[May 5, 2020] This May 5th, organizations around the world are coming together for #GivingTuesdayNow, a new global day that celebrates generosity and unity in response to COVID-19. As a global philanthropy movement, Pledge 1% is committed to empowering companies of all sizes and stages to have an impact. Now–as we are faced with an unprecedented global pandemic and economic crises–our collective 1%s matter even more, and companies large and small are stepping up to leverage their 1% Pledge to stop the spread around the world.

From Salesforce who, among other things, played an instrumental role in mobilizing 24 Bay Area Tech companies to contribute $22 million in COVID response funding, to Flexport who leveraged its platform, relationships, and logistics expertise to ship 45+ million units of PPE and other much needed medical supplies to frontline workers around the world, to Atlassian who is providing crucial funding to global education organizations, to Techstars who is offering critical support to founders and startups as they navigate this new reality, Pledge 1% members are leveraging their teams, their talents, their product, and their partner and customer community to help.

To amplify these efforts Pledge 1% has:

• Created a COVID-19 response page, where individuals and companies can easily find valuable resources for to help them navigate this crisis, exchange learnings with their peers, and leverage their assets to support others in this time of need; 


• Called on our member community to share stories of how they are activating their Pledge 1% commitments to stop the spread. Over 54 companies responded and will be highlighted every 30 minutes during the 24 hours of #GivingTuesdayNow as part of a special Force for Good blog series;


• Rallied Pledge 1% members to join us in ringing the Nasdaq closing bell on May 5th, to express our gratitude for front line workers and recognition for companies large and small stepping up to make a difference during this crisis. Thanks to our partnership with Nasdaq, together, we also lit up Times Square with messages of encouragement from our community;


• Provided special #GivingTuesdayNow toolkits, ideas, and resources to help businesses, their teams, and their partner/customer community easily participate in this global day of unity from the safety of their homes.

“There has never been a more important time for a movement like Pledge 1%, that inspires, educates, and empowers companies to creatively and collaboratively leverage their assets to tackle some of the toughest social issues of our time,” says Pledge 1% Chief Executive Amy Lesnick. “Pledge 1% is proud to be working side by side with our members as well as our COVID Coalition partners, comprised of Pledge 1% Builders and Social Impact leaders from 90+ top companies, who have been convening weekly since mid-March to share resources and address issues ranging from virtual volunteerism to PPE shortages to non profit sustainability, food insecurity, the growing challenges of small businesses, and more.” 

This pandemic is affecting every person on Earth. Only together, will we heal and recover. Whether it’s #GivingTuesday, or any day, we encourage you to join us and other members of the business community in giving whatever you can to help. Together, we are a force for good.

To learn more about Pledge 1% or to access their tools and resources for companies to navigate this pandemic visit www.pledge1percent.org.covid19. 

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About Pledge 1%

Pledge 1% is a global movement that inspires, educates, and empowers every entrepreneur, company, and employee to be a force for good. Over 10,000 members in 100 countries have used Pledge 1%’s flexible framework to ignite half a billion dollars in new philanthropy. To learn more about Pledge 1% and to take the pledge visit www.pledge1percent.org.

Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are changing the world. Our leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, and are all doing their part to have an impact in their communities and at their workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their background and path to success.

What is your name and title?

Kimberly Georgeton, Managing Director of Digital at Simplus.

Briefly (1-2 sentences) describe your current role.

I am in charge of developing and growing the digital commerce and marketing capabilities for Simplus.

What’s the best decision you’ve ever made?

Staying true to my beliefs and convictions.

What’s the number one challenge you face as a woman in your industry?

Being taken seriously.

Do you have any mentors? What does mentorship mean to you?

Yes, I have had multiple mentors over the years– some formal and some informal. Most of them were previous female managers who understood our plight. Mentorship is modeling the way and providing a sounding board and feedback loop to whatever you’re facing in your career and life.

What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?

Be who you are, but also be open to new ideas.

What women inspires you the most? Why?

My mother. She was strong of conviction, even in the face of adversity and challenge. She had a quiet strength that permeated and always counted on her faith to lead her.

Are you reading/listening to anything interesting at the moment?

Educated by Tara Westover and The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile.

What is something coming up that excites you?

