Author: Vivian Chiang

What if the next great inventor, scientist, or innovator is sitting at your local library, their curiosity sparked by a simple yet profound question: What can I do with data?

At Atrium, we’re all about humans helping other humans make sense of data, and providing the resources to help people and organizations solve business problems with AI and analytics. We believe that the magic of data and the power of AI isn’t in their complexity or intelligence—it’s in their ability to inspire curiosity, creativity, and connection…. and that often starts with young people! 

The spark of curiosity can begin in the unlikeliest of places—like your local library, where kids are checking out their favorite books, gathering for storytime, or simply letting their imaginations run wild. Sometimes, the most transformative stories start right there, in those quiet corners of possibility.

The story I am excited to share is about Data Detectives, a program born from a desire to make AI and data not just accessible but exciting and empowering for kids. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that when you give young minds the tools to explore, they’ll surprise you in ways you never imagined. Kids don’t see a cardboard box, they see an entire space station ready to blast off into the galaxy. 

How It All Began: The Creation of Data Detectives

Armed with a passion for teaching and a commitment to giving back, our team set out to create something unique—an initiative that would bring data literacy to life for children aged 5-10.

We wanted to show kids that AI isn’t just a buzzword or a mysterious force behind their screens. It’s something they can engage with, understand, and even have fun with. That’s how Data Detectives came to life: a series of playful, hands-on lessons designed to make data and AI relatable and exciting.

And so, with detective hats on and magnifying glasses in hand, the first group of young Data Detectives set off on their learning adventure.

The Journey: Bringing Data to Life

In partnership with the Brownsburg Public Library in central Indiana, we piloted Data Detectives in 2024, running four sessions that blended storytelling, problem-solving, and hands-on activities.

Pictured: Vivian Chiang (right) with our collaborator Megan McCain (left), 

K-12 STEM Enrichment Coordinator, Brownsburg Public Library.

With each session, something magical unfolded. The children’s imaginations lit up as they explored concepts like AI, coding, and data visualization. Alongside them were our passionate volunteers—data professionals by day but big buddies at the event—guiding, encouraging, and sharing their expertise with enthusiasm. Each session became a chapter in their journey, where learning felt like play, and discovery sparked excitement.

Pictured: Kristin Mangan, one of our Lead Strategy Consultants, reading <How to Code a Sandcastle> to the kids.

Our sessions included:

1. AI in Our Phones: The kids discovered how AI recognizes voices and images, connecting the technology to everyday moments like using a smartphone.

Pictured: Tyler Pollard, one of our Lead Analytics Consultants, 

explaining how we use AI for voice recognition in our phones.  

Pictured: Kristin Mangan, one of our Lead Strategy Consultants, 

reading a book about AI.

2. Data Visualization Using Tableau: Armed with colorful charts and graphs, they learned to tell stories with data, uncovering insights and patterns along the way.

Guiding the children on collecting data and creating a bar chart using Tableau (hugs and fist bumps included).

3. Programmatic Thinking: Through playful activities like coding a sandcastle, they grasped foundational coding concepts like loops and sequences.

Pictured: Maddie Fuchs, one of our Data Scientists, reading <How to Code a SandCastle> to the kids.

Pictured: Cary Martin, one of our Analytics Consultants, demonstrating how to use sequences and loops 

to program a robot’s movements.

Creative Sandcastles

4. Magic Machine: Their grand finale was building simple AI models, exploring neural networks, and seeing the magic of machine learning come to life.

Pictured: Maddie Neely, one of our data scientists, working with the kids to train an AI model 

to identify and distinguish different bug types.

Each session ended with a sense of accomplishment, the kids beaming with pride as they earned their certificates of completion. But the real reward was the spark in their eyes—that unmistakable look of curiosity ignited.

Why We Do This: A Data-Driven Mission to Share Knowledge and Build Community 

At Atrium, giving back to our local communities isn’t just something we do—it’s who we are as an organization and a team. And Pledge 1% is a key part of that.

Pictured: Our CO crew in action! (Left) Volunteering at the Food Bank of the Rockies to help prepare meals. 

(Right) Supporting the Transgender Center of the Rockies through volunteer efforts.

Pictured: Our Indy crew teamed up with Home Repairs for Good 

to provide home repair support for older homeowners with disabilities.

