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
This story was submitted by Brave Factor
At Brave Factor, we commit to creating a positive impact that goes beyond just business as usual. We believe in giving back to the local community that has embraced and supported us. This year, one that holds a special place in our hearts is our collaboration with Yayasan Seva Bhuana (YSB), a nonprofit organization based in Bali with a focus on improving animal welfare (and supporting the families who love them).
About Brave Factor
Since 2017, our digital agency has been dedicated to supporting nonprofits and mission-driven brands, ensuring they have the foundation they need to create clarity and increase their social impact online. We support local causes through donations, design or branding assistance, and knowledge-sharing. We consider it a privilege to give back to the communities, upcoming changemakers, and the beautiful island we call home.
About Yayasan Seva Bhuana (YSB)
Yayasan Seva Bhuana is a nonprofit organization that focuses on improving animal welfare. Originating as a local initiative, YSB began by raising awareness in their neighborhood, addressing the needs of stray dogs, and engaging with the community. Their vision revolves around enhancing the welfare of animals through sterilization and education. Recognizing that mindset shifts take time, YSB ensures every individual they reach becomes an extended hand in promoting the importance of animal welfare within the broader Bali community.
How We Supported YSB This Year
Supporting YSB aligns with our belief in making a difference locally and assisting smaller nonprofits in achieving their goals. Bali is not just a location for us; it’s a community we deeply care about, and YSB’s mission resonates with our dedication to caring for those around us.
Understanding the importance of visibility and impact in the digital age, we collaborated with YSB to create a compelling online presence. Our team at Brave worked closely with YSB to design and develop their website, ensuring it effectively communicated their mission, programs, and goals. By enhancing their online visibility, we aimed to amplify YSB’s reach and engage a broader audience.
We also provided support in optimizing their donation processes. Recognizing the vital role that financial contributions play in achieving nonprofit objectives, we worked to streamline YSB’s donation system, making it more efficient and user-friendly.
Our collaboration with Yayasan Seva Bhuana is more than just a project; it’s a shared commitment to creating a positive impact on the welfare of animals and the community at large.
Original article here
Author: Maria Villalba Gomez
As a proud member of the Pledge 1% movement, Braze has committed to contribute 1% of its outstanding equity (as of 2021) over ten years to uplift charitable organizations through the Braze for Social Impact Fund at Tides Foundation. This commitment reflects our deep dedication to amplifying employee passions, investing in our communities, and driving science-based climate solutions. That’s why, for the second consecutive year, our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) have played a pivotal role in guiding our philanthropic endeavors. These ERGs, formed by employees with shared experiences, interests, or backgrounds, have been instrumental in directing a significant portion of our Social Impact Fund. By harnessing the collective expertise and enthusiasm of our diverse workforce, we ensure that our charitable contributions directly serve and resonate with the communities our employees care about.
In the second year of the Braze ERG Grant Program, our ten ERGs have allocated $300,000 in unrestricted grants to over 36 impactful nonprofits and charities worldwide since August 2023. These organizations, chosen by each ERG to reflect their values, address a broad spectrum of needs, from providing immediate support and essential services to advocating for systemic change. By supporting organizations that empower underrepresented and marginalized communities, our ERGs honor their shared experiences and interests, driving tangible and positive change across the global communities they passionately support.
“Pride@ Braze chose to support the Ali Forney Center, Galop, the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, and 56 Dean Street because of their unwavering commitment to advocating for and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. These organizations are at the forefront of providing essential services, legal assistance, and healthcare to those in need, both domestically and internationally. Our inclusive choice reflects Pride@Braze’s dedication to global equality and resilience, embodying our shared values. By supporting these organizations, we aim to make a tangible impact and contribute to the ongoing fight for LGBTQIA+ rights and well-being worldwide. It’s an honor to be able to contribute to these remarkable organizations as they continue to make a difference and positive impact within our communities.”
—Hannah Collins, Pride@Braze President
For a comprehensive list of this year’s grant recipients, please see below:
2024 ERG Grants
Asians@Braze:
Asian Mental Health Collective works to make mental health easily available, approachable, and accessible to Asian communities worldwide.
