Original article here
Author: Business Wire
HANOI, Vietnam–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Global technology corporation FPT recently achieved the EcoVadis Platinum rating through its French subsidiary. This is the highest distinction in the survey conducted by EcoVadis, an international organization that evaluates corporate sustainability activities. The recognition places FPT in the top 1% of companies evaluated worldwide for their commitment to sustainable business practices.
The EcoVadis rating is a comprehensive assessment of a company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. It includes a global network of over 130,000 companies of various sizes across 220+ industries and 180+ countries. Sustainability performance is assessed across 21 criteria in four themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement.
FPT attained an overall score of 88/100, with impressive ratings of 90/100 for both Labor & Human Rights and Ethics, and 80/100 for the Environment category. This achievement reflects the company’s commitment to all dimensions of environmental policies, efficient corporate governance protocols, robust employee professional development initiatives, and dedication to reducing carbon emissions.
Mdm. Chu Thi Thanh Ha, Chairwoman of FPT Software, FPT Corporation, said: “FPT’s recognition by EcoVadis comes as part of our broader sustainability strategy, which includes embracing technologies, cultivating future-ready talents and driving new values that will last generations. Moving forward, we will continue to prioritize sustainability across all levels of our operations, with ongoing initiatives and investments to integrate sustainable practices into our solutions and services, as well as the work we deliver to our global customers.”
In 2023, FPT received a Silver rating from EcoVadis, further demonstrating its dedication to sustainable and ethical practices. In 2024, the company achieved ISO 45001 certification, the international standard for occupational health and safety, across its twelve campuses and offices in Vietnam, Germany, and France. Additionally, FPT won the Job Creation Award at ESGBusiness Awards 2024 and joined the Pledge 1% movement, reinforcing its dedication to corporate social responsibility and community engagement.
Since entering France in 2008, FPT has solidified its market position and demonstrated its expertise by collaborating with global leaders such as Airbus, La Poste, Air Liquide, Quadient, etc. In 2023, the French subsidiary entered France’s top 100 ICT Companies. That same year, the company further strengthened its capabilities by acquiring an 80% stake in French IT consulting firm AOSIS, enhancing its expertise in SAP, Data, Cloud, and smart solutions tailored for the aerospace, aviation, and transportation industries. Looking ahead, FPT aims to be among the Top 50 IT companies in France, targeting to expand its local workforce to over 500 experts and its presence in France and neighbouring Francophone countries.
About FPT
FPT Corporation (FPT) is a globally leading technology and IT services provider headquartered in Vietnam. FPT operates in three core sectors: Technology, Telecommunications, and Education. During over three decades of development, FPT has constantly provided practical and effective products to millions of people and tens of thousands of business and non-business organizations worldwide, establishing Vietnam’s position on the global tech map. Keeping up with the latest market trends and emerging technologies, FPT has developed the Made-by-FPT ecosystem of services, products, solutions, and platforms, which enables sustainable growth for organizations and businesses and offers distinctive experiences to customers. In 2023, FPT recorded a total revenue of USD 2.17 billion and 48,000+ employees. For more information about global IT services, please visit https://fptsoftware.com/
Original article here
Author: Business Wire
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Bloomreach, the platform fueling limitless ecommerce personalization, today announced it has joined Pledge 1%, a global movement that inspires, educates, and empowers every entrepreneur, company, and employee to be a force for good. By committing 1% of company time to volunteering efforts and community service, Bloomreach underscores its dedication to enacting positive change in the world of ecommerce.
“As a global organization, our reach spans so many different countries and communities. We have the opportunity to make a sizable impact around the world with the time we pledge to volunteering and community service,” said Ursula Kralova, Chief People Officer, Bloomreach. “We’re proud to join Pledge 1%, and to continue in our mission to be a force for good in ecommerce and in the world.”
For many years, Bloomreach has been committed to bettering the communities and industries it serves through financial contributions to a number of global organizations. In 2022, Bloomreach established a new program to supplement these financial contributions with more service-based opportunities. With the launch of its Volunteering Time Off (VTO) program, each employee was offered five days of paid time off for volunteer efforts.