Taking my daughter on a trip to Paris; and, of course, any other new and exciting partnerships and opportunities for my team to learn and be engaged!

Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are changing the world. Our leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, and are all doing their part to have an impact in their communities and at their workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their background and path to success.

What is your name and title?

Amy Jackson, SVP Sales at 97th Floor.

Briefly (1-2 sentences) describe your current role.

My main role is to drive new business growth by leading a team of reps that source, research, pitch, and close deals. In addition to new business growth, I have a responsibility to work with fulfillment to expand growth within existing accounts. I am on the executive team and drive strategic initiatives for the company at large.

What’s the best decision you’ve ever made?

Leaning into accountability. Even when there isn’t accountability, I create a system and way to measure my progress and value.

What’s the number one challenge you face as a woman in your industry?

As a woman entering new situations with new people, it is easy to be under-minded. Establishing a strong, valuable position in an elegant way is something I’ve mindful of and have refined over the years.

Do you have any mentors? What does mentorship mean to you?

I do not have a dedicated mentor, however there have been several individuals whom have impacted me greatly and whom I look up to. I have tried to acknowledge and develop their gems and nuggets of wisdom I’ve picked up along the way.

What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?

Your voice is needed. Don’t shy away from sharing your opinions. In doing so, leverage your critical thinking away from being a critic and channel it into collaboration.

What women inspires you the most? Why?

My grandmother. She commands in the most gentle, elegant way. She is firm, yet kind. When she speaks, people listen. She changes perceptions and minds without people even realizing it, and she draws the very best out of people. As a 94 year old woman, she still seeks improvement and learning and participates in distance learning college courses.

Are you reading/listening to anything interesting at the moment?

I am currently finishing Essentialism which rings true in so many ways. Especially as being a single mother who is committed to being the best mother I can be, as well as being an executive in work, and serving as President of a women’s charitable and welfare chapter there are a lot of things competing for my time. Essentialism is causing me to conduct a self-audit of what’s truly important and my priorities. After Essentialism, I want to focus on fiction books for the remainder of the year. A book that can entertain and enlighten me is incredibly valuable.

There are a number of podcasts I work through each week. I have really been enjoying Robin Hood’s Snacks podcast. Not just because of the content (there are others I like better for content). It is the overall podcast itself. They produce it so well, with great energy, personalities, succinct content that keeps me very aware.

Today marks Earth Day’s 50th anniversary! While we can’t participate in some of the more traditional ways this year, we’ve put together 50 ways you can give back from the safety of your own home. There is only one Earth, let’s do our part to help preserve it!

1. Ditch single use plastic containers! Store leftovers and takeout in reusable, washable containers. 


2. Hang your laundry instead of putting it in the dryer to save energy. 


3. Turn off your lights when you leave the room. You can have a big impact doing this while working from home!


4. Switch to paperless billing. There are many benefits to doing this and Pledge 1% member DocuSign has a number of tools and resources to help you get started. Learn more about the DocuSign for Forests Initiative and see how they’ve preserved over 2.5 million trees to date.


5. Feeling stir crazy in your house? Go through your closet, set aside what you no longer need, and donate items to your local Goodwill. 


6. Order a reusable coffee cup from your favorite local cafe. While we currently can’t go out for coffee, we can use this time investing in sustainable kitchenware and supporting local businesses! 


7. Unplug! Take a break from your devices to save power. This is a win-win: its good for you and for the planet!


8. Think about how you can empower your customer and client network to reduce their carbon footprint. Pledge 1% member Flexport, for example, is working with Carbonfund.org to offer their clients a carbon offset program. Read more about their efforts here.


9. Go vegetarian once a week. Encourage your team to get involved and start a Meatless Monday recipe swap. It’s something you can use to rally your teams and connect them while we work from home.


10. Take care of your houseplants. As we shelter in place, now is the perfect time to give some love to your houseplants. Share your photos and tips with your team or neighbors, and see how together you can make the world a little greener. 


11. Plant a tree from the comfort of your own home by donating to The Nature Conservancy’s One Billion Tree Project. Your donation will go directly towards planting trees in deforested areas.


12. Buy locally. By supporting local small businesses, you can also reduce the amount of fossil fuel required to transport imported goods.


