This story was submitted by Warlows Legal
Warlows Legal proudly contributes $5,000 annually to Anika Legal, fortifying the organization’s mission to assist Victorian renters. This financial support directly enhances Anika Legal’s ability to provide free online legal services. The funds are instrumental in maintaining a dedicated paralegal for clients, ensuring prompt and specialized assistance. By bolstering Anika Legal’s resources, Warlows Legal actively furthers the organization’s impact, enabling it to offer tailored legal advice to individuals navigating their living situations. This collaborative partnership underscores our commitment to fostering legal empowerment and education within the community, as we work together to create a more accessible and informed legal landscape for all.
This story was submitted by Team Building with Purpose
In the last year, our events with corporate teams have logged 4,457 volunteer hours across the twelve charities we support, helping spread the word about what the charities do, come up with ideas to help them in the future and putting together food and toy hampers, kits and care packs which were given directly to the charities to distribute to the people they support. But beyond the volunteer hours in the sessions, the sessions have served to educate and inspire them to walk in the world differently by helping others, providing further support to the charity and making a difference to colleagues, family, friends and strangers. Plus, 50% of the net profit from each session (which we guarantee is at least $500+GST for the smallest group) goes to the charity. This is what Team Building with Purpose is about.
This story was submitted by Envato
Envato is now completely carbon neutral! Here’s how we’ve committed to reducing our emissions, planting more trees and offsetting our carbon footprint.
Balancing purpose and profit has always been at the heart of the Envato business. In line with our mission, company values, and commitments as a certified B-Corp, Envato’s sustainability committee has been working on a comprehensive sustainability project designed to measure and offset our carbon footprint.
In partnership with Trace – a Sydney-based climate tech startup – we’re pleased to announce that Envato is now officially carbon neutral! Delivering on our sustainability promise as a B-Corp, as well as the open letter we co-signed to the Australian Government calling for climate change action, Envato has committed to offsetting more carbon emissions than we’re producing as an organization.
“When we signed on to the To Whom It May Concern campaign, we made a pledge to be 100% renewable by 2030 and carbon zero by 2040,” says Envato’s CEO, Hichame Assi. “It’s a commitment which reflects not just our values, but a broader sense of how businesses can contribute to fighting climate change.”
Since Envato set out to become carbon neutral in September 2021, the company has offset over 2,700 tonnes of CO2 (enough emissions to fill 46,000 shipping containers), planted 23,000 trees, and gone completely carbon neutral.
This significant sustainability project is led by our Greener Good Sustainability Committee, which was formed with the purpose of reducing emissions produced by the company’s 100% remote workforce during Covid-19 lockdowns. It began as a way to take small but positive steps towards offsetting the impact of the business, with an end goal of eliminating Envato’s carbon footprint altogether.
“There was a bunch of work that went into gathering the data and input that allowed us to calculate our emissions, and then the team at Trace were able to take it and run with it,” explains Envato Senior Product Manager and Greener Good Sustainability Committee founder, Jimmy Joslin. “We were presented with Envato’s CO2 emissions, and Trace was able to obtain carbon credits to offset our output using projects aligned to the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. They then helped us get to a position of ‘Carbon Positive’ by calculating our emissions and selecting meaningful projects that deliver carbon credits as well as investing in planting trees.”
In partnership with Trace, Envato is able to measure the amount of carbon that the business generates, globally. This includes not just our physical offices in Melbourne, Guadalajara, and Los Angeles, but also an estimate of the footprint of our tech cloud and remote teams around the globe.
Trace’s CEO and Co-Founder Catherine Long explains, “Envato is the perfect example of a fast-moving tech business that already has a demonstrable commitment to sustainability but needed a solution for measuring and managing their carbon footprint that matched the speed and efficiency of the way they work. We’re super proud that Envato chose Trace to be that solution and can’t wait to see how their whole team uses our software to support their journey to net-zero.”
But the work doesn’t stop there. To maintain our carbon-neutral status, we’ll be regularly recalculating our offsets in line with the pollution we’re producing as a company, as well as continually improving our practices to reduce emissions from the get-go.
In addition to being a significant environmental milestone, Envato’s carbon-neutral status has also had a positive impact on company morale – assuring employees that their environmental concerns are being heard and put into action.
“Being part of a company that actively strives to do the right thing and is willing to invest in social outcomes that are not just shifting needles towards our bottom line, is a game-changer,” says Jimmy. “In addition to employee outcomes, it’s important for us to lead by example, following in the footsteps of those before us who have paved the way to now inspire other organizations to take similar actions which will ultimately benefit all of us. This initiative speaks right to the core of what we’re trying to achieve in the sustainability space, and from here on out we’re going to continue to go beyond maintaining where we are now, and further into reducing our impact on the environment.”
