The Hope Street Group, a non-partisan policy research organization founded and operated by young business leaders from the private sector, announced today that Omidyar Network has awarded a $1 million grant to provide general operations support over three years and a one-time support of technological capacity building projects.

“We are honored to have Omidyar Network award this grant to Hope Street Group because, as a virtual organization, Hope Street Group relies on technology for every aspect of its daily organizational management, from communications and fundraising, to membership cultivation and policy advocacy,” said Executive Director Monique Nadeau.

Over the past four years, Hope Street Group has grown and thrived in a virtual model, but has been limited in its ability to scale in size. Proceeds from the grant will support networking building efforts on the web, including viral campaigns, social networking, wikis, blogs, conferencing tools, and chat rooms in order to create a virtual officing environment. In addition, this grant will support the development of the Economic Opportunity Index. HSG has been working on an index that can provide the public, media, policymakers, and policy teams with information to assess trends in economic opportunity across groups. Through the support of the Omidyar Network, the index can be leveraged to its full potential as a web-based, fully interactive tool. Learn more about the Economic Opportunity Index.

About the Omidyar Network

Omidyar Network is a mission-based investment group committed to fostering individual self-empowerment on a global scale. Established in 2004 by Pierre and Pam Omidyar, the organization is founded on the simple core belief that every individual has the power to make a difference. Omidyar Network funds for-profits and nonprofits that promote equal access to information, tools and opportunities; connections around shared interests; and a sense of ownership for participants. Through its work, Omidyar Network intends to catalyze a new breed of business for which social impact directly drives profitability. To learn more about Omidyar Network and the organizations it has funded, please visit http://www.omidyar.net.

About Hope Street Group

Hope Street Group is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that promotes an Opportunity Economy by engaging a new generation of business executives and professionals in policy development and outreach. Our activities are based on four central beliefs:

1. economic growth is best sustained by expanding opportunity – and vice versa;
2. an opportunity economy has low barriers for market entry, invests in human capital, and helps young adults and families increase their personal wealth;
3. our national debate should focus on achieving an Opportunity Economy; and
4. a new generation of business leaders has an essential role to play in this debate.