I am thrilled to announce that we will be expanding our collaboration with the Omidyar Network to catalyze greater transparency and openness in government. Omidyar Network is a philanthropic investment firm started by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam.

Omidyar’s grant of $4 million is to support Sunlight’s efforts to improve access to existing government information, digitize new information, and create new online tools to foster greater government transparency. Sunlight and Omidyar share a fundamental belief in the value of transparency, the role of new technologies to connect individuals to information and the ability for citizens to influence the issues that impact their lives.

In addition, Matt Halprin, partner at Omidyar Network, will be joining Sunlight’s board. As the lead for Omidyar Network’s Media, Markets & Transparency initiative, Matt brings deep experience in strategy, general management and Internet platforms. He was previously vice president at eBay and a partner at the Boston Consulting Group. And Stacy Donohue, a director at Omidyar Network, who leads the organization’s government transparency investment area, will take an observer seat on the board.

All of us at Sunlight are greatly honored by Omidyar’s continued support for our work.