Participation in the VTO program has doubled since its inception, with employees volunteering at local food banks, animal shelters, zoological gardens, and more. In joining the Pledge 1% movement, Bloomreach formalizes this time commitment — offering employees the opportunity to give more than 1% of their working hours to deserving causes each year.
To learn more about Bloomreach’s commitment to a positive global impact, visit the company’s website and download its ESG Report.
About Bloomreach
Bloomreach personalizes the e-commerce experience. Its data engine unifies real-time customer and product data so businesses understand what customers really want. By connecting that understanding to every channel, the e-commerce experience becomes limitless — reflecting a changing customer as they shop. Amplified by the speed and scale of Loomi AI, Bloomreach’s AI for e-commerce, this creates endless new paths to purchase, greater profitability, and fast business growth. Bloomreach products include: Engagement, a marketing automation platform; Discovery, an e-commerce search solution; Content, a headless CMS; and Clarity, AI-powered conversational shopping. The company has multiple AI patents and serves 1,400+ global brands including: Williams-Sonoma, Bosch, Puma, and Marks & Spencer.
Original article here
Author: Ripple
Ripple is deepening its commitment to giving back by joining Pledge 1%, a global movement of companies making positive social impact through their business. Through its Ripple Impact initiative, Ripple is pledging 1% of profits to advancing blockchain innovation, improving access to financial services, scaling carbon markets, and employee-driven local impact.
Since launching Ripple Impact in 2018, Ripple has donated more than $180 million globally to support partners and initiatives that address critical challenges like building financial resilience in emerging markets, delivering humanitarian aid, and championing blockchain research and development in academia.
“Ripple has long demonstrated leadership in leveraging blockchain technology for social good and philanthropy,” said Jan D’Alessandro, Chief Legal & Philanthropy Officer at Pledge 1%. “With a proven track record of advancing financial inclusion, supporting humanitarian aid, and driving innovation through impactful programs like UBRI, we are thrilled to welcome Ripple to the Pledge 1% global movement and look forward to the impact they will continue to make.”
“Joining Pledge 1% reflects Ripple’s commitment to creating meaningful change through partnership and collaboration with mission driven organizations,” said Ken Weber, Vice President of Social Impact & Sustainability at Ripple. “Our goal is to build a more inclusive and sustainable financial system by leveraging Ripple’s resources, technology and talent. We are proud to stand alongside a growing global community of companies dedicated to creating lasting impact.”
Advancing Blockchain Innovation
At the foundation of Ripple Impact’s mission is building financial resilience and blockchain innovation. With $80 million committed to the University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI), Ripple has partnered with more than 50 leading academic institutions across 26 countries including the University of California Berkeley and University College London. UBRI has supported more than 1,500 blockchain research projects and 600 new or expanded fintech courses.
In emerging markets, Ripple’s long-term partnership with Mercy Corps Ventures has provided investments into 50+ fintech startups, and helped secure $500m in follow-on funding. The recently announced Unlocking Opportunity collaboration will continue to help close the funding gaps for entrepreneurs in Africa, Latin America, and Asia and pilot scalable services built on XRPL for unbanked and underbanked communities.
Ripple has historically partnered with leading humanitarian aid organizations and provided rapid-response funding to organizations such as UNHCR and World Central Kitchen in moments of crisis. Through a new collaboration with the International Rescue Committee, Ripple plans to pilot the use of its blockchain payments products, including soon-to-be-launched RLUSD stablecoin, to enhance the speed and traceability of humanitarian aid delivery.
Financing Climate Action and Empowering Employees
Ripple has remained ambitious in its commitments to sustainability. The company has pledged $100 million to scaling voluntary carbon markets and funding new solutions that enhance transparency and efficiency in carbon credit trading.
In its journey to net-zero carbon by 2030, Ripple recently joined Block, Samsara, and BlackRock in the strategic purchase of Sustainable Aviation Fuel certificates (SAFc), an effort that will directly add sustainable aviation fuel to Alaska Airlines flights, achieving an estimated 75% reduction in carbon intensity compared to traditional jet fuel.
