Change.org, the world's largest petition platform and a certified benefit corporation, announced Tuesday that it has secured a $15 million round of investment led by Omidyar Network, the philanthropic investment firm established by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam. Omidyar Network will hold a minority stake in the company, and Chris Bishko, investment partner at Omidyar Network, will join Change.org's Board of Directors. Uprising, a mission-aligned investment fund based in San Francisco, is also participating in the investment round.

Omidyar Network seeks to catalyze broad, positive social impact by funding both for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations around the world. The firm's portfolio includes for-profits such as the world's largest network of local groups, Meetup, as well as nonprofits such as the microlending site Kiva.
"Omidyar Network is pleased to make this investment in Change.org," said Omidyar Network's Managing Partner Matt Bannick. "We are particularly enthused to support an organization that so effectively uses technology to give people opportunities to connect around issues of personal importance and take actions that can significantly improve their communities."

Change.org seeks to empower people everywhere to create the change they want to see, and the site's users have won thousands of victories. Prominent wins have included Bank of America dropping its $5 debit card fees, Seventeen magazine committing not to photoshop its models, and Trayvon Martin's parents ensuring their son's killer was prosecuted.

"We are honored to receive investment from such deeply mission-driven investors," said Change.org's Founder and CEO Ben Rattray. "Omidyar Network's mission of empowerment aligns perfectly with ours, and we're thankful to their leadership in growing the impact investment sector over the past decade."

"Social enterprises can play an instrumental role in solving some of the world's biggest problems," Rattray said. "This funding will help us continue to expand our empowerment tools internationally while innovating on new products with the potential for disruptive social impact."

Change.org has grown exponentially in the past year, climbing from 6 million users in early 2012 to more than 35 million users today, more than half of whom are now outside the United States. Three million new users join the site each month, making Change.org the world's largest and fastest-growing petition platform. In April, Change.org received the Webby Award for best activism website.

Change.org is a certified B corporation, meaning it is held to high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency set by B Labs, an independent certifying group. To learn more about Change.org's business model, use the contact details at the top of the release.