Pictured: Our Jaipur crew brought the joy of a movie experience to the children at Aashray Care Home in India.

“Pledge 1% is one of the most transformative corporate initiatives in the Salesforce ecosystem,” said Atrium CEO Chris Heineken. “We’re proud to have made Pledge 1% a cornerstone of our culture, as it makes our work more meaningful and creates amazing purpose for our team. Our social good initiatives like Data Detectives allow our team members to put their technical expertise to work in their local communities and for our nonprofit customers across the world.”

From the beginning, we’ve believed that education is the key to unlocking potential, especially when it comes to data and AI. We’ve seen firsthand how empowering people with the tools and knowledge to ask the right questions can lead to meaningful and long-term success. 

For us, it’s not about flashy promises or quick fixes. It’s about keeping things transparent, understandable, and measurable. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about creating technology; it’s about making sure it can truly make a difference in people’s lives.

This philosophy is at the core of Data Detectives—we’re not selling anything but knowledge! Knowledge is the first step in transforming curiosity into courage, especially when it comes to technology, which young people are engaging with earlier and earlier these days.

By partnering with local libraries, we’re building a bridge between businesses and communities, making data literacy accessible to all. We envision a world in which every child has the tools to ask better questions, solve bigger problems, and embrace the possibilities of technology. 

Join Us in Shaping the Future

I hope our story inspires you—whether you’re a parent, educator, business leader, or someone who simply wants to make a difference—to explore creative ways to get involved in your community. From supporting local libraries to launching your own initiatives, every effort counts! We’d love for you to join us in empowering the next generation.

Data Detectives Facilitators: (from left to right) Cary Martin, Maddie Neely, Vivian Chiang, Tyler Pollard,

Maddie Fuchs, and Megan McCain

Author: Chess Jakobs

When we launched the Culture Amp Foundation, we shared our mission to make a better world of work more attainable. To realize that mission, we engaged Culture Amp employees, customers, partners, non-profit leaders, and prospective grantees to understand how we are uniquely positioned to support impactful organizations.

Our inaugural grantee, Indigitek, focuses its programming on increasing the percentage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in STEM Careers in Australia. With our support, Indigitek funded marketing and production costs to expand its reach, supported staffing needs to implement its programs, and developed its educational platform so that educators around Australia can use the tools necessary to provide STEM education to students faster.

One of our company values is learning faster through feedback. By piloting an unrestricted grant program in close partnership with Indigitek, we have seen that unrestricted grants enable nonprofits to achieve their mission more effectively than the alternative standard practice– telling nonprofit leaders what to do every step of the way. If we want to help nonprofits turn their visions into realities, we must also trust the leaders of these organizations to do what is best to make that possible.

We have decided to expand our grantee portfolio and onboard new nonprofits that can utilize our unrestricted grants. This increases financial health and flexibility of use, whether investing in employee engagement and culture or expanding their fundraising capacity. It promotes innovation, empowering nonprofits to engage in the research and development necessary to pioneer marvels of social impact. It helps expand capacity, giving organizations autonomy to invest in technology upgrades or rising operational costs that all contribute to their mission and ours.

Welcoming six new Culture Amp Foundation Grantees

We are excited to welcome six new grantees who are making a better world of work more attainable for all people, including but not limited to first-generation college graduates, people impacted by the justice system, people who do not have access to decent work, and/or those who are transitioning to work that benefits society at large.

• BLK Men in Tech provides access, resources, and a community for Black men in the tech space and those interested in entering the industry. They focus on supporting the next generation of tech leaders and helping Black men accelerate into leadership.


• Color in Tech expands the range of inclusive pathways into the tech industry by partnering with leading tech companies to foster environments where diverse talent thrives. As creators of Europe’s largest event for diverse professionals, they have built a network of over 60,000 people, providing connections and opportunities at every stage.


• COOP Careers has almost 2000 fellows in five cities completing their fellowship annually. They help their fellows build the professional skills and networks that first-generation college graduates need to secure their first job after graduation. Their unique career accelerator brings together peer cohorts of 16 motivated, un/underemployed first-gen grads who meet nightly for 16 weeks (200 hours) to jumpstart their careers in digital marketing, data analytics, and financial services.