Ripple fosters a culture of giving by empowering employees to make a difference year-round with its donation-matching program and active local engagement. Ripple employees collectively volunteer thousands of hours annually with nonprofits including Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation in the San Francisco Bay Area, which focuses on promoting children’s health, education, and access to nutritious food. In London, Ripple’s partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity is raising funds for a groundbreaking new children’s cancer center.
These initiatives reflect Ripple’s dedication to driving meaningful change both globally and locally.
Original article here
Author: tekFinder
Today we’re proud to announce that tekFinder has officially joined Pledge 1% – a global movement of over 18,000 members that inspires, educates, and empowers companies to be a force for good.
tekFinder’s commitment to making a positive impact started in 2023 with the launch of tekFoundation, our free tech volunteer recruitment service designed to bridge the gap between skilled tech professionals and charities in need.
Since its inception, tekFoundation has successfully assisted 25 different charities across Australia in finding volunteers for various tech initiatives (e.g. website design/development, SEO audits, Google Ads Campaigns, & software consulting). Many of these smaller organisations unfortunately face significant cost and logistical barriers in finding quality tech talent. They may also lack the tech sector knowledge or connections to support their search.
“Recognising these hurdles, I realised we could apply our experience and passion for recruitment towards making an impact in our own way. What started as supporting a few charities with free tech recruitment snowballed into the decision to fund the launch of an entirely new sister organisation, contributing well over 1% of tekFinder’s profits to get it off the ground.” – Nick Shepherd, CEO of tekFinder and Co-Founder of tekFoundation.
We’ve since registered tekFoundation as its own not-for-profit company, applied with the ACNC, brought on co-founder Joni Fleischer to manage day-to-day operations, and appointed a board of directors with diverse knowledge and experience to support strategic direction and governance (Dr Robert Winter, Aidan Beanland, and Lucy Timms).
WHY PLEDGE 1%?
By becoming a Pledge 1% member, tekFinder not only formalises our commitment to social responsibility but also joins a global community of change-makers dedicated to giving back. This collaboration will allow us to amplify our efforts and share best practices with like-minded organisations, enhancing our ability to effect meaningful change.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Looking ahead, we see promising potential to expand our impact through additional tekFoundation initiatives. One such initiative is to launch mentorship programs that will not only upskill the charities we support but also assist newer entrants into the workforce. By providing these individuals with valuable skills and experience, we aim to help them secure better job opportunities and foster their professional growth.
We’re also looking to focus on those skilled in tech but facing barriers to entering the job market, such as migrants and asylum seekers. By equipping these individuals with the tools and connections they need, we hope to facilitate their successful transition into meaningful employment.
The tekFinder and tekFoundation teams are eager to embark on this new chapter and to be joining the Pledge 1% community. Our commitment to social impact is stronger than ever, join us on this journey as we strive to make a lasting difference!
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Today, global movement Pledge 1% kicks off its 10-year anniversary celebration, highlighting a decade of empowering businesses of all sizes to leverage their assets for good. With more than 18,000 companies across 130 countries taking the pledge to set aside a percentage of staff time, product, profit, or equity, Pledge 1% has ignited $2.4 billion of philanthropy in equity commitments alone since its inception.
Coinciding with its anniversary celebration, Pledge 1% is also announcing its Global Visionary Council, a group of influential executives across industries who have not only led their companies to join the Pledge 1% movement, but also actively inspire other industry leaders to set aside equity to sustainably fund long term social impact.
Those on the 14-member GVC include Atlassian Co-Founder and Board Member Scott Farquhar, Braze and Rubrik Board Member Yvonne Wassenaar, DocuSign Board Member and Former CEO Dan Springer, PagerDuty CEO Jennifer Tejada, Salesforce Chief Philanthropy Officer Suzanne DiBianca, Toast Board Member and Former CEO Chris Comparato, Twilio Founder and Former CEO Jeff Lawson, Battery Ventures General Partner Neeraj Agrawal, Bessemer Venture Partners Sameer Dholakia and Byron Deeter, SV Angel Founder & Managing Partner Ron Conway, Appfire CEO & Co-Founder Randall Ward, Coalition Co-Founder and Lookout Founder John Hering, and G2 CEO and Co-Founder Godard Abel.