Chinatown Health aims to improve access to quality health care for underserved Asian Americans and other vulnerable populations by supporting community-based health care services.
Japanese American National Museum promotes understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Japanese American experience.
Stand with Asian Americans supports Asian American communities through organizing and empowerment efforts.
Black@Braze:
Black Girl Ventures Foundation aims to provide underrepresented woman-identifying founders with access to community, capital, and capacity-building in order to meet business milestones that lead to economic advancement through entrepreneurship.
National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) supports Black individuals, families, and communities in strengthening the bonds and bridging the gaps between the movements for racial justice and LGBTQ+/SGL equity.
The Fifteen Percent Pledge is a call to action for major retailers and corporations to join in creating sustainable and supportive ecosystems for Black-owned businesses to succeed. They work with companies to comprehensively re-evaluate their organizational structures, ways of working, funding, and resourcing in order to implement meaningful change and create greater equity for Black businesses.
PRINCESS Foundation provides mentoring and empowerment programs for high school females in New Jersey. Their primary purpose is to address the unmet challenges faced by young women, guiding them toward success and empowerment.
Brown@Braze:
IKWRO provides advice and support to Middle Eastern, North African, and Afghan women and girls living in the UK who have experienced or are at risk of all forms of “honor” based abuse, including: Forced marriage, child marriage, and female genital mutilation, or domestic abuse by offering free advice, advocacy, and counseling services.
Udavum Karangal (Helping Hands) has the sole objective to serve people in need. The center provides individualized services including treatment, care, rehabilitation, and education.
Sewa International specializes in disaster relief and rehabilitation. Their development programs focus on family services; child, tribal, and refugee welfare; women empowerment; health; and education.
Elle@Braze:
Dress for Success empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
Girls Who Code works to close the gender gap in technology and to change the image of what a programmer looks like and does through coding clubs, summer programs, and college and career programs.
Ipas works globally to advance reproductive justice by expanding access to abortion and contraception.
Seeds of Fortune is a scholars program and ed tech platform creating the next generation of financially empowered young women of color. They help them apply for college scholarships and teach career, financial, and management skills.
World Central Kitchen is first on the frontlines, providing meals to communities impacted by natural disasters and during prolonged humanitarian crises, such as the war in Ukraine.
Healthy Minds@Braze:
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is a suicide prevention movement that provides free and confidential helpline and webchat for those who need to talk, among many other community and campaign services.
Jaya Mental Health aims to equip healthcare professionals and local people with the resources needed to cope with mental illness in South Asia.
The Alzheimer’s Association leads the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.
To Write Love On Her Arms is dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide.
Jews@Braze:
The Holocaust Educational Trust works to ensure that people from every background are educated about the Holocaust and the important lessons to be learned for today.
UJA-Federation of New York cares for Jews everywhere and New Yorkers of all backgrounds, responding to crises both close to home and far away, strengthening the local Jewish community, and building coalitions that promote inclusion.
Muslims@Braze:
Baitulmaal USA provides life-saving, life-sustaining, and life-enriching humanitarian aid to underserved populations around the world.
Global Deaf Muslim USA works to address the rights and needs of Deaf Muslims across the global ummah, increasing the access to Islamic information available in sign language.
Helping Hand for Relief and Development is a global humanitarian relief and development organization responding to human suffering in emergency and disaster situations around the world. In addition to emergency relief efforts in natural or man-made disasters, they also work on long-term relief and development programs.
Nisa Homes offers transitional homes for immigrant, refugee, non-status, and Muslim women who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Nisa Homes envision a flourishing Muslim community in which help is available, shelter is attainable, and healing is possible.
Parents@Braze:
Children International seeks to ensure children around the world have access to healthcare, food, and shelter, as well as learning and child protection services when children need it most.
Hello Nurze is a platform where medically complex families can find in-home nursing care and nurses can find opportunities to work with families in need.
We All Code’s mission is to introduce a diverse group of children to the fun of coding by providing free educational resources and hands-on classes.
Every Mother Counts aims to achieve quality, respectful, and equitable maternity care for all by giving grants and working with partners and thought leaders to increase awareness and mobilize communities to take action.