13. Take a moment to look out your window and reflect on just how awesome our planet is.


14. Recycle old electronics. When thrown away in landfills, electronics erode and leave behind corrosive, toxic substances. Stores like Best Buy accept products free of charge and may even offer a gift card!
    


15. Track your carbon footprint using this easy, online tool from The Nature Conservancy. It may even inspire you and your team to walk or bike more when possible.


16. As you walk to the store or take your short breaks outside, keep an eye out for any litter and help pick  up trash around your neighborhood.


17. Join a bike-sharing program so you’ll be ready to ride to the office once we start commuting again!


18. Join your local Climate Reality Chapter. Climate Reality will connect you with engaged activists just like you to help bring change to your community. Learn more here.  


19. Educate yourself! Listen to a climate change podcast, like America Adapts. Host and climate change adaptation expert Doug Parsons talks to scientists, journalists, activists and policymakers about the challenges of adapting to climate change. They also discuss actions you can take to help slow down the process. 


20. Educate your kids. There are great tools geared towards educating kids about climate change. Check out NASA’s website for activities or download the book 10 Things I Can To Help My World.


21. As you plan ahead for your next corporate event, consider going swag-less for you and your vendors. This will significantly reduce waste. Salesforce did this at last year’s Dreamforce. You can read more about their sustainability initiatives here. 


22. Replace paper towels with old cloth rags. As a bonus this will help with the TP shortage!


23. Join a library and rent ebooks instead of buying new books. You can also donate books to your local Little Free Library. People are in need of materials to read while we shelter in place, and many have now converted to Little Free Pantries. 


24. Recycle batteries. Collect what you have around the house and get more information from your local drop-off station. 


25. Print double sided and make sure you only print the pages you need.


26. Get your news digitally vs. newspaper delivery. 


27. Reuse wrapping paper and cut down on your paper and plastic consumption. 


28. Conserve water by taking shorter showers and turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth.


29. Cooking from home more? Learn which types of fish are most sustainable and choose your fish wisely.


30. Take part in EarthDay.org’s Daily Challenge, which includes 22 ideas of how you can help.


31. Take notes on your computer vs. paper.


32. When ordering takeout, skip the utensils and use your own at home.


33. Try composting! Reduce food waste and transform food scraps and lawn clippings into fresh, nutrient-rich soil for your plants. It’s a great project to start for home! Here is a quick how-to guide from the EPA.


34. We can’t visit our beautiful national parks this Earth Day, but we can thank park staff. Post on social media or send a thank you note to your favorite park’s team to acknowledge all that they do to preserve our planet.


35. Get your hands dirty and start an indoor or outdoor garden. Welcome the spring season by planting native plants, fruits, and vegetables. Many herbs can be easily grown inside!


36. Create an art project using just materials from outside. Leaves, pine cones, get creative! Allow yourself to appreciate the outdoors while you are indoors.


37. Build a birdhouse and create an oasis for your local neighborhood bird friends. Here are some quick and easy guidelines from the Humane Society. 


38. Create a list of sustainability goals or small changes you can implement in your daily life to reduce your overall impact.


39. Share your commitment to #SDG13 by posting how you are taking climate action! 


40. Learn how to recycle properly! We love this easy to read guide. 


41. Reduce food waste and time spent at the grocery store by writing out a list. Planning out meals in advance means you can hit the supermarket knowing you’re buying everything you need. 


42. Buy bulk products. Food packaging waste accounts for nearly two thirds of total packing waste in the US. Buy bulk quantities of shelf stable foods (pasta, cereal, rice, nuts) – all things that are good to stock up on during quarantine! 


43. If paper is a must, look for recycled paper products or use the back of an old note or printout.


44. Drive slower! Reduced speeds means less fuel. Be kind to your tank, environment and wallet.  


45. Buy used furniture, books and other items that help reduce your carbon footprint. 


46. Help save the bees! Backyard beekeeping is a wonderful way to make sure these important species thrive. Bugs not your thing? Many communities have local beekeepers you can buy products from. 


47. Connect with zoos, aquariums and other animal protection agencies. Many already have conservation initiatives underway and are a great resource for you to understand how to best save our planet’s animals and their habitats. 