• The Karrkad Kanjdji Trust (KKT) supports women’s ranger programs that enable First Nations women to overcome the disadvantages of remoteness and access culturally-appropriate employment, training and leadership opportunities while caring for their custodial lands. KKT is a shared resource for eight First Nations community-controlled organisations in Arnhem Land today. It funds innovative on-Country employment opportunities, supports the preservation and revitalisation of culture, and the conservation of over 50,000 square kilometres of land and sea Country.


• The Last Mile provides opportunities for personal and professional growth for justice-impacted individuals through education and technology training. TLM develops job-ready employees who transition from incarceration to employment with the support of TLM’s reentry team. Fellows in the TLM program are trained in Web Development, Audio Video Production and coming soon Entrepreneurship, Music Management, Sales, Marketing, Project Management, and more.


• Work on Climate is on a mission to build the workforce to solve climate change equitably and justly. It has built the world’s largest online community for professionals working in climate change or seeking to enter the field. Through its programs, 3,000+ people have found climate jobs, and 3,000+ climate founders have been unblocked on their company journeys.

Our offerings do not stop at our monetary commitments. Our grantees are also eligible for a product grant, allowing them to leverage the Culture Amp platform to boost performance, engage employees, and develop talent. They can also utilize our employee volunteering program, which includes up to 40 pro-bono hours per year per employee. Employees can use their unique skills to help organizations achieve their missions. As a Pledge 1% Builder and B-Corporation, we know first-hand the importance of businesses giving back in more ways than one.

In the words of Culture Amp Co-Founder and CEO Didier Elzinga, “The Culture Amp Foundation is where what we do as an organization meets who we are as an organization.” We are familiar with taking innovative approaches to building. It is at the core of who we are as a company, and that is the same standard we have for the Culture Amp Foundation.

Author: Randall Ward, Co-founder and CEO of Appfire

On this Giving Tuesday I want to take a moment to talk about the other side of community and philanthropy: sharing my perspective from the receiving end of charitable giving and the transformative impact even the smallest gestures can make.

I lost my dad to cancer when I was 7 and my sister and I were raised by a single mom. We lived in a rundown apartment and my mom had to make really tough tradeoffs on a monthly basis, like “Do we want hot water, or toilet paper and essentials?” We lived slightly above the poverty line of $9,862 in 1982 which meant we were labeled as “low income,” or a family whose total income was less than 200% of the poverty threshold. Because of this, we didn’t qualify for relief programs and at the time there weren’t many anyway. Today that line is $31,200 for a family of four.

The United States is considered the richest country in the world, and yet in 2024, 37.9 million (11.5%) American families live in poverty. Add another ~93 million (29%) Americans who live with incomes less than double their poverty threshold. This translates to 40% of the U.S. population who are disconnected from the social safety net and in need of assistance programs to unlock basic human needs such as food, housing, medicine, mental health care, employment, transportation, and education.

Although statistically we were poor, we were fortunate to live in a community with many selfless people who gave generously. Whether donating money, clothing, food, transportation, shelter, or time, they gave often, sometimes without knowing the magnitude of their giving. These are just some of the ways that support took shape:

• • The Bariteau family provided daycare so my mom could work two jobs. Daryl Bariteau helped raise me and to this day, I consider her my “other mom.”
  • The Hsia family donated money necessary for me to join and participate in Scouting and afterschool programs, and Dr. Hsia was the single most influential person in my life while growing up. Dr. Hsia taught me the importance of integrity and of keeping my word, pushed me to see things through, reminded me that patience through collaboration is a critical skill, showed me that small course corrections lead to big changes over time, and provided so many more lessons like these that I was able to apply while growing Appfire years later.
  • The Dyers donated money so we could join the ski program, an activity I still enjoy today.
  • The Davis family donated food that they grew, their children (older than us) gave us their hand-me-down clothing, and when I was a teenager Mr. Davis hired me to work on their farm and taught me to drive.
  • The Batsons gave my mom a loan to start her own business, a third job to help bring in supplemental income, and paid for us to go on camping trips. Bob Batson taught me engineering principles and at 15, I worked with his startup, Electric Vehicles of America, helping convert small pickup trucks from gas to electric. This was decades before Tesla and still one of my fondest childhood memories.
  • Jean Haynes paid for our instruments so my sister and I could join the band and choir. My sister spent much of her older teenage years circling the globe in a traveling choir. I still play music. Jean also helped me buy my first car and then years later loaned me money to go to college.
  • The Seeleys and Crowthers allowed me to sleep on their couches for a two-year period, from age 15 until 17 when my mom was hospitalized and I became homeless.
  • Steve Morrissey became a father figure, mentor, and coach.
  • The McMahons checked on my mom, sister, and me frequently and gave selflessly in so many ways: time, food, and, while I was homeless during high school, a place to sleep at their house 2-3 times per week. Their daughter Kerri became my best friend, and as teens, we talked on the phone every day for hours.