Providing a flexible framework, tools, and networking opportunities, Pledge 1% has inspired companies like Reddit, Chime, Twillio, Canva, and Airwallex to integrate social impact into their business in multiple ways. Over the last 10 years, more and more companies have been setting aside equity to enable their social impact to grow with their business, and Pledge 1% has built a powerful ecosystem across CEOs, investors, banks, stock exchanges, and more, all collaborating to support these companies in their decision.
Through the power of our community and with the leadership of our GVC, our growing ecosystem continues to be a force multiplier for social impact, and we may see in the next decade that setting aside equity for social impact is as common as setting aside equity for the employee pool leading up to an IPO.
“Our vision for the future is to create a flywheel of growth, using our movement to integrate social impact into every company’s DNA,” said Pledge 1% Chief Executive Officer Amy Lesnick. “As we enter a new chapter of corporate philanthropy, I’m looking forward to harnessing the power of this incredible ecosystem to ignite billions in new philanthropy and empower thousands of companies around the world to leverage their assets for good.”
“Joining Pledge 1% is one of the best decisions a founder can make,” said Atlassian Co-Founder and Board Member, Scott Farquhar, who is one of the founders of the Pledge 1% movement. “Atlassian took the pledge early on, well before we were successful. As we grew, we raised tens of millions of dollars for great causes, gave away our product to non profits, and provided our staff with an outlet for philanthropy. When I talk with new employees, they rate our philanthropy as one of the top three reasons they joined Atlassian.”
Today’s 10-year anniversary kickoff celebration culminates with Amy Lesnick and Scott Farquhar ringing the NASDAQ closing bell and a reception of over 65 CEOs and tech leaders. The event marks the beginning of a yearlong campaign of new programming and initiatives for the organization to inspire and empower decades of impact to come. To learn more about Pledge 1% and to take the pledge, visit www.pledge1percent.org.
About Pledge 1%
Pledge 1% is leading a global movement to embed social impact into all businesses. Providing a simple, flexible framework for setting aside staff time, product, profit, and/or equity, Pledge 1% encourages and empowers companies of all sizes to leverage their assets for good. To learn more about Pledge 1%, please visit www.pledge1percent.org
What other Pledge 1% supporters are saying:
-
- “We have this wildly optimistic belief that there is enough money, goodwill, and good intentions in the world to solve most of the world’s problems. Our Two-Step plan is integral to Canva’s DNA: Step 1: Become one of the most valuable companies in the world. Step 2: Do the most good we can. Pledge 1% was absolutely instrumental in helping us get started.” – Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht, Co-Founders of Canva
- “When we built Toast with a purpose to enrich the food experience for all, we also committed to Toast.org to focus on solving critical food issues that impact communities across the nation. Having the support of the Pledge 1% ecosystem of GVC members, Boardroom Allies, and others along our path to IPO made it easy to set aside meaningful assets to fund our social impact efforts.” – Chris Comparato, Board Member and Former CEO of Toast
- “Pledge 1% is the ultimate force multiplier. A company can take the pledge and leverage its assets (product, people, profit, equity) for good in ways that reinforce one another. Then, their impact grows over time with the business. And, for CEOs like myself who have taken the pledge, motivating other CEOs to join can amplify our impact, often translating into tens of millions of dollars to fund social good – an extraordinary return on your philanthropic time!” – Sameer Dholakia, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, Former CEO SendGrid
- “As a longtime supporter of Pledge 1%, it has been amazing to watch the movement ignite … Social impact is among the most inspiring parts of my job, and I imagine taking part will be essential for top VCs in years to come.” – Rich Wong, Partner at Accel
Original article here
Author: Olo for Good
Olo Inc. (NYSE:OLO), a leading restaurant technology provider, today announced the launch of “Round Up Donations,” enabling guests to effortlessly contribute to charitable causes during checkout. Piloted in collaboration with Tropical Smoothie Cafe, this feature allows guests to round up their order total to support No Kid Hungry, a national campaign working to end childhood hunger in America, or other nonprofit campaigns and organizations Olo brands wish to support.