48. Adjust your temperature and save over 10% on your energy usage over the year. Be sure to remember to turn off the heat/AC when you leave home. 


49. Reduce the amount of junk mail you receive. The Huffington Post has a detailed list of how to reduce that pesky mail here. 


50. Switch from lighters to matches. The majority of lighters these days are disposable, and that plastic adds up. Choose paper matches instead, which are made from recycled paper. 

Originally published on businessswire.com

Zuora, Inc., the leading cloud-based subscription management platform provider, today announced that the Zuora Impact Fund, through Zuora.org, the company’s philanthropic arm, is now accepting applications for its first public grant cycle, through May 31, 2020.

Zuora is seeking to fund organizations that align with the goal of this grant cycle: to support the communities where its employees live and work. Zuora will make strategic grants to global nonprofits and social enterprises focused on creating more equitable and prosperous communities, including those which strengthen educational foundations, create innovative workforce development opportunities, and stimulate local economies.

“At Zuora we know that we can only succeed if our employees and communities are thriving. Given the current COVID-19 crisis, organizations are changing the way they reach and support their constituents, and we want to help accelerate that work. While we’ve had this grant cycle planned for some time, launching now couldn’t be more critical,” said Rory Ihlamur, Director of Zuora.org.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Zuora joined the COVID-19 Tech Collaborative, a collective of 25 Bay Area based companies, to immediately disperse an initial $22 million in collective funding to those most impacted. And, through Zuora.org, employees are engaged in virtual volunteer opportunities around the world.

“The Subscription Economy is having a tremendous impact on society. As consumers shift their preference from ownership to usership, everything will eventually become a service. At Zuora, we want to not only support the businesses making this shift, but do our part to ensure that the opportunities of this new economy are accessible to everyone,” said Tien Tzuo, CEO and Founder of Zuora. “The mission of Zuora.org is to ensure that the Subscription Economy benefits individuals and communities, as much as it does businesses.”

In an effort to create more inclusive economies, last year Zuora committed an initial $1,000,000 to provide funding to organizations that are working tirelessly to help bridge socioeconomic opportunity gaps. The company’s philanthropic arm, Zuora.org, will use the funds to fuel two initiatives: the Zuora Impact Fund which invests in mission-aligned nonprofits and social enterprises and employee-driven volunteer and fundraising activation.

This work is the actualization of Zuora’s commitment to the Pledge 1% movement, in which Zuora will allocate 1% of equity and employee time to philanthropic endeavors.

Recipients of the first public grant cycle will receive grants ranging from $10,000 – $50,000 to put their plans into action. Zuora will accept applications through May 31, 2020 and will announce recipients later this June. For more information on how to apply, or to read more about Zuora’s philanthropic work, visit Zuora.org.

Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are changing the world. Our leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, and are all doing their part to have an impact in their communities and at their workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their background and path to success.

What is your name and title?

Angela Bee Chan, Eco-Innovation Leader at Schneider Electric. I am also the CEO and founder of Hackathons International.

Briefly (1-2 sentences) describe your current role.

My role is to foster a culture of innovation that is sustainable and drives growth. I hope to inspire an entrepreneurial mindset and help connect the dots to make a positive impact on the world.

What’s the best decision you’ve ever made?

Running a hackathon at Schneider Electric!

It’s not easy to merge two passions together but the hackathon gave me an opportunity to showcase my other world, enabling me to create my own role at Schneider Electric. Now I can do both at once which has opened many more doors!

What’s the number one challenge you face as a woman in your industry?

I believe everyone has unique skills that should be recognized and developed. Confidence is a trait I’ve needed to develop over time. I’ve had great colleagues, mentors and friends who have continuously given me feedback and helped me develop in this area. I think many people struggle with this in general!

What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you don’t know something, ask for a clarification. If you don’t have a mentor, ask someone to be your mentor. If you don’t have a strong network, ask for a referral. If you don’t have a strong support network, ask people to be your accountability partners. You’ll be surprised by how generous people are!

What women inspires you the most? Why?

Emma Watson. She is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in and uses her influence to give back to the community. Michelle Obama is also a great role model. She is vulnerable, honest and prioritizes family, friendships and children’s health.

Are you reading/listening to anything interesting at the moment?

