By inWhatLanguage. Originally published on the inWhatLanguage blog.

inWhatLanguage prides itself on being a mission-driven translation and localization company. As a company, we recently made the pledge to donate 1% of our revenue to our social impact initiatives. Our donation is made primarily in the form of translation services and goes towards our four social impact pillars.

inWhatLanguage’s first impact pillar is working to assist English Language Learners (ELLs). inWhatLanguage does this through donating translations to schools and organizations across the United States assisting ELLs. We recently provided 13 grants (in the form of translation services) to schools across the US for this cause.

Our second social impact pillar is providing translations to organizations like the World Health Organization, which respond to crises and disasters around the world. In these situations, translation is critical to aid the coordination and communication between different responders on how to provide the most effective relief strategy.

Our third social impact pillar is supporting and empowering our linguist network to do good in their own communities. We recently opened up a micro-grant program for our linguists to carry out community improvement projects.

Our fourth social impact pillar is fostering international trade and diplomacy. We do this through providing translations to World Trade Centers and other organizations fostering international trade and diplomacy.

With all of this in mind, we realized one of the best ways to solidify our social impact mission was by becoming a Pledge 1% member.

“I knew when I founded inWhatLanguage I wanted to use the business as a vehicle for good. Pledge 1% helped us to solidify our commitment of donating 1% of our revenue and translation services to critical causes, and also allowed us to join a like-minded community of businesses committed to doing good in the world,” said Cody Broderick, CEO and Founder of inWhatLanguage.

Pledge 1% is the leading organization facilitating a corporate philanthropy pledge model in the world. Pledge 1% is a global movement to create a new normal in which giving back is integrated into the DNA of companies of all sizes. Pledge 1% encourages and challenges individual companies to Pledge 1% of equity, profit, product, and/or employee time for their communities.

“The Pledge 1% movement along with our members are setting a new standard for successful companies of the future,” said Pledge 1% Chief Executive Amy Lesnick. “Increasingly giving back isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s also the smart thing to do, especially when it comes to attracting and retaining top talent.  Pledge 1% empowers founders to integrate giving back and doing the right thing into the core culture and values of their companies and to leverage all of their assets (equity, product, technology, talent, voice, partner ecosystem) to be a force for good.”

Pledge 1% launched in December 2014 and is spearheaded by Salesforce, Atlassian, Rally and Tides. Already, over 5,000 companies in 100+ countries have taken the pledge. Pledge companies and individuals are in total control of their pledge being able to decide to support whatever causes and nonprofits they feel align with their interests. Pledge 1% is flexible and simply encourages companies to pledge any combination of product, equity, profit or time.

As companies grow and scale their programs they can add additional pledge types. There is, however, no requirement that companies commit to all of the categories and or commit a full 1%. The purpose of the movement is to acknowledge an organization’s commitment to giving back to the community, encourage organizations to increase their effort, and inspire others.

Companies, however, don’t have to go it alone. One of the main purposes of Pledge 1% is to empower and support companies in their journey. Pledge 1% provides free consultation with a Pledge 1% success manager to discuss your philanthropic goals and next steps. Additionally, members gain access to turnkey resources, opportunities for visibility, fun perks, and an esteemed community of like-minded leaders.

As Lesnick explains, “One of the most exciting aspects of Pledge 1% is its vibrant and dynamic member community. Members are co-creating and sharing new best practices, tools, and resources every day. They are “making it their own” while at the same time sharing peer to peer learnings and paving the way for other founders to progress from pledge to action.  We are constantly inspired by the generosity and creativity of our members.  It’s this type of leadership and innovation that is propelling Pledge 1%’s growth and helping us to collectively take the movement to a whole new level.”

As a mission-driven company, we knew we needed to commit to that mission. By taking the pledge we were able to not only pledge 1% of our revenue and product, but we were able to join a community of like-minded businesses working to make the world a better place. In addition, we now have access to resources we otherwise wouldn’t have to continue to strengthen and grow our social impact initiatives.

“I encourage other companies who want to make a positive impact in their communities and the world but don’t know where to start, to take the 1% pledge. Pledge 1% provides valuable resources and expertise to get you on the path to doing good. I can personally attest to the important role Pledge 1% has played in the development of our impact program,” said Broderick.

Originally published on the AppCentrica blog.

Today, we are excited to announce that AppCentrica has joined Pledge 1%, a global movement where companies of all sizes integrate giving back into their culture and values.

Pledge 1% encourages companies to donate 1% of product, 1% of equity, 1% of profit or 1% of employee time to causes of their choice. Thousands of companies around the world have taken the Pledge and shared their intent to give back through their company.

“Social responsibility has always been part of our corporate DNA”. Said Ed Nemes, CEO of AppCentrica, “It’s one of our strategic goals as a company and we track our progress with a Community Dashboard App created by our employees. We are pleased to be part of the Pledge 1% community and look forward to learning how to make our programs even more successful with their assistance. It feels great to give back and our employees have jumped in with two feet, volunteering time, organizing events and sharing their stories.”

