March 13, 2009

Tufts Learns How Far a Big Gift Can Go

By KATHRYN MASTERSON

When the founder of eBay gave $100-million to Tufts University in 2005, it came with an unusual stipulation: The money was to be invested in the burgeoning field of microfinance and used to provide small-business loans and other financial services to poor people around the world. The university would make money if the investments were profitable. It was an intriguing premise.

More than three years later, the donation, given by Pierre Omidyar and his wife, Pam, both Tufts graduates, is

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