The women of Schneider Electric have put together a book club on Brene Brown’s Dare to Lead. There are exercises online so we are going through that monthly.

What is something coming up that excites you?

I’m just excited about changing the world! I’m really getting into clean, renewable energy and making it sustainable for people, communities and the planet.

Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are changing the world. Our leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, and are all doing their part to have an impact in their communities and at their workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their background and path to success.

What is your name and title?

Jaime Brown, Client Success Manager at Appluent.

Briefly (1-2 sentences) describe your current role.

As the Client Success Manager, I oversee operations and ensure we are delivering quality and successful projects for our clients.

What’s the best decision you’ve ever made?

The extra homework to learn the necessary skills. To grow, I needed to work to expand my knowledge.

I took the time to work on my weaknesses and improve. Once I was able to be confident myself, I could help my team grow and get to where they wanted to be.

What’s the number one challenge you face as a woman in your industry?

As a woman in the tech industry, you sometimes need to prove your abilities before others will trust you can get the job done. Unfortunately, many people don’t just take your word for it.

What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?

Speak up and set goals for yourself. The tech industry is very large and there is plenty of room for growth. You will not excel by sitting in a room and not providing value. If you participate and show your value, you will be appreciated, recognized and ultimately end up where you belong.

What women inspires you the most? Why?

My mom has always been a great influence in my life. She is hard working and always pushes herself to do better. She was a great example as a child, and now as an adult. She helps me strive to do my best and always look to where I can improve, whether it is personal growth or career growth.

What is something coming up that excites you?

My family vacation to Disney. I love going to Disney and experiencing it with my nieces. Seeing their excitement makes the experience even more fun.

Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are changing the world. Our leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, and are all doing their part to have an impact in their communities and at their workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their background and path to success.

What is your name and title?

Jenny Chung, Head of Distribution at Humanitix.

Briefly (1-2 sentences) describe your current role.

As one of the generalists at Humanitix, my role is primarily focused on sales and business development. However, as Humanitix is experiencing exponential growth, many generalists in the team also tackle a bunch of other duties. For me, this includes marketing, account management and operations.

What’s the best decision you’ve ever made?

Taking a step back from the expected career trajectory to evaluate a handful of things.

1. What I want from my career from a holistic perspective (passion, growth & development, use of my skill set, contribution to the world, etc.)


2. What I am motivated by in my professional life.


3. Working out how to fulfill these two criteria (narrowing down industries to enter, leveraging networks for introductions etc.).

What’s the number one challenge you face as a woman in your industry?

Being taken as seriously as my male counterparts.

Do you have any mentors? What does mentorship mean to you? 

I look up to, and work closely with, our co-founders as well as the rest of the Humanitix team. I’d love to be mentored by a more experienced woman of color in the tech & events industry to learn from their insights and advice.

What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?

Be intentional about the roles you take on, but remember that your current or next job is not the be-all end-all.

Every step in your career is an opportunity to improve your skills and explore what you’re good at, what motivates you and what is valuable to you in a professional, and even personal, sense.

What women inspires you the most? Why?

My mother. She has made huge sacrifices to put me first in every aspect of her life, including moving to a new country for my education and growth. I wouldn’t be who I am and where I am in my life without her.

Are you reading/listening to anything interesting at the moment? Please share your most recent favorite book or podcast!

Dissect hosted by Cole Cuchna is an amazing podcast that delves into one hip hop album per season, Analyzing it song by song and lyric by lyric. The episodes provide an amazing insight into an artist’s process of building a concept album. It’s a dazzling peek into the amount of hard work, creativity and discipline that goes into song writing and production. Listening to it has made me appreciate albums both familiar and new a lot more by elevating my theoretical and emotional understanding of the music.

What is something coming up that excites you?

At the time of writing, Humanitix just pushed to production the key changes needed to launch our platform internationally! It’s a big step in the direction of globalization.

I can’t wait to see Humanitix launch outside the Australia/Asian market. With continued growth, we can start tapping into the global multi-billion dollar industry and redirect an exponential amount towards social impact. As we grow, we will be closer to achieving our mission of closing the education gap. Education is at the root of a lot of inequality and poverty in the world. It’s mind-boggling to imagine the potential impact we will be able to generate as Humanitix expands.