Pride@Braze:
Galop works directly with thousands of LGBT+ people in the UK who have experienced abuse and violence every year. They specialize in supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime, honor-based abuse, forced marriage, so-called conversion therapies, and other forms of interpersonal abuse.
The Ali Forney Center is committed to saving the lives of LGBTQ+ young people by protecting them from the harms of homelessness and empowering them with the tools needed to live independently.
The Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP) works to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine their gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment, discrimination, or violence.
56 Dean Street is an expert sexual health clinic in London that focuses on the needs of the LGBTQI+ community.
SOMOS:
GreenLatinos is an active community of Latino leaders confronting national and local environmental issues in the Latino community.
Forever Changed International is dedicated to providing holistic care for vulnerable children. Through Dorie’s Promise Orphan Care Home in Guatemala City, they offer a nurturing environment where children receive comprehensive support from trained professionals in pediatrics, education, social work, and child care.
The Colibrí Center for Human Rights works to create a safe, humane, and effective process for families of missing migrants to find answers.
Philanthropic giving is just one facet of our comprehensive social impact strategy. Through the Braze for Social Impact Fund, we are deeply committed to driving meaningful change and creating a lasting positive impact on underrepresented and underserved communities. We take immense pride in the difference these grants will make in the lives of individuals and the broader communities we strive to uplift.
To learn more about Braze and our social impact efforts, check out our 2024 ESG Report coming soon in July 2024. Check out last year’s report here.
Record Point, a member of the Pledge 1% community, is dedicated to making a positive impact in their local and global communities. They stand behind causes their employees are passionate about and align with their company’s values.
Record Point champions DV Safe Phones’ mission to supply ‘secure’ mobile phones to domestic violence survivors.
This collaboration has significantly transformed the lives of over 500 individuals impacted by domestic violence in Australia.
DV Safe Phone: A Lifeline for Domestic Violence Survivors
Founded by Ashton Wood in April 2020, DV Safe Phone is a unique initiative that strives to repurpose unused mobile phones from people’s drawers and place them in the hands of those who need them the most—domestic violence survivors. This program has been a beacon of hope for individuals who often find themselves isolated and in distress during emergencies due to the loss of their vital means of communication.
The DV Safe Phone initiative operates by providing refurbished mobile phones to domestic violence victims through partnerships with registered charities, safe houses, and authorities. These mobile phones act as lifelines for victims, enabling them to connect with loved ones and essential services, offering them a way out of abusive situations.
The impact of this initiative is not to be underestimated, as it has distributed over 6,800 life-saving devices, each one representing a transformed life through the gift of a safe phone. The collected old mobile phones donated by individuals play a vital role in this program, providing victims with a means to reach out for help and support during their most challenging moments, free of charge.
Get Involved and Make a Difference
The DV Safe Phone initiative’s mission is clear—to make a difference in the lives of domestic violence survivors by repurposing unused mobile phones. You can get involved by visiting https://dvsafephone.org/donate-phones to find out where you can donate your old mobile phone. Your contribution, no matter how small, can have a significant impact on someone’s life.
To gain a better understanding of the work, mission, and impact of DV Safe Phone, we encourage you to watch this video, https://tinyurl.com/dvsafephone, which offers a firsthand look at the positive changes this initiative is making in the lives of those affected by domestic violence.
Join the Movement
Record Point’s commitment to supporting causes like DV Safe Phone demonstrates how businesses can play a pivotal role in driving positive change. To learn more about DV Safe Phone and how you can contribute to this life-changing initiative, visit their website at https://dvsafephone.org/.
Your support and involvement are greatly appreciated as we strive to create a better, safer future for those affected by domestic violence.
Together, through collaboration and shared purpose, we can not only excel in business but also champion a brighter, sustainable future for all.
Originally posted here.
By: Gina Tesla
At Coupa we’re dedicated to unlocking purpose for the communities where we work and live. We believe in the exponential impact of working with our customers, partners and local communities to innovate and drive results on key societal issues. One of the causes we are dedicated to is environmental justice, and we were delighted when Salesforce Naomi Morenzoni Rebecca Ferguson agreed to jump into our Equal Air Project focused on the disproportionate effects of air pollution on marginalized communities. Salesforce and Coupa recognize that communities are an important element of a comprehensive climate strategy, that we must engage those most affected in meaningful solutions.
