eBay has acquired MissionFish, the organization behind eBay Giving Works, the companies announced on Monday.
MissionFish, which helped eBay begin charitable auctions when the two organizations partnered to start eBay Giving Works in 2003, will continue to operate eBay Giving Works. Points of Light, which formerly owned MissionFish, will continue to process and deliver donations to charities, but eventually MissionFish employees will take over this task, says Sean Milliken, the organization's founder.
"[The acquisition] is a strong endorsement by eBay of the program and of the idea that a global company can deliver a dramatic social impact through their products and properties," Milliken notes. "In addition to bringing our seasoned social entrepreneurs in-house, eBay is investing their money, their people and their brainpower into our mission. I am energized by their commitment and have set my sights ever higher on what we can accomplish together."
He adds that being part of eBay will help MissionFish "launch new ideas that drive resources to organizations everywhere."
"This is a big step in the evolution of MissionFish, and one that everyone involved—eBay, Points of Light and the MissionFish team—is excited to take," he continues.
In the last eight years, MissionFish helped Giving Works raise nearly $250 million for nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and the U.K. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Auctiva staff writers constantly monitor trends and best practices of those selling on eBay and elsewhere online. They attend relevant training seminars and trade shows and regularly discuss the market with PowerSellers and other market experts.
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