Round Up Donations is now accessible to all Olo customers who use its white-label ordering platform Serve, a fully responsive web experience designed to optimize the user experience for guests on any device. With the ability to customize the donation prompt with their chosen charity, restaurants can easily incorporate charitable giving into their digital ordering experience and engage guests in meaningful social impact. The opportunity to donate has resonated strongly with guests, with 10% choosing to round up their orders to donate to No Kid Hungry through Tropical Smoothie Cafe. In the short time since enabling Round Up Donations on Serve, Tropical Smoothie Cafe has raised over $7,000.
“Round Up Donations represents a significant step forward in our mission to leverage technology for positive change,” said Noah Glass, Founder & CEO of Olo. “By integrating charitable giving seamlessly into the dining experience, we’re not only supporting crucial causes like No Kid Hungry but also empowering our restaurant partners to make meaningful differences in their communities. Even more, we’re offering guests the opportunity to strengthen their relationship with brands they love while satisfying their craving to make a positive impact on the world.”
Max Wetzel, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Café, LLC, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative: “At Tropical Smoothie Cafe, we’ve always been committed to inspiring better in the communities we serve and encouraging our guests to do the same. Olo’s Round Up Donations feature aligns perfectly with our values, allowing our guests to join us in making a tangible impact on childhood hunger with every order.”
Both Olo and Tropical Smoothie Cafe deepened their commitment to ending childhood hunger by signing No Kid Hungry’s CEO Pledge to End Summer Hunger, a transformative, urgent movement uniting powerful leaders and brands across industries. The Pledge is revolutionizing the fight against childhood summer hunger by increasing the number of children receiving summer meals from 2.8 million to 30 million nationwide.
“The introduction of Round Up Donations on Olo’s Serve platform marks a pivotal moment in our fight against childhood hunger,” said Susan Karlen, Associate Director of Partnership Development at No Kid Hungry. “By partnering with industry leaders like Olo and Tropical Smoothie Cafe, we’re able to extend our reach and impact to ensure more children have access to the nutrition they need to thrive. We look forward to partnering with additional restaurants through Olo’s extensive platform of over 400 brands.”
This feature development is part of Olo’s broader Olo For Good program, launched in 2021, which dedicates 1% of the company’s time, product, and equity to causes such as ending hunger, promoting diversity and inclusion, and supporting environmental sustainability.
To learn more about Round Up Donations, visit olo.com/contact/request-demo.
About Olo | Hospitality at Scale™
Olo (NYSE: OLO) is a leading restaurant technology provider with ordering, payment, and guest engagement solutions that help brands increase orders, streamline operations, and improve the guest experience. Each day, Olo processes millions of orders on its open SaaS platform, gathering the right data from each touchpoint into a single source—so restaurants can better understand and better serve every guest on every channel, every time. Over 700 restaurant brands trust Olo and its network of more than 400 integration partners to innovate on behalf of the restaurant community, accelerating technology’s positive impact and creating a world where every restaurant guest feels like a regular. Learn more at olo.com.
About Tropical Smoothie Cafe®
Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a national fast-casual restaurant brand built on a mission to Inspire Better®, a commitment that starts with our better-for-you food and smoothies and extends to inspiring better in the communities we serve. Born on a beach in 1997, today Tropical Smoothie Cafe has more than 1,500 locations in 44 states. For the fourth year in a row, the brand was ranked #1 in the Smoothie/Juice Category by Entrepreneur Franchisee 500. For 11 consecutive years the brand has received the Franchise Times Fast and Serious award, and in 2024 the brand’s FUND Score was 905, one of the top scores for franchise concepts analyzed by FRANdata.
About No Kid Hungry
No child should go hungry in America. But millions of kids in the United States live with hunger. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty.
Original article here
Author: FPT Software
FPT Software announced that it has joined the Pledge 1% movement, reinforcing its dedication to corporate social responsibility and community engagement. Alongside its parent company, FPT Corporation, the company has made significant strides in its work dedicated to philanthropy and social initiatives, especially through the Corporation’s CSR sponsorship of 205.2 billion VND in 2023 – over 2.2% of its profit before tax of the same year.