Together, we contributed expertise through Coupa’s Purpose in Action program, which partnered with nonprofits, Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet, Sustainable Silicon Valley, and Rise South City to improve their impact on local communities. We applaud nonprofits and their dedication to community-driven solutions and we recognize that we have an important role to play in supporting their success through strategic volunteerism, with key implementation partners such as Pyxera Global.
As a result of our blended Coupa and Salesforce teams, we dedicated nearly 1,000 hours, provided recommendations for scaling programs, expanded donor engagement and organizational strategy, created networks among the nonprofits, and are providing ongoing support through employee volunteerism.
We know that collaboration drives innovation, particularly when we engage diverse knowledge sets and experiences, which is why Coupa and Salesforce not only contributed expertise, but also learned together, with and from, our nonprofit partners which makes all of us stronger. Our employees benefited from stepping out of their comfort zones and day-to-day responsibilities to challenge themselves to apply their knowledge and lived experiences for the benefit of communities. This provided an opportunity for everyone to learn, grow and lead. We look forward to expanding this impact through the Pledge 1% network and beyond in 2024.
More about Coupa and Salesforce Purpose in Action Collaboration
Pyxera Global, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., boasts over 30 years of experience operating in over 100 countries. Its mission is to enhance global resilience by mobilizing the collective resources of corporations, governments, and communities to drive positive social and environmental change. Pyxera Global offers strategy, advisory, technical assistance, and implementation services to partners committed to incubating and accelerating community-driven solutions while bolstering local economies and respecting planetary boundaries. We partnered with Pyxera Global to help identify our nonprofit partners, develop challenge statements best suited for Coupa and Salesforce teams to address, and support team engagement throughout the project.
Acterra is a beacon of hope and innovation in fostering sustainable change. Dedicated to driving local solutions for a healthier planet, their focus ranges from promoting sustainable food systems and energy efficiency to advocating renewable energy and sustainable business practices. Our joint mission focused on amplifying Acterra’s outreach, arming them with insights that will motivate more individuals to embrace sustainable living. This included helping to identify new donors and opportunities for program growth. We also delivered technical and community engagement solutions to establish meaningful relationships across communities in the Bay Area for Acterra, including analysis of translation services, communications content, and partnership recommendations.
Sustainable Silicon Valley collaborates with an impressive array of stakeholders, from tech giants to local communities, to confront the Bay Area’s most pressing sustainability challenges. We worked to streamline the messaging surrounding the Youth Air Quality Advocate program by creating materials to secure funding, a roadmap and future recommendations for the program’s success and scalability. By doing so, we aim to empower a new generation to understand, measure, and counteract air pollution in their localities.
Lastly, our collaboration with Rise South City holds a special promise. Dedicated to facilitating critical dialogues about climate change and social equity, Rise South City stands at an exciting growth juncture. Our teams worked closely with them to craft a robust strategic plan, helping them solidify their organizational structure, governance, and standards of excellence.
By: Annie Field, Head of Community Impact, Contentful
This post is part of a special series to recognize Pledge 1% Members featured on the 2023 Cloud 100 List.
Why did you first decide to join Pledge 1%?
Contentful joined Pledge 1% to share the value that our business creates with the organizations that drive a positive impact on the broader world. Pledge 1% will allow us to provide charitable giving to organizations long into the future.
What does your Pledge 1% program look like in action?
Contentful has pledged 1% of its equity. This pledge ensures that as we grow, we’ll continue to make positive contributions to the world around us. This is in addition to our pro bono product and employee volunteer time off programs.
An example of this is The World Food Program’s ShareTheMeal app, which is built on the Contentful platform that enables anyone in the world to donate funds to support those suffering from food insecurity with the click of a button. Another nonprofit organization that Contentful is proud to work with is Breastcancer.org . It chose the Contentful platform when it launched its redesigned and re-platformed website to better serve its global community.
What have been some of the greatest highlights or impact moments to date?
We have more than 200 pro bono customers and, last year, gave away more than $2.5 million in product to nonprofits that use our platform to connect with their supporters and clients and elevate their mission. Additionally, Contentful employees have volunteered more than 1,000 hours this year, including trail clean-ups and volunteering at schools, food banks, youth education programs, and more.
