CFSV helps donors make effective charitable gifts and makes grants to a wide range of nonprofit organizations nationally.