Pledge 1% is a global movement aimed at creating a new standard for companies of all sizes and stages to positively impact society. Companies can pledge some percentage of their product, profit, equity, or staff time to charitable activities. Over 18,000 companies in more than 130 countries have utilized Pledge 1%’s flexible framework, generating half a billion dollars in new philanthropy.
By taking this pledge, FPT Software joins Fortune 500 companies and PEOPLE’s 100 Companies that Care like Salesforce and Atlassian, in dedicating a modest share of today’s achievements to a significant future impact. Other notable participants include global leaders in technology, such as Adobe, Slack and Udemy, leveraging their business as a force for good.
In alignment with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, FPT Software demonstrated a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility and contributed to FPT Corporation’s 2023 CSR sponsorship that benefited 83,753 individuals across Vietnam, as well as its inaugural “Happy Run – Happy Footprints” race that attracted 191,000 participants globally, raising 3.6 billion VND to build school facilities in underserved areas. FPT Software’s employees are also encouraged to participate in the annual initiative of donating one day’s salary to the FPT People’s Fund for the Community, as well as the annual blood donation festival, which underscores the importance of solidarity and community well-being.
Volunteer programs are organized across all FPT Software offices worldwide. The company also contributes to CSR efforts by fostering an inclusive work environment for over 30,000 employees globally, with over one-third being female. These efforts have earned the company several accolades, including an EcoVadis Silver Rating in 2023, an ESGBusiness Award for Job Creation in 2024, and recognition as a Great Place to Work in Vietnam, Japan, Singapore, Germany, the Philippines, and the US.
“FPT Software has always been proactive in supporting not only our partners, customers, and employees but also the well-being of the broader community. Before joining the Pledge 1% Movement, we already invested in initiatives that create positive social impact and contribute to a brighter future for all. In alignment with this program’s mission, we will continue to foster welfare and happiness in communities worldwide,” said Mdm. Chu Thi Thanh Ha, Chairwoman of FPT Software.
“We are thrilled to welcome FPT Software to the Pledge 1% community and to see the continued global expansion of the movement,” said Amy Lesnick, CEO of Pledge 1%. “FPT Software’s industry leadership and commitment to driving positive social impact make them an invaluable partner as we work together to transform business into a force for good.”
Original article here
Author: Anastasia Santoreneos
The top 50 corporate givers in Australia contributed close to $1.5 billion to the nation’s community in 2023, thanks to large donations from companies like BHP, Coles, Rio Tinto and Woolworths. But philanthropy – whilst beneficial for the community – is quickly becoming a strategic choice.
Strive Philanthropy’s 2023 GivingLarge report, updated this year to reflect the latest earnings, shows corporate giving amongst the most prolific givers has increased about 30% in five years (from $1.1 billion). The data shows that across 2023, BHP donated the most at $222,156,222 to causes like decarbonisation, thriving communities, responsible supply chains and Indigenous communities. Coles came just under with $151,858,928. In terms of industries, contributions to the community are increasing from mining and resource companies, retailers, banks, and tech companies.
But chunky individual donations tell half the story, Strive Philanthropy director and co-founder Jarrod Miles says, with contributions as a percentage of profit filling in the rest. Across 2023, it was the eco-friendly toilet paper brand, Who Gives A Crap that took the cake, donating 50% of profits to water sanitation, in line with its ethos. Coles came in second at 9.03%.
“Converting dollar values into relative percentages of company profits is a useful way to enable robust comparisons and arguably provides a more meaningful review of company generosity,” Miles says.
But what’s driving the upward trend in giving? In a recent survey of BHP’s workforce, 91% of respondents said working for a company offering a workplace-giving program was important.
“When it comes to attracting and retaining a talented and skilled workforce, we know we need to ensure BHP is a rewarding place to work,” BHP President Geraldine Slattery says. “Part of this is giving our people a say in where social investment is directed and facilitating employees to support causes important to them.”
Miles says it’s the perfect storm of corporations and consumers becoming more ESG-conscious, shareholders becoming more impact-driven, and employees looking for purpose.