What does it mean to you to be a Pledge 1% member on the Cloud 100 List?
“We’re extremely proud to be a part of Pledge 1%. By being intentional with our time and resources today, we can ensure our future impact is significant and purpose-driven.” Sascha Konietzke, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Contentful.
Pledge 1% aligns to our core value of Strive Together. With the combined power of all companies who have Pledged 1% – including our Cloud 100 peers — we can make a lasting, meaningful impact on our future by tackling the toughest issues of our time.
Can you share any quick tips or learnings you’ve gained while implementing your program?
It can feel daunting, but you must start. Another one of our core values is Growth Mindset. We have approached our program in this spirit and are actively learning and iterating daily. This includes measuring our impact and ensuring we are continuously telling the story of our impact to, hopefully, inspire others to action.
If you were to give one piece of advice to companies thinking about joining Pledge 1%, what would you say?
Join us! Pledge 1% is an opportunity to show how you live your values and be a part of something bigger than business, industry, or profits. Each Pledge 1% community member has a unique solution they’re offering their customers. Pledge 1% enables companies to create meaningful social impact from the value generated from that solution.
This post is part of a special series to recognize Pledge 1% Members featured on the 2023 Cloud 100 List.
Why did you first decide to join Pledge 1%?
We launched our Social Impact Office (SIO) two years ago with a vision of empowering nonprofits with access to cutting-edge technology, uplifting human lives through upskilling and reskilling—and encouraging our employees to participate in volunteering and community drives. As part of our SIO’s formal launch, we wanted to demonstrate the depth of our intention by making a Pledge 1% commitment for product and time. Our social impact focus areas (technology access, human economic uplift and community investment) align well with those of Pledge 1%, and we’re very excited to collaborate with and learn from our fellow technology members in the Cloud 100 community.
What does your Pledge 1% program look like in action?
1% Product:
- Our mission is to fuel the future of work by helping every organization build a digital workforce to increase their productivity and growth. Combining generative AI and automation, our technology is unlocking the next wave of productivity for our non-profit and social enterprise partners, and those they serve. Automation empowers nonprofits to save time and resources to focus more on their mission—the kind of work only humans can do. We also aim to make the future of work more inclusive and equitable by affording underrepresented groups greater opportunity for employment in the tech arena and bridging the wealth gap.
- Our automation helps impact partners to become more efficient, provide more programs and services for more beneficiaries and maximize their limited resources. We offer a starter package for verified nonprofits and social enterprises with discount pricing of 75% off.
- We have carefully designed a free upskilling/reskilling curriculum that is welcoming to communities that fast-developing technologies typically leave behind, such as minorities, women, working mothers, veterans, refugees, people with lower incomes and those with disabilities. These groups may have little time or resources to invest in traditional learning, and our curriculum offers them feasible alternatives: An accessible low-code/no-code platform; bite-sized, self-paced learning modules; certifications that take months rather than years to achieve and scholarships for certification exams; connections to engage with our user and developer community.
1% Time:
- Our four days of paid Voluntary Time Off (VTO) and a #GoGiveBack volunteer campaign each year offer our employees opportunities to support our impact partners and other organizations and causes—and bring resources to work for good around the world.
What have been some of the greatest highlights or impact moments to date?
A major part of our program is providing technology access for nonprofits. Ukrainian NGOs like Step with Hope are providing relief to 18 million people needing assistance. Responding to backlogs of up to 1,500+ aid requests, Automation Anywhere, Center for Humanitarian Technology (CFHT), and other partners collaborated to expedite this NGO’s refugee relief efforts through automation technology. Our first automation turned Telegram relief requests into help desk tickets that accelerated aid delivery, eased the request process for refugees and mitigated capacity complications caused by backlogged requests. A second “Help ID” bot later processed relief center sign-ins and allowed volunteers to refocus away from information collection and reporting to providing actual aid. Within 6 weeks, the NGO responded to >400% more requests, processing 17,500 aid requests from 14,000+ Ukrainians. The NGO repurposed 400 volunteer hours into time for essential direct relief. Due to new efficiencies, the NGO expanded from 18 to 25 centers.