These are the givers I knew, but there were countless others too — some anonymous and some that I wish I could remember today to honor them in memory.

My life was positively shaped and changed by these generous givers to whom I credit many of my interests and passions, as well as my creativity, success, and my own philanthropic efforts through Pledge 1%, Appfire Town, and more — and without whom I would have walked a very different path.

On this Giving Tuesday and every day that you are able, I challenge you to give back in whatever way you can. Your giving can make a difference in the lives of millions of families, just like my own, that are in need today, tomorrow, and beyond.

About Randall

Randall Ward is the co-founder and CEO of Appfire. He is committed to helping teams everywhere tackle their biggest challenges by breaking down silos, boosting productivity, modernizing their tech stacks, and adding value to the platforms they already have. He began his career as a telecommunications signaling engineer and spent the past 25 years building and scaling software companies, from early-stage through IPO and acquisition, including Boston Communications Group (1996) and Net.Genesis (2000). He has consulted and worked for Boston Scientific, Oracle and Vodafone, and helped architect MIT’s OpenCourseWare platform. Randall also held a technology advisory role for LFM/SDM, one of MIT Sloan School of Management’s most prestigious programs, and worked as a visual learning researcher at Stanford University. He is an investor and advisor to emerging enterprise software companies in the US and Australia and is actively involved with investments in virtual workspaces, AI advancements in healthcare, and software automation. He firmly believes that making a positive impact is integral to business and proudly serves as a member of the Pledge 1% Global Visionary Council.

About Appfire

Appfire is the leading global provider of software that enhances, extends, and connects the world’s leading platforms to make work flow any way teams want to work, from planning to product ideation, product development, project delivery, and beyond. Appfire increases the value of platforms such as Atlassian, Microsoft, monday.com, and Salesforce, enabling teams to thrive and do their best work together. With more than one million users, Appfire’s popular solutions are helping teams with Enterprise Collaboration, DevOps, Workflow & Automation, Product Portfolio Management, IT Service Management (ITSM), Document Management, Business Intelligence and Reporting, Administrative Tools, Agile Tools, Developer Tools, Time Tracking, Publishing, and Integrations. Appfire has been selling its popular software products on the Atlassian Marketplace since it first launched in 2012, and today Appfire has the most widely adopted portfolio of Atlassian apps across tens of thousands of customers worldwide. Learn more at www.appfire.com.

Original article here

Author: Proctorio

Proctorio announced today that it has joined Pledge 1%, a global movement to create a new normal for companies of all sizes and stages to have a positive social impact through their business. Proctorio is joining over 18,000 companies around the world who have committed to Pledge 1% of company resources. We are proud to announce our commitment to donate 1% of time to the local community.

Proctorio is dedicated to philanthropy through initiatives that support educational access and digital equity, aiming to bridge the gap for underserved communities. Our commitment extends to partnering with organizations that focus on expanding learning opportunities and providing resources to those in need. Since the beginning, Proctorio has helped over 52 charities with a growing employee participation rate of 83%, making a $550,000+ impact on the community to date. We aim to hit our 1% goal of 1,430 volunteer hours by the end of 2025, and hope to continuously increase our goal as the years go on.

“At Proctorio, we believe that giving back is not just a responsibility but a core part of our mission. By pledging 1% of our time, we’re investing in the communities that have supported our growth while allowing us to increase opportunities for education in ways that align with our values. We’re honored to be part of this global movement and look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together.” – Mike Olsen, Founder & CEO of Proctorio

Proctorio is proud to join the Pledge 1% community and encourages other companies to take the pledge and leverage their business as a force for good.

To learn more about Proctorio’s program, visit https://proctorio.com/about/sustainability or contact press@proctorio.com.