“The planets have certainly aligned with these social trends, which is leading to a firming in the value they may bring to the business,” Miles says. “Enlightened companies are taking the opportunity to develop strategies for these emerging stakeholder needs and are quickly realising that their increased community investment can coincide or even boost their firm’s success.”
That’s echoed by Philanthropy Australia CEO Maree Sidey, who says the under-30 demographic drives the organisations they work for to stand for more than profit.
“It comes from that purpose agenda,” Sidey says. “If you are looking at that under-30 generation, they are looking for their purpose to be beyond work – they want their work-life to align with their passions and interests. They want their workplace to engage with social and environmental issues. It needs to be much more integrated, while the over-60s are generally happy to have their charitable interests separate from their work-life.”
“Lots of investors understand the super-power that comes from having purpose at the core of a business – when done right, it’s incredibly motivating for both customers and the team, which can lead to great business outcomes.”
– Simon Griffiths, co-founder, Who Gives A Crap
Atlassian is weaving giving into its DNA via its Atlassian Foundation. Mark Reading, head of the foundation, says co-founders Scott Farquhar and Mike Cannon-Brookes decided early on to pledge 1% of equity, profits, employee time and Atlassian products to philanthropic endeavours.
“I’ve previously worked for companies where the commitment to corporate social responsibility was not so deeply rooted,” Reading says. “When I walked into Atlassian, its view on philanthropy felt completely different. It wasn’t just lip service – giving back felt ingrained in what Atlassian does. This authentic commitment to impact and focusing on the underlying issues rather than the symptoms gives me a real sense of meaning and purpose.”
The company donated $17,077,517 to education in 2023, spread across 16 education changemakers globally, and each employee gets five days of paid leave each year to volunteer. The company also offers a donation-matching program. In 2023, one in four Atlassian employees volunteered as part of a team.
“Atlassians love the Atlassian Foundation,” he says. “We’re regularly told it’s one of the main reasons many people join the company. One of Atlassian’s core values is ‘Be the change you seek’, so the Foundation is a great way for employees to live this value. We empower our people to use their time, talent and tools to make a difference for causes they care about.”
The data also tells another story: that companies in the private sector, like Canva or Who Gives A Crap, are building philanthropy into their brand’s value proposition.
“In true entrepreneurial style, this innovative model has reinvented the relationship between business and philanthropy by placing the firm’s desire to do good in the world right next to their need for financial success,” Miles says.
Who Gives A Crap’s co-founder Simon Griffiths says philanthropy has always been tightly woven into the company’s ethos, and all employees are passionate about their cause (to provide everyone in the world with access to clean water and sanitation).
“It’s the reason we exist,” Griffiths says. “It drives our employees and informs our decisions. It helps that we’re having a lot of fun while doing it, cutting through the doom and gloom with delightful consumer experiences.”
Griffiths points to Dan Pink’s philosophy of motivation, which says that motivation is derived from autonomy, mastery, and purpose.
“We don’t get all three of these things right 100% of the time, but we’re very lucky to have a purpose in spades in our business, so we invest quite a bit of thinking time into how best to connect our team to our purpose,” he says.
And while the business model might seem a little left-field for investors, Who Gives A Crap managed to raise $41.5 million in 2021 to fund its expansion and provide sustainable sanitation solutions to 2 billion people.
“Businesses today have a huge opportunity to go beyond profit and actively contribute to making the world a better place.”
– Robyn King, head of social impact, Canva
“It’s no secret that there has been a huge shift in public markets towards ESG-focused businesses, and that’s not going away,” Griffiths says.
“Lots of investors understand the super-power that comes from having purpose at the core of a business – when done right, it’s incredibly motivating for both customers and the team, which can lead to great business outcomes.
“Not every investor understands this yet, and that’s okay, but the ones that do tend to be all in. They’re less interested in investing in businesses without purpose – they see purpose as a powerful tailwind, or unfair advantage, that will ultimately help them to achieve a stronger return whilst also making the world a better place.”
Canva’s another: with a $31.4 million donation across the 2023 calendar year (more than double its last reported figure), the design juggernaut says its two-step plan drives it. Step One is to build one of the world’s most valuable companies, and Step Two is to do the most good they can.