We are excited to join Pledge 1%’s network of founders, entrepreneurs and companies around the globe that have committed to giving back. AppCentrica has committed to pledging 1% of our time, profit, and product to our community.

“We are incredibly excited that AppCentrica has taken the pledge,” said Amy Lesnick, chief executive of Pledge 1%. “AppCentrica can play a pivotal role in building this movement and promoting a new normal in which all companies—big and small—integrate giving back as a core value in their business.”

We are proud to be a Pledge 1% member. For more information about Pledge 1%, visit www.pledge1percent.org.

Originally published on Tech.Co.

By Catherine Cheney. Originally published on devex.

SAN FRANCISCO — On Thursday, software technology company Okta announced a grant to Fast Forward, an organization that invests in nonprofit technology entrepreneurs, as part of its commitment to the Pledge 1% movement.

Launched in 2014, Pledge 1% aims to bring a culture of giving to technology companies by providing them with a pathway into early stage corporate philanthropy. In 2016, Okta became one of a growing number of companies that have made a commitment to donate 1 percent of their product, time, profit, or equity to any charity of their choosing. The following year, Okta had an initial public offering, and the company has since expanded its social impact initiative — Okta for Good — into a donor-advised fund that offers products, support from employees, and grants to nonprofits.

On the occasion of its Oktane18 conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, last week, Devex asked the technology company and its nonprofit partners what advice they have for engaging with Pledge 1% companies. They emphasized that technology companies have more to offer than just money in their corporate philanthropy.

Read the full article here.

By Andrea Snyder. Originally published on the Solve website.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 17, 2018—Solve, an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, today announced the Solver recipients of the remaining $1.5 million pool of prize funding from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and Atlassian Foundation International.

During the Solve at MIT Opening Plenary, Nicola Watkinson, General Manager, The Americas, Australian Trade and Investment Commission and Deputy Consul-General, Australian Consulate-General (New York) announced the second-round funding recipients of the DFAT Indo-Pacific Development Prize. Mark Reading, Head of Foundation, Atlassian announced the second-round funding recipients of the Atlassian “10 in 10” Prize. Last year, at the Solve at MIT meeting, both organizations announced their collective pledge of $2 million prize funding.

The following second-round funding recipients will each receive a portion of the remaining $1.5 million pool of prize funding to scale their work:

• 40K Plus


• Baan Dek Foundation


• Open Learning Exchange


• Raspberry Pi Foundation


• Ruangguru


• Rumie


• Wanji


• WeRobotics

“We are extremely impressed by the Solver teams selected to receive the next round of funding—and thrilled to celebrate these innovators at Solve at MIT,” said Mark Reading, Head of the Atlassian Foundation. “This type of collaboration is critical as Atlassian works to prepare 10 million disadvantaged youth for the workforce of the future within 10 years.”

“Supporting innovation is critical to the future of education in the Indo-Pacific and across the world,” said Nicola Watkinson, Deputy Consul-General, Australian Consulate-General. “We are pleased to join MIT Solve and the Atlassian Foundation in spearheading this effort.”

“We are delighted to work with DFAT and the Atlassian Foundation over the course of the last year and grateful for their generous funding of our innovative Solver teams,” said Solve’s Executive Director, Alex Amouyel. “This next wave of funding will allow these Solver teams to have immense social impact at scale.”

About DFAT:  
The innovationXchange (iXc) is an initiative of the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Launched in 2015, the iXc seeks to achieve impact in foreign affairs and development through the application of new tools and approaches that accelerate the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Australia’s Foreign Policy White Paper. By partnering with over 30 organisations, including Google, GSMA, USAID, XPRIZE, Atlassian, and now MIT Solve, the iXc has leveraged the skills, knowledge, and finance of others for development impact. These partnerships have led to a number of open innovation challenges across a wide range of themes, including the LAUNCH Food Challenge (focusing on improving nutrition), the MIKTA Education in Emergencies Challenge (continuing education in crisis situations) and the Google Impact Challenge (technology for development). More information is available at ixc.dfat.gov.au.

About Atlassian: 
Atlassian unleashes the potential of every team. Our collaboration software helps teams organize, discuss, and complete shared work. Teams at more than 112,000 customers, across large and small organizations—including Citigroup, eBay, Coca-Cola, Visa, BMW, and NASA—use Atlassian’s project tracking, content creation and sharing, real-time communication, and service management products to work better together and deliver quality results on time. Philanthropy has always been a part of Atlassian’s DNA. Back when the company was a small startup, the company’s founders baked corporate philanthropy into the business model, making the conscious decision to Pledge 1%. Because of this pledge, the Atlassian Foundation International is able to set a bold goal of helping to educate 10 million disadvantaged youth in 10 years, giving them the skills they need for the workforce of the future, “10 in 10“.