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 18,000 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.

Author: Eleda Towle

What is the name of your company?

Triple Mountain, located in Hiram, Maine.

What do you do?

We are a niche collectibles business, catering to model horse collectors and LEGO™ collectors. We are a mom-and-pop business, but we ship models to collectors around the world. We sell both “regular” retail items and also vintage pieces on consignment, with an inventory of over 5,000 items.

Why did you choose to take the Pledge?

We were already donating 1% to charities using the Give & Grow app by Pledgify (through Shopify), as well as helping our local animal shelter and other local non-profits before we heard of Pledge 1%. We believe that businesses have the power to positively impact their communities and the responsibility to do so. We joined Pledge 1% as a way to be part of a community of like-minded businesses and as a way to display our pledge to customers.

If you could share one story about your company’s impact, what would it be? 

There’s not one single “big” story I can share because a small business’s greatest impact is made in a series of small stories. As an animal-centric business, many of our impacts revolve around animals. As word came of horses and livestock trapped in the flood waters of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, we set up a fundraiser and donated 20% of our profits to the Texas Equine Veterinary Association, which spearheaded rescue efforts by boat and treated, fed, and housed animals they found until their owners could reclaim them. After the horrific attack in Lewiston, Maine, we donated all of our profits to the fund set up to help survivors and victims’ families with medical or burial costs. 

We have a permanent consignment sales account set up for our regional animal shelter. Since 2016, people have donated model horses to the account, and when they sell, the proceeds have gone to the shelter, raising over $10,000 to date. The benefit of being a small business is that we can pivot quickly when there is a need and we can be ready to help within hours.

How do you measure the impact of your Pledge?

Being a mom-and-pop business, we don’t need to document or measure impacts like a corporation might; instead, we measure impact by the help we are able to offer our community. We visit many of the nonprofits we help, such as Harvest Hills Animal Shelter and Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center, and see firsthand the ways our contributions are helping.  It’s a great joy to have the means to help others.

What advice would you give to other small but mighty companies that are thinking about taking the Pledge?

If you have a small business, you are probably already active in your community. Why not put that love for your community into writing and use it in your marketing? As much as we help our neighbors in Western Maine, they return that kindness many-fold by shopping with us and spreading the word that our business helps area non-profits.

Original article here

Author: Brooke White

This year, KCare is proudly pledging 1% of our profits to Voices for Children reaffirming our ongoing commitment to giving back to our community. Voices for Children is a nonprofit organization that pairs caring volunteer advocates with children in foster care, ensuring these children have a voice and a champion—someone who is always looking out for their best interests.

What is a Court Appointed Special Advocate? 

Children in foster care have often experienced abuse and neglect, and they are unprepared to navigate the complexities of social workers, court hearings, attorney visits, new homes, and new schools that come with the dependency system. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are volunteers from all backgrounds who commit to advocating for the needs of the child or sibling group they are matched with. 

A CASA foster care advocate routinely reports on a child’s progress and needs, communicates with professionals on their behalf, and provides judges with insights to help make informed decisions about the child’s future. Court Appointed Special Advocates also assist with practical problem-solving, such as ensuring a child gets glasses or their records are transferred to a new school, so none of the little things get overlooked. Over time, a CASA often becomes the most consistent person in a child’s life, creating a caring and reliable presence for a child in foster care. 

Meet Tati Fregosi, a Court Appointed Special Advocate & One of Our Own 

Original article here

Author: codefortynine GmbH

Since 2019, we are proud to be a member of Pledge 1%. This initiative has inspired us to give back part of our success to the community. What started with 1% has now grown to an impressive 10% of our profits, which we donate each year to charitable causes. 

Our Passion for Giving

Our donation practice at codefortynine is more than just an obligation—it’s a passion. The selection of donation recipients is a collective effort: Every employee has the opportunity to present organizations they care about. We then vote together and distribute the donation sum to the chosen organizations. This democratic approach ensures our donations carry a personal touch and reach those who truly need them.

We support various areas, including environmental protection, aiding children and families in need, and promoting open-source projects that enrich our daily work. We are particularly proud of our continuous support for projects dedicated to climate protection. For instance, we offset all our company flight emissions through atmosfair, contributing positively to the reduction of CO₂ and other emissions.