To make your own commitment to reaching carbon zero, visit Trace and learn more about reducing and offsetting emissions and increasing your impact.
This story was submitted by Intopia
As a social enterprise, giving back to the community has been Intopia’s purpose from the very beginning. As a certified B-Corporation and a member of the Pledge 1% movement, our commitment goes beyond words. We’re about action and tangible results in making a difference.
We joined 1% pledge in 2017, as we wanted to concrete our commitment to philanthropy being part of our DNA. Since our inception, we have contributed over $600,000 to support various initiatives and charities, reinforcing our dedication to building a more inclusive and equitable world.
“Giving back has been part of our focus at Intopia from the very beginning. It is why we operate as a social enterprise and we believe helps us in our goal of creating and inclusive digital world”, shares Stewart Hay, Director and Co-founder of Intopia.
Our dedication extends beyond maintaining a diverse and inclusive workplace that truly looks after their people. We offer paid volunteering days to our employees every year, for them to contribute to causes that they’re passionate about.
As a business, we engage in pro bono work for purpose-driven organisations and events, using our skills and voice to actively advocate for accessibility, inclusion, and women in technology. Intopia financially contribute to and provide substantial support to the A11y Camp Australia Conference and A11y Bytes, which are Australia’s largest events focused on building awareness of digital accessibility and inclusive design.
One of our biggest beneficiaries has been NV Access. Our donations have supported their work to create NVDA, a free, open source, globally accessible screen reader for Windows. We have been supporting them since we were founded 7 years ago and continue to do so as part of our pledge.
We’re proud to be part of Pledge 1% and to champion corporate philanthropy. We believe that businesses have the power to make amazing positive changes in the world.
This story was submitted by Shrunk Innovation Group
Reflecting on the year past, we at Shrunk are filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment for the strides we’ve taken as part of our Pledge 1% commitment. Our collective efforts have spanned various initiatives, each underpinned by our unwavering resolve to enact positive change within the communities we touch.
Embodying our commitment to diverse social initiatives, the Shrunk team (5 members) has contributed over 175 volunteer hours to the following areas;
- The Footpath Library to enrich the lives of the homeless through literacy,
- Planted trees for farmers to support the TreeProject carbon abatement programs,
- Planted and harvested vegetables for the Food for Change food security initiative,
- Partnered with University of Sydney OAASIS project team to combat modern slavery,
- Currently participating on the working group tasked with setting the international standard for direct workers voice through our contribution to Direct Workers Voice.
In the spirit of Pledge 1%, we chose to measure our impact not through a single lens, but through the multifaceted ways in which we’ve engaged with the world around us. Our dedication transcended the simple donation of resources; we focused on cultivating genuine connections, encouraging our clients to also participate, on understanding the needs of those we aimed to support, and on developing sustainable solutions to pressing issues.
We rolled up our sleeves and stepped into roles that called for empathy, innovation, and advocacy. Our hours of service became a testament to our belief in the transformative power of collective action. We became storytellers, listeners, and learners in our quest to uplift those around us. Through these experiences, we have not only contributed to our communities but also enriched our own understanding of service and impact.
Each project and partnership we embarked upon was chosen for its alignment with our values and its potential to create lasting change. Our journey has shown us that the essence of Pledge 1% is not captured solely in the grand gestures but in the everyday acts of kindness and service. It’s in the moments of human connection and the shared experiences that stitch together the fabric of community.
As we move forward, we carry with us the lessons learned and the relationships built over this year. We look to the future with a renewed sense of purpose and a drive to continue our efforts, knowing that the impact of our work is not just in the actions we take today but in the impacts they create for tomorrow.
This story was submitted by Charter Hall Group
At Charter Hall, ‘doing good together’ isn’t just a saying—it’s what we do. This year we invested over $5 million by donating up to 1% of our profits, spaces and people’s time to benefit Australian communities.
We contributed over $1.4 million to support communities, a 16% increase from last year. During crises like recent floods, we united with GIVIT, contributing $100,000 to aid families in northern New South Wales and Queensland.
Beyond donations, we partnered with community organisations and social enterprises to provide over $1.5 million in underutilised space, as well as generate 210 employment outcomes for vulnerable Australians.
But it’s not just about the numbers; it’s about our people. Our team rallied, volunteering an incredible 3,403 hours. We did a lot—cooking meals, packing hampers, helping wildlife, regenerating land and much more.
Thank you to our people and partners for joining us in making a real difference.
This story was submitted by GoodCloud.Team
January 2023 saw Stephen Stanley, a Salesforce-employed Success Architect laid off in a global headcount reduction initiated by the global cloud provider.
Stephen had always taken advantage of Salesforce’s 1:1:1 pledge and volunteered for at least 8 days per year while he was employed by them. They majority of his volunteering time was spent helping non-profit customers of Salesforce get more value from their own Salesforce implementations.