About Solve:  
Solve is an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT) that advances lasting solutions from tech entrepreneurs to address the world’s most pressing problems. Solve issues four Challenges each year across its pillars—Economic Prosperity, Health, Learning, and Sustainability—to find the most promising Solver teams who will drive transformational change. Solve then deploys its global community of private, public, and nonprofit leaders to form partnerships these Solver teams need to scale their impact. Last year, more than 1,000 people from 103 countries submitted solutions to Solve’s four Challenges. Solve’s open Challenges include: (1) Work of the Future, (2) Frontlines of Health, (3) Coastal Communities, and (4) Teachers & Educators. Join the community at solve.mit.edu.

The Solve at MIT event program can be found here, and confirmed speakers can be found here. If you’re interested in joining Solve as a member, including attending Solve at MIT, see here.

Diana Akelman usually goes at things at 110 percent. But recently she’s found something appealing about 1 percent. Pledge 1% Boston, that is. Akelman was part of a wave of new members to the movement during Pledge 1% Boston’s ambitious “60 x 60” campaign at the end of 2017: to double its membership from 30 to 60 in 60 days.

Pledge 1% Boston is the regional arm of the global Pledge 1% movement, which rallies founders and companies—especially, but not exclusively, new or young ones—to pledge early in their organization’s life to give 1% of equity and other resources for social change.

For Akelman, founder and CEO of software startup PetPocketbook, Pledge 1% is a concrete way to make a tangible commitment toward the company’s social mission: reducing the number of pets surrendered because pet parents lack access to the help they need in caring for them.

PetPocketbook offers pet care companies—typically pen and paper operations—a mobile and web platform for running their dog walking, sitting or training business in a 21st century way. Ultimately, Akelman sees PetPocketbook having a nonprofit arm to create efficiencies for and foster collaboration across the animal rescue community.

Globally, Pledge 1% has signed on thousands of members like Akelman; Pledge 1% Boston, which launched in 2016, now has 66 members (and growing) thanks to the resounding success of “60 x 60.” Thirty new business leaders pledged 1% in that short span, with more joining since.

Phil Strazzulla and Yash Ambardekar, co-founders of Next Wave Hire, were drawn to the “give-before-you-get” mentality of Pledge 1% Boston.

That includes Phil Strazzulla and Yash Ambardekar, co-founders of NextWave Hire. The two became friends at Harvard Innovation Labs, and eventually united their skills to launch a B2B company that powers customers’ career websites and recruiting operations. “We help customers tell their story as to why they’re an interesting place to work,” they say. Having learned about Pledge 1% Boston from member Pranam Lipinski of Door of Clubs, they were all in. “We like that Pledge 1% is a network of likeminded entrepreneurs who want to give back to community in a meaningful way,” says Ambardekar. “The give-before-you-get mentality resonated with me the most.”

They have each pledged 1% of founder equity. Both enjoy thinking about how that pledge can take shape. Feeling they’ve been fortunate in the opportunities afforded them, they want to give back by providing opportunities to others. For his part, Ambardekar gravitates to “entrepreneurship as a vehicle to help people start dreaming big—especially in lower socioeconomic communities.” Strazzulla adds, “I think it takes some work from people who have advantages to try to figure out how to level the playing field for everyone. I would love to chip away at what’s hindering social mobility.” Pledge 1% encourages these entrepreneurs to dream, and network their dreams. That’s a win for everyone.

Originally published on the Eventerprise blog.

Zurich, Switzerland, 15 September 2017 – Global events platform, Eventerprise has today announced the official launch of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative – Africa’s Got Digital Talent. It’s goal is to provide career-defining digital and entrepreneurial skills to talented young African students who are keen to participate in Eventerprise’s international Young Gun internship program, but who may not have the financial resources to make it a reality.

Research conducted by Eventerprise indicated that a lack of access to financial resources, transport, and digital resources such as laptops and broadband internet are preventing many students from  completing internships that could launch their careers. This has prompted Eventerprise’s outreach to international corporations and foundations to sponsor these young people so that they can travel to Eventerprise’s operational hub in Cape Town, South Africa and participate in their Young Gun internship program.

Says Eventerprise CEO, Götz Thümecke, “Technology is central to our daily lives, but not all have access to the benefits and opportunities it offers. Eventerprise is committed to bridging these information and skills gaps for the people who would benefit the most. Together with our global partners and employees around the world, we’re working to fulfill Eventerprise’s mission to empower those who lack crucial digital skills as well as financial resources so that they can achieve professional success in today’s agile working environment.”

The Young Gun program is active throughout the year and has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from students and alumni of well-known universities around the world, including the United States, Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands, who have all successfully completed 3 – 6 month internships at Eventerprise’s Cape Town offices.

