The Omidyar Network (ON) has released the results of its latest Grantee Perception Report from the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP).

Based on 98 responses (a response rate of 51 percent) from grantee organizations and a subset of for-profit and contract partners, the report found that, in general, ratings of ON have remained consistent or improved since its last survey in 2014. Notably, grantees now rate ON significantly more positively for its effect on public policy in their field (69th percentile), grantees’ comfort approaching ON if a problem arises (72nd percentile), transparency (52nd percentile), staff responsiveness (49th percentile), and clarity of communications (28th percentile). In addition, respondents reported that reporting requirements are substantially more streamlined than they were in 2014, and grantees report spending just 24 hours at the median on funder requirements over the grant lifetime (compared to 130 hours in 2014). According to the report, a much larger-than-typical proportion (nearly three-quarters) of ON’s partners reported receiving non-monetary support in both formal and informal ways.

Regarding the organizations that responded, 28 percent are led by a person of color, and on average, women rated interactions with ON less favorably than men; in particular, women provided lower ratings for the funder’s approachability, openness to their ideas, candor about its perspectives on their work, and commitment to combatting racism. The report also found that, on average, ON has significantly fewer unrestricted multiyear commitments than peer funders, as the current average ON grant length is 1.4 years, (6th percentile). Of grantee comments offering suggestions for improvement, 30 percent were related to grantmaking characteristics—primarily requests for longer-term grants as well as larger and more unrestricted grants.

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