Responding to Global Events

A particularly challenging moment was the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. We immediately initiated donations to support the urgently needed humanitarian aid. This demonstrates how flexible and committed our team is in responding to global events.

“Being part of a company that really cares about making a difference is incredibly rewarding. The democratic approach to selecting donation recipients means that every voice is heard and every cause we support is close to our hearts. It’s inspiring to see how our collective efforts can make a real difference in the world.”

– Markus, Operations Director

Highlighting Special Initiatives

One memorable event was our special raffle at Atlassian Team ’24 in Las Vegas. It enabled the winner to donate $49,000 to an impactful campaign. He chose to donate to UNICEF, helping to support children in need around the world. This event highlights our commitment to making a difference in the world.

Our journey with Pledge 1% has brought us closer together as a company and as a team. We are proud to see the difference our joint efforts can make. We remain committed to our mission and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact on the world through our donations.

A Balanced Approach

At codefortynine, we believe in making a difference both locally and globally. Our donations reflect our commitment to supporting causes that matter in our home country. We are dedicated to contributing to national initiatives that support our local communities and environment, such as the Kinderschutzbund Karlsruhe and the Stiftung THW.

At an international level, our contributions to organizations such as atmosfair and UNICEF ensure that our impact is felt globally. By supporting climate protection initiatives and humanitarian aid measures, we want to tackle global challenges and help people in need worldwide.

Our balanced approach to supporting both national and international causes underscores our dedication to making the world a better place, starting from our own backyard and extending our reach across the globe. Through our thoughtful and democratic donation process, we aim to support a diverse range of initiatives that reflect our values.

Annual distribution of company donations by sector (2019-2023)

Original article here

Author: Mark Whittaker

Canva has hit so many billion-dollar milestones that it’s easy to lose track. Co-founder Cam Adams said the design juggernaut made it’s premium product free to non-profits in 2015 – reaching some 650,000 organisations – and to schools in 2019.

Canva co-founder Cameron Adams. Image: Forbes Australia

Forty million students have jumped on since it launched a “classroom safe” AI last October, Canva says, bringing the number of students and teachers using the premium product for free to 70 million, at 750,000 schools.

All of which got the Canva leaders wondering how much they were giving away, Adams tells Forbes Australia.

“So we ran the numbers, and we’d just hit the $1-billion mark, which means that every single year we are now giving away the equivalent of a billion dollars of revenue to educators and to non-profits.”

With Canva last valued at $40 billion – and continuing on an acquisitive path, recently taking over Leonardo.ai – the three Canva founders have made a thing about progressively giving away their wealth.

Canva’s last reported annualised revenue was $2.7 billion. So if you add the $1 billion given away, then turn it into a percentage, it equates to Canva giving away 27% of revenue.

Adams wants more companies to join the pledge.

“One of the great things about Pledge 1% is it’s relatively easy to do,” says Adams. “One per cent is a small number in the scheme of things, but it introduces you to doing good and philanthropy, and inevitably encourages you to do more. Obviously, giving away a billion dollars in equivalent revenue every year is more than 1%, but we’re happy to go above and beyond.”

Two years after pledging that 1%, Adams’s co-founders Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht promised to give 30% of their equity in the company – the married couple’s share being an estimated $13.2 billion, combined – to their charity, the Canva Foundation.

Wedgetail founders Cameron Adams and Lisa Miller.

Adams has not joined them in that promise, but says he and wife Lisa are intending to do something similar with their estimated $3.37 billion fortune, devoting it to their biodiversity-focused venture-fund and loan facility Wedgetail. “We’re just waiting for all the pieces to line up in terms of having a registered non-profit and stuff like that,” he says.

Adams can’t remember when he and his co-founders started talking about giving so much away. “There was just a kind of a values alignment from the early days. It even stems from the business model. We always wanted a free product that we could give to everyone in the world. We wanted people to be able to access design and use these new visual communication skills to achieve amazing things.”

And while OpenAI’s billionaire cofounder and CEO Sam Altman has given away US$45 million in monthly gifts to individual Texans in order to study a “universal basic income”, the Canva Foundation has been conducting a similar experiment in one of the world’s poorest countries.

It gave $10 million, then $20 million, to GiveDirectly, a charity which eschews traditional aid routes to give money directly to the impoverished. “The whole philosophy behind it is that it’s not about building a school or building a well for a community, it’s about giving people the money that they need to solve their own problems. They know best what is going to help them.