We also believe that volunteering begins at the top; in December 2022, Automation Anywhere’s CEO Mihir Shukla and his direct reports came together as a team in one afternoon to process 1,000 backlogged requests for aid as part of a data cleanup for Step with Hope. Team members described the experience as “eye-opening,” saying, “you can see some of the very real struggles people are having” and that this created a new perspective of how companies like ours can step in to support the critical work of nonprofits.”
We also focus on upskilling and reskilling people in the workforce. In 2021 and 2022,
- 71,800+ non-paying learners completed 270,500+ training hours at Automation Anywhere University or through social impact partners
- 106,400+ accessed free Community Edition Licenses for Automation Anywhere’s flagship platform, Automation 360.
- Spencer George transitioned from his job as a cook at a fast-food franchise in the U.S. Mississippi Delta to become a PeopleShores associate, becoming an automation student, then a developer, and most recently a trainer for local community college students. He now has the potential to earn nearly ten times the income of a short-order cook.
- “Mohamad,” who fled Syria to Turkey, embarked on an AI-automation reskilling journey through Robo Co-op, a refugee-led cooperative for digital inclusion. He now “pays it forward” by training other refugees from various parts of the world, including Ukraine.
- Gloria Jackson, an entrepreneur from Botswana, Africa, chose to participate in leriba.ai’s 1 Million Women in Intelligent Automation program to stay relevant in her field.
What does it mean to you to be a Pledge 1% member on the Cloud 100 List?
Participation in Pledge 1% demonstrates our commitment to supporting human enablement for societal good, and we are excited and proud to be working shoulder-to-shoulder alongside the other amazing Cloud 100 technology companies.
From Day 1, we envisioned our technology as part of the foundation for an equitable society. We’re passionate about democratizing access to tech-enabled career pathways with digital reskilling that empowers learners from all communities and all walks of life, who may have talent and passion but little opportunity. As only truly diverse teams can build ethical AI, we’re striving for the kind of societal transformation leading to greater inclusion at the decision-making level, especially when it comes to building and working with AI.
The commitment of our leaders and our four company values have fueled our ability to come together and deliver automations to answer urgent, time-sensitive needs of impact partners. Our award-winning work with the NHS throughout COVID is an example of how living our four values works to solve global challenges.
1. Passion (Embracing challenges and goals with persistence and urgency). Our one-of-a-kind relationship with the UK’s National Health Service is a global impact partnership. Based on a commitment of additional internal resources from our highest levels to help the NHS fight COVID in any way possible, our time and services far exceed our contractual business relationship. The Automation Anywhere team worked overnight, side-by-side with NHS hospital IT staff to build the Oxygen Bot.
2. Innovation (Using our creative skills, ideas and capabilities to delight our impact partners, surpassing their expectations). When numerous COVID patients needed oxygen treatment, overwhelmed NGH staff were asked to check the hospital’s oxygen tank levels every hour, instead of every six. Logging into systems and collecting readings from the tanks each time was critical to ensure adequate supply levels for patients—but overwhelmed staff needed relief. In just 12 hours, they built a 100% accurate, 24×7 reliable “Oxygen Bot” that improves clinical safety and gives more than 1,500 hours a year back to staff. NGH became the first known hospital to monitor oxygen tank levels with robotic process automation (RPA.) “Launch of the Oxygen Bot gave us confidence in automation and proved that innovation doesn’t need to stop in a crisis,” says NHS’ Head of Emerging Technology. “Delivering precious time back to our colleagues at the height of the pandemic gave us the courage to explore automation further and with other NHS organizations.”
3. Customer First (Caring that inspires us into action based on partner feedback, data, and stories) A team of approximately 30 Automation Anywhere employees, ranging from engineers, who built the Oxygen Bot, to a company co-founder and many global executives, stood ready to work with the NHS as needed for pandemic response.
4. One Team One Goal (Agreeing on and establishing goals and plans to deliver as a team). The collaboration lived on, sparking other automations across dozens of NHS entities in 2021. Together, Automation Anywhere and the NHS wrote a whitepaper series that is a blueprint on how digital automation can be built and delivered to large healthcare systems worldwide.