When his termination took effect in March, he went out on his own as a self-employed Salesforce Architect, but keen to continue to contribute to the non-profit sector, he continued to spend time helping out charities in New Zealand and overseas with their Salesforce implementations.
Luckily he has been busy with commercial clients so has been able to afford to contribute time to the non-profit community. Since March, he has volunteered 88 hours with non-profits as well as delivering 882 hours of paid-for work to his commercial clients.
This story was submitted by B1G1.
Creating over 330 million acts of kindness through incorporating global good into business actions.
In a world filled with challenges, there are individuals and organizations that stand out, making a real difference through their unwavering commitment to giving. One such initiative is B1G1 (originally known as Buy1GIVE1), spearheaded by a social entrepreneur, Masami Sato. B1G1 is not just a giving initiative; it’s a social enterprise, a B Corp and a member of the Pledge 1% movement.
The B1G1 initiative has unlocked more than 330 million impacts so far. These are “acts of kindness” from thousands of businesses they have worked with over the years. And as a Social Enterprise, B1G1 also pledges 1% of their own income to create Global Good.
These impacts include more than half a million trees planted, and millions of days of access to education, healthcare and income generation opportunities to families…., bridging the gaps of inequalities and helping create a more sustainable world.
The Birth of a Vision:
Masami’s journey from Japan to a global citizen was marked by a profound realization – the world is filled with inequalities, and something needed to change. In 2007, she founded B1G1 with the audacious goal of creating real WIN-WIN connections across cultures, people, and organizations. Little did she know that this endeavor would reshape the landscape of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility.
A Giving Revolution:
B1G1’s unique approach challenges the status quo. It’s not just about donating a portion of profits; it’s about integrating giving into the core of business operations. For over a decade, B1G1 has been at the forefront of empowering businesses to give with purpose. They’ve inspired countless companies to adopt a simple yet powerful concept: for every product sold or service rendered, a tangible impact is made in the world.
Impact at Scale:
The impact of B1G1 speaks for itself. Year after year, they’ve gone above and beyond the 1% commitment, showing that giving can be limitless. From providing clean water to education, healthcare, and more, B1G1 has touched countless lives. Their global network of businesses, all united by the common goal of giving back, has become a force for positive change.
B1G1’s Unique Approach:
B1G1’s methodology and platform anable businesses of all types and stages to integrame micro impacts into what they do everyday. It ensures three important things: IMPACT, HABIT and CONNECTION.
If every business action can create a tangible impact regularly, we can tackle all types of global issues together.
Joining Forces to Make a Real Difference:
As Giving Tuesday approaches, B1G1 invites you to be a part of their mission. Whether you’re a business owner, an individual, or part of the Pledge 1% community, you can join the movement to create a world where giving is an integral part of daily life.
The Power of Small:
B1G1’s commitment to giving is a shining example of how businesses can be a force for good and every small action can lead to a positive global change. Masami’s vision and B1G1’s impact are proof that together, we can build a better world.
This Giving Tuesday, let’s remember that giving isn’t just about what we do once; it’s about who we become in the process so that we can transform what we do all the time.
Together, we really can transform our world by creating a new habit.
For more information about B1G1 and their journey, visit their website here.
This story was submitted by Burnout Coach.
I invited Andrew Lustig, founder of Global Outreach Doctors on to my podcast in Nov ’22. I was so inspired by his story of how he (a non-doctor) left his NYC media job to found G.O.D., that I sent him a donation for his team in Ukraine at that time.
His motivation was waking up one morning, 20 years into his media career, and asking himself, “What am I doing to help humanity?”
I often ask the same question, and for much of my life I had no satisfactory answer. Neither did Andrew, at that time, but he took courageous action to re-align himself and just kept going, regardless of the danger and horror. Andrew sent me an email in Sep ’23 to let me know that his new country manager, recruited to head the team in Ukraine, was killed by a missile weeks into his new role, leaving behind his wife.
Both Andrew and his team have led such courageous missions into the war zones of the world, while I sit behind a desk.
Andrew’s still my favorite podcast guest. I’m a solopreneur, but the reason I work with men in burnout is that they suffer so much (often all their careers) for no really good reason. They don’t know how to escape, but actually, it’s quite simple to get out of burnout. I teach them. They go on to support and mentor huge numbers of people in their organizations, families, and network, and I’ve found that they, like Andrew, tend to be altruistic bighearted givers. It’s a small sum, from a tiny org to another small org, but I love to support people out there doing great things when I can.
Listen to the episode: https://www.burnouttoleadership.com/1849743/11650138-special-010-andrew-lustig-nd-humanitarian-aid-in-ukraine