OpenAI Co-Founder & CEO Sam Altman.

And while he applauds Altman’s efforts to make a better world with universal basic income, he says it’s only tangentially related to what the Canva Foundation is doing. “Our work is really focused on the areas of the world where the need is most extreme.”

GiveDirectly identifies an impoverished community and gives thousands of people regular grants totalling between US$250 and US$750 over several months. “The overwhelming evidence coming back is that when you do this, as opposed to, like, building your own infrastructure program, it has greater positive impact,” says Adams.

“You see people starting businesses which enable them to drive income over many years. You see people building houses that house their family. You see people buying goats which give them income. It creates this broader system of sustainable economic support that they need to get themselves out of poverty, as opposed to creating infrastructure projects that don’t get maintained and end up going nowhere.

“So we’ve delivered close to $30 million now into that project, and we’re monitoring it. GiveDirectly is working a lot on the ground, and the plan is to scale that up successfully throughout this year, and the years beyond, and that will scale through Malawi and then eventually scales throughout the world.”

 Cameron Adams on the cover of Issue 9 of Forbes Australia.

Blackboards to onboarding

The Canva founders started looking at education uses in 2017. “But it was in 2019 when I really picked up the baton, because we started noticing a whole bunch of teachers and students using Canva,” says Adams. “And we didn’t originally design Canva for education … So we started looking at what teachers and students were using it for, started thinking about how we might improve the product to be able to make it better for them … I went to the States. We interviewed a bunch of education users there … as well as school districts and even at the level of ministries of education, what they would all need. And we started putting together what became Canva for Education.”

 Canva co-cofounder Melanie Perkins. | Images: Supplied

Adams doesn’t resile from the cynical view that Canva for Education is just onboarding the next generation of paying customers.

“That’s part of the social impact as well. We’re helping every student develop design skills, develop digital literacy and also spark creative thinking. And by developing those skills, we’re really fueling the next generation of change makers, like people who are going to start new businesses, new non-profits, drive movements to help solve climate change, help solve many of the world’s problems – and make sure that there is a new wave of Canvas wanting to leave the world in a better place than they started with.”

It didn’t cost much, he says. “By just flipping a switch behind the scenes to give them access to a free product, it’s probably one of the highest leverage things that we can do.

“We’re seeing not only whole school districts now pick it up, we’re seeing entire countries as well. So Indonesia just rolled out Canva for Education. Poland too. And, equally, we encourage any non-profit anywhere in the world to get in touch. We’re really keen to grow that program beyond a million non-profits using Canva over the next year or two.”

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:

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  Asian Mental Health Collective works to make mental health easily available, approachable, and accessible to Asian communities worldwide.

  
  


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  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.

  
  


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  Japanese American National Museum promotes understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Japanese American experience.

  
  


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  Stand with Asian Americans supports Asian American communities through organizing and empowerment efforts.

  
  

Black@Braze:

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  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.

  
  


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  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.

  
  


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  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.

  
  


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  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:

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  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.

  
  


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  Udavum Karangal (Helping Hands) has the sole objective to serve people in need. The center provides individualized services including treatment, care, rehabilitation, and education.

  
  


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  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:

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  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.

  
  


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  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.

  
  


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  Ipas works globally to advance reproductive justice by expanding access to abortion and contraception.

  
  


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  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.

  
  


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  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:

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  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.

  
  


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  Jaya Mental Health aims to equip healthcare professionals and local people with the resources needed to cope with mental illness in South Asia.

  
  


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  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.

  
  


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  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:

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  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.

  
  


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  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:

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  Baitulmaal USA provides life-saving, life-sustaining, and life-enriching humanitarian aid to underserved populations around the world.

  
  


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  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.

  
  


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  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.

  
  


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  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:

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  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.

  
  


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  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.

  
  


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  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.

  
  


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  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:

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  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.

  
  


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  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.

  
  


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  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.

  
  


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  56 Dean Street is an expert sexual health clinic in London that focuses on the needs of the LGBTQI+ community.

  
  

SOMOS:

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  GreenLatinos is an active community of Latino leaders confronting national and local environmental issues in the Latino community.

  
  


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  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.

  
  


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  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.