Can you share any quick tips or learnings you’ve gained while implementing your program?
Assemble all stakeholders at the same table, especially when launching cross-sector initiatives. What made our support of Ukrainian relief agency Step with Hope successful was partnering with several companies to share all our strengths rather than as a silo.
If you were to give one piece of advice to companies thinking about joining Pledge 1%, what would you say?
You can start as big or small as you’d like, and there are greater ways to give than just traditional corporate philanthropy.
“Look inward to find what makes sense for your business – for us it was giving through our product/technology and time.”
By: Ashley Ladd, Head of Diversity, Inclusion & Social Impact, Snyk
This post is part of a special series to recognize Pledge 1% Members featured on the 2023 Cloud 100 List.
Why did Snyk first decide to join Pledge 1%?
When we launched Snyk Impact our intent has always been to harness the power of our technology, resources, and community to enable a more secure, inclusive, and sustainable tech industry. Through our partnership with Pledge 1%, we were able to double down our commitment to make lasting positive social change that will remain a fundamental part of our business strategy for years to come.
We wanted to ensure we don’t just “talk the talk” but “walk the walk,” and our partnership with Pledge 1% allows us to do just that.
What does your Pledge 1% program look like in action?
Our Pledge 1% program is an integral part of our Snyk Impact program. At Snyk, we’re on a mission to make the digital world a safer place and we believe that a safer world starts with one that reflects all of us. Our program is comprised of mission pillars that help us ground our work. From operating sustainably to embedding Inclusion and Impact programs globally, we are committed to partnering with organizations that want to change the world.
Snyk’s core values secure our deeply connected culture and help us to foster a more secure, inclusive, and sustainable company where everyone feels like they belong. Our program includes strategic nonprofit partnerships, a matching grants program, skills, and non-skills-based volunteer opportunities, Volunteer Time Off for all Snyk employees, and sustainability initiatives like measuring and reporting our Greenhouse Gas emissions as well as being a certified Carbon Neutral company. Snyk Impact also offers a 1:1 donation match up to $500/year (or local currency equivalent) for eligible employee donations to registered charitable organizations worldwide.
What have been some of the greatest highlights or impact moments to date?
Supporting local causes and crises is something we care deeply about at Snyk. Through our annual Snyk Week of Impact global volunteer event, we’ve brought together over 200+ Snykers to do good in the communities where they live and work.
As a company, we are proud of raising $300,000 for Ukraine Relief as well as $12,025 for Turkey and Syria Earthquake Disaster relief with funds going to organizations like NuDay, UNICEF, and Doctors without Borders.
In January 2023, we hosted three company-wide meal-packing projects with Rise Against Hunger, a global movement to end hunger by empowering communities, nourishing lives, and responding to emergencies. Our events brought together Snyk employees in London, Boston, and Sydney where we accomplished 275,000 meals packed!
In 2019, Snyk achieved CarbonNeutral® certification in accordance with The CarbonNeutral Protocol, the leading global framework for carbon neutrality. We have operated as carbon neutral ever since, and are working with environmental consultant Climate Impact Partners to further reduce our carbon emissions and operate even more sustainably. As we welcome new employees globally, we plant 1 tree for every new Snyker hired through our partnership with One Tree Planted.
What does it mean to you to be a Pledge 1% member on the Cloud 100 List?
Snyk Impact aligns with our Care Deeply value and keeps us connected to our customers, partners, and our broader community. It means so much to us to be amongst the ranks of such incredible companies but also companies that are doing good in the world. We are proud to be on the Cloud 100 List and making a difference through our work globally.
If you were to give one piece of advice to companies thinking about joining Pledge 1%, what would you say?
In today’s world, everything seems to be about instant gratification. If we want to make a real, lasting impact and change in our world, we have to play the long game. There are no shortcuts and quick fixes for the social and environmental challenges we face and in order to address them head-on, we need to work together and ensure we create a world that future generations can be proud of. Partnering with Pledge 1% helps you find the organizations that care deeply about making a difference and changing the world – we’re stronger together!
By: Bernadette Nixon, CEO, Algolia, Inc
This post is part of a special series to recognize Pledge 1% Members featured on the 2023 Cloud 100 List.
Why did you first decide to join Pledge 1%?
