eBay Foundation Backs Community-Led Entrepreneurship with $3M in Grants

eBay Foundation Backs Community-Led Entrepreneurship with $3M in Grants

eBay News Team

This year, eBay Foundation is awarding nearly $3 million in Global Give grants to over 30 nonprofits around the world.

At eBay Foundation, we believe entrepreneurship is a powerful tool for transformation. Our annual Global Give program aims to empower a select group of mission-aligned nonprofit partners working to expand access to entrepreneurship. Guided by trust-based philanthropy, the program provides flexible support that allows organizations to scale their impact without unnecessary hoops or red tape.

From building pathways for women in rural India to helping founders scale accessibility-focused innovations, this year's cohort of grantees are reimagining who gets to be an entrepreneur - and what becomes possible when barriers are removed.

Spotlighting Our 2025 Global Give Grantees

There's no single way to unlock opportunity, and no one model for what entrepreneurship looks like. That's why Global Give supports organizations working across different regions, communities, and contexts, each with its own approach to breaking down barriers.

While their methods vary, their goal is shared: to open up access to business ownership, income, and agency for people who have historically been excluded.

Access to Success: Redefining Access Through Innovation

[Link]

Based in Canada, Access to Success (ATS) is a global accelerator for accessibility startups. From navigation tools for people with visual impairments to platforms designed by and for neurodivergent users, ATS is uniquely focused on helping startups develop life-changing technologies through specialized education, expert guidance, and access to a network of relevant founders and investors.

Historically, accessibility and disability has been largely overlooked by venture capitalists. "There's this misconception that accessibility is a very niche topic, but it's really not," said Varun Chandak, founder of ATS. "There are more than a billion people with disabilities around the world. It's a market the size of the population of China."

By supporting an often overlooked segment of startups - many of which are people with disabilities or have loved ones with disabilities - ATS is not only redefining who gets to be an entrepreneur, but is expanding the definition of what can be an innovation.

As of August 2025, ATS's 78 alumni startups from 10 countries have benefited over 2.1 million people with disabilities.

Udyogini: Unlocking Women's Agency Through Livelihoods

In rural India, economic opportunity is often shaped by gender. The nonprofit Udyogini is on a mission to level the playing field by working for women's economic empowerment. They work with women in underserved regions to provide entrepreneurship training, support microenterprises, and link female entrepreneurs to local markets.

"Over the past three decades, we have walked alongside rural women across eight states of India, supporting their dreams through entrepreneurship, training, and livelihood opportunities," shared Dr. Rashimi Saxena Sarkara, CEO of Udyogini. "From remote villages to bustling markets, we have been part of the lives of over one million women, witnessing their rise as confident entrepreneurs, powerful leaders, and change makers."

While helping women create income is perhaps Udyogini's most measurable impact, their ultimate goal is even more ambitious: to create a world where women claim their space with freedom, respect, and the power to make their own choices. They view economic empowerment as a tool that can shift household dynamics and challenge social norms. For the female entrepreneurs in the program, this shift starts with how they view themselves.

"Before I started my business, I never imagined they could bring such good income," said Savitri Devi, an entrepreneur from Uttarakhand, India who cultivates medicinal and aromatic plants. "This new opportunity has not only improved my earnings but has also inspired other women in my village to try it. Now, we see farming in a completely new light."

Through Udyogini, women learn it's possible to dream bigger for themselves. "We believe that when a woman earns, she discovers her inner power, becoming an equal partner, a decision maker, and a builder, not just for her family, but for the nation," explains Dr. Rashmi Saxena Sarkara.

The Acceleration Project: Scaling Small Business Potential

[Link]

In the U.S., The Acceleration Project (TAP) helps small business owners, especially in under-resourced communities, move from surviving to scaling. With a team of over 200 consultants, TAP provides tailored consulting, training, and personalized programs. Their high-touch approach meets entrepreneurs where they are and walks with them toward sustainable growth.

"Many small business owners face systemic barriers that prevent them from growing, and entrepreneurship can often feel lonely and isolating," explained Jane Veron, CEO and Co-Founder of TAP. "One-size-fits-all solutions rarely address these challenges, which is why TAP delivers a range of personalized programs tailored to the owner's specific pain points."

In addition to education, TAP strengthens their entrepreneurs through community support, matching them with volunteer consultants who bring specialized knowledge in areas like marketing, finance, and operations.

The results speak for themselves: a 93% business survival rate among TAP participants and meaningful boosts in job creation, confidence, and revenue. But the program's benefits extend beyond the individual entrepreneur and into their communities.

"Inclusive entrepreneurship has a powerful multiplier effect that strengthens families, future generations, and entire communities," said Veron. "Since 2012, our approach has supported more than 10,000 small business owners and generated a measured 10:1 social return on investment."

Building Economically Vibrant and Thriving Communities

Through Global Give, eBay Foundation supports organizations that are reimagining who gets to build, lead, and shape the future. By empowering partners who lead with proximity and purpose, the Foundation aims to create lasting, global pathways to entrepreneurship for all.

"Our 2025 Global Give grants are a reflection of eBay Foundation's commitment to unleash the power of entrepreneurship, build economically vibrant and thriving communities, and drive lasting impact."

- David Estrada, Leader of eBay Foundation

Since 1998, eBay Foundation has granted nearly $140 million to more than 1,800 organizations. Global Give continues to be one of its most impactful platforms for driving innovation, inclusion, and long-term impact through entrepreneurship.

Learn more about eBay Foundation and its grant making strategy here.

Topics:Announcements, Purpose