According to co-founder of Eventerprise, Charlie Wright, “Young Gun interns are actively involved in go-to-market projects and strategies that revolve around diverse disciplines such as digital sales and marketing, business analysis, financial modeling, and UX design, equipping them with the necessary digital, business management and leadership skills to be successful in their chosen careers. They are proactively coached and steered throughout their internships by a hands-on leadership team with a combined 80+ years of management and award-winning industry experience.”

For less than $650 per month, interested parties can help to offer the same career-defining opportunities to qualifying African students, with 100% of sponsorships reserved for the exclusive use of the sponsored candidate.

Corporations or foundations that would like to get involved with this initiative can discover more at the dedicated Africa’s Got Digital Talent information page. US-based organisations are invited to get in touch with Eventerprise CEO, Götz Thümecke, who will be participating in a leading accelerator program in San Francisco over the next three months.

About

Eventerprise is a global platform that connects event service, product, and venue providers (event suppliers) with potential clients around the world. Through interactive profiles, event suppliers can showcase their unique offerings, key strengths and reviews, allowing event hosts to send requests to potential suppliers across different categories and geographical locations.

New Partnership with Web Summit Inspires Companies Large and Small to Join Pledge 1%

New Orleans, Louisiana – May 3, 2018  – Pledge 1%, the global movement to make giving back the norm for companies of all sizes and stages, announced today that it reached 5000 members in 100 countries.  With a growth rate of 150% a year since its inception, Pledge 1% includes some of today’s tech leaders like Salesforce, Atlassian, Box, and Yelp, recent IPOs such as Docusign, Twilio, Nutanix, and Okta, and some of today’s fast growing companies like Postmates, Pluralsight, MediaMath, Harry’s and PagerDuty, among others.

Named by Fast Company in 2017  the #1 Most Innovative Non profit in the World and One of the top 50 Most Innovative Companies, Pledge 1% has helped founders integrate giving back into their company cultures and values from the start by committing to give 1% of equity, time, product, and/or profit to any cause of their choice. The movement has scaled tremendously over the past three years and its member companies have already ignited over $500 million in new philanthropy.

Through a new partnership with Web Summit, Pledge 1% is at Collision this week, helping founders learn more about the movement and how their companies can have an impact. In addition to recruiting new members at the Pledge 1% expo booth, the Pledge 1% message of social impact, sustainability, and corporate values are being shared by leaders of the movement from the Collision stage.

Harry’s founder Jeff Raider emphasized during his talk on “How to create the next big thing” his motivation as a founder to “create a company that impacts millions of people, and stands for something good in the world.”   Harry’s, a proud Pledge 1% member donates 1% of sales to organizations that are aligned with their ambition to help guys navigate what it means to be a man today.  “This is completely central to what we do and key to our success. In addition to being the right thing to do, we believe having a positive impact has also enabled us to attract top talent, loyal customers, and become a more sustainable business.  We encourage other companies to join the Pledge 1% movement and integrate giving back into their core values.”

In her session on sustainability and big business, Salesforce’s Chief Philanthropy Officer Suzanne DiBianca asserted, “We believe companies are the greatest platform for social change.”

Jenna Griffith, COO of MediaMath explained in her panel “Can a company be a force for more than just Profit” that  “Pledge 1% is an opportunity for MediaMath to further demonstrate its commitment to philanthropic initiatives and make an impact. In addition to providing dedicated time and technology, our equity pledge, and the work of MediaMath.org, our Pledge 1% program is a key driver in shaping our company culture and enables a scalable model for giving as MediaMath’s business grows.”

“Every day, we’re welcoming Pledge 1% members who are exchanging ideas, iterating on each others best practices, and developing new innovative ways to leverage their company’s assets to be a force for good,” says Amy Lesnick, Chief Executive of Pledge 1%. “As our membership grows, so does the peer-to-peer learning, collaboration, and leadership among our community.  Pledge 1%, founders are realizing that they can have an impact early on by integrating these values into the DNA of their company and unleashing the creativity of their employees. It’s something that is a deep part of their company culture, identity, and story. We’re proud to celebrate reaching 5,000 members with the many partners, leaders, and builders who are helping take this movement to the next level.”

To learn more about Pledge 1% or to join the movement, visit www.pledge1percent.org.

About Pledge 1%

Pledge 1% is an effort spearheaded by Atlassian, Rally, Salesforce and Tides to accelerate their shared vision around integrating philanthropy into businesses around the world. Pledge 1% encourages and challenges individuals and companies to pledge 1% of equity, product and employee time for their communities, because pledging a small portion of future success can have a huge impact on tomorrow. Pledge 1% offers companies turnkey tools and best practices, making it accessible for any company to incorporate philanthropy into their business model. To learn more or to take the pledge, please visit www.pledge1percent.org.