After researching the positive impact that Pledge 1% had to offer and speaking with other CEOs at a Pledge 1% event, I was inspired by the mission of Pledge 1% and how well the organization aligns with Algolia’s values. Joining the Pledge 1% became a no-brainer!
What does your Pledge 1% program look like in action? What does your program involve?
To honor our pledge, we chose to allocate 1% of our employees’ time to volunteerism, or about 3 days each fiscal year. We signed the pledge in February 2023 and kicked off our Global Giving Days program in June. While charitable matching and donations have been a core action of our value of care since our founding, our inaugural Giving Day in June marked the beginning of our formalized social purpose program and collaboration as a global team to give back.
Our People Success team has organized in-person and virtual events for our global team to provide each Algolian the opportunity to participate however they choose. We also encourage team members with existing relationships with non-profit organizations to use their time to volunteer with those groups.
About 350 Algolians participated in this inaugural event. We used their feedback to fine-tune our program to appeal to even more team members. Our second Global Giving Day was September 29th and we organized activities within our communities including in Paris, London, Sydney, Boston, Atlanta, and Austin, to directly impact our non-profit partners’ beneficiaries.
What have been some of the greatest highlights or impact moments to date?
Our employees have expressed both excitement to give back as well as connect with colleagues both in their regions and around the world. I am so proud that our Global Giving Day transcended borders with in-person events in seven cities worldwide and spanning across four different time zones.
At our first event in June, Algolians around the world rolled up their sleeves and came together in-person to make a tangible difference. In cities from Atlanta to Sydney, our teams assembled kits for children with learning differences, crafted book bundles for underserved communities, designed STEM kits to inspire young women, and more. The cities that hosted these impactful gatherings included Atlanta, Boston, NYC, SF, London, Paris, and Sydney.
Our virtual events were equally impactful, with participants joining from EMEA, US East Coast, US West Coast, and APAC regions. Team members enjoyed recorded audio stories to educate children about science, curated a job board of LGBTQ+ friendly employers, and created educational audiobooks, among other endeavors.
One of the most heartwarming aspects of our Global Giving Day was the impact it had on beneficiaries and participants alike. An Algolian shared:
“I’ve seen that I can help people from my home…it added meaning to my day. I appreciate that Algolia put this opportunity in front of me and prepared everything so all I had to do was say yes to a calendar invite.” – Algolia employee
“The idea of being able to help those in need is very powerful and motivating. I am happy to work for a company that shares these values.” – Algolia employee
Cradles to Crayons, a beneficiary that our colleagues in Boston supported by creating bundles of books for underserved communities, expressed their gratitude for Algolia:
“Your dedication and enthusiasm in creating these bundles for children from marginalized families have made a lasting impact on their lives. Your commitment to our cause is truly inspiring, and we cannot express enough how appreciative we are for your generosity. These book bundles will not only provide educational opportunities but also spark joy and imagination in the hearts of the little ones we serve. Thank you for being a beacon of hope and for making a difference in the lives of these children.”
What does it mean to you to be a Pledge 1% member on the Cloud 100 List? How are you leading with your values as a business?
We are delighted to be among such an amazing group of innovative and impactful organizations striving to make the world a better place! At Algolia, we strive to live by our core values each day as we know many of our peers on the Cloud 100 list do as well. Our pledge and all social purpose programs demonstrate our value of care and commitment to acting with meaningful purpose for the good of our peers, our customers, the community, and Algolia as a whole.
Can you share any quick tips or learnings you’ve gained while implementing your program?
I think the first step is to think about the needs of your organization and how those may align to implementing a social purpose program. At Algolia, as I am sure for many other companies, team members are seeking opportunities for these connections.. We chose volunteerism to honor our pledge and bring our people together. We are thankful to Pledge 1% for providing the structure and opportunity to do so.
If you were to give one piece of advice to companies thinking about joining Pledge 1%, what would you say?
Simply do it! Allocating time is the easiest way to honor your pledge and if you set the days ahead of time during your fiscal year planning process, then they are already embedded into the calendar. You can partner with a vendor or manage the program in-house, depending on your resources. It’s a great opportunity to bring your team together and have some fun while importantly giving back.