“Our philanthropic journey has been a lot like building a company,” Canva’s head of social impact, Robyn King, says. “We’ve been on a huge learning journey over the last few years and see this as a lifelong journey to do the most good we can alongside our entire team and user community.”
The company is part of Pledge 1%, and its founders, Cliff Obrecht and Melanie Perkins, are part of Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge. The founders have also committed most of their equity (30% of Canva) towards doing good.
“Businesses today have a huge opportunity to go beyond profit and actively contribute to making the world a better place,” King says.
“We want to use our value to drive positive change, and we see this as an integral part of our identity as a company. By doing so, we hope to join other companies paving the way to change the narrative that good for the world and good for business aren’t mutually exclusive.”
And like Atlassian or Who Gives A Crap, Canva believes its philanthropic endeavours align with its employees’ values.
“Our Two-Step plan is one of the key reasons people come to work at Canva and stay,” she says. “It’s a huge driver in attracting incredible talent who resonate with our values and believe in our goals.”
—–
Top 50 corporate givers: Australia
Roughly $1.5 billion was donated last year by Australian companies.
| Rank/Company | Year End (2023) | Community Investment | Causes |
| 1. BHP | June | $222,156,222 | Decarbonisation, indigenous partnerships, responsible supply chains, safe equitable workforce. |
| 2. Coles | June | $161,869,928 | Food rescue, disaster relief, education, health. |
| 3. Rio Tinto | December | $126,429,862 | Community infrastructure, culture and heritage, health & wellbeing. |
| 4. Woolworths | June | $122,076,725 | Food rescue, disaster relief, education, health. |
| 5. Westpac | September | $65,091,056 | Social enterprise, financial inclusion, education, children & young, emergency & crisis relief. |
| 6. Newcrest | June | $64,413,424 | Sustainable cities and community, health and well being. |
| 7. CSL | June | $63,261,063 | Patient communities, innovation and science and local communities. |
| 8. Santos | December | $59,014,148 | Local community, health, education. |
| 9. National Australia Bank | September | $56,000,000 | Emergency relief, environment, social welfare. |
| 10. Commonwealth Bank | June | $53,500,000 | Social and financial wellbeing, disaster relief, indigenous support, education. |
| 11. South32 | June | $41,314,541 | Education and leadership, social wellbeing, economic participation, natural resource resilience. |
| 12. Telstra | June | $40,600,000 | Digital inclusion, environmental action, disadvantaged communities, disaster relief. |
| 13. Macquarie | March | $37,536,000 | Breaking barriers to employment, diversity and equity, inclusion, community sport. |
| 14. Bendigo & Adelaide | June | $32,920,000 | Thriving & healthy communities, disaster relief. |
| 15. Woodside | December | $32,512,030 | Environment, education, employment, and liveability outcomes. |
| 16. ANZ | September | $32,500,000 | Financial wellbeing, housing and environmental sustainability. |
| 17. Canva | June | $31,400,000 | Education, extreme poverty, emergency relief. |
| 18. Wesfarmers | June | $23,700,000 | Medical research and wellbeing, education, arts, disaster relief. |
| 19. Optus | June | $23,529,205 | Educational outcomes, employment opportunities for disadvantaged. |
| 20. Deloitte Australia | June | $18,000,000 | Climate, first nations, food poverty, education, elderly, animal welfare. |
| 21. Ernst & Young Australia | June | $17,500,000 | Youth education, environment, impact entrepreneurs, indigenous, mental health. |
| 22. Atlassian | June | $17,077,517 | Education, capacity building. |
| 23. Mirvac | June | $13,941,632 | Community infrastructure, social enterprise, social connection. |
| 24. OceanaGold | December | $13,719,858 | Local business support, community infrastructure, education, health. |
| 25. KPMG Australia | June | $12,878,834 | Reducing inequalities, climate action, resilient & sustainable communities. |
| 26. QBE Insurance | June | $12,436,280 | Reduced inequality, sustainable cities and communities. |
| 27. PwC Australia | June | $12,400,000 | Disaster and crisis relief, homelessness, NFP capacity. |
| 28. CottonOn | June | $12,337,256 | Education in health, social & public welfare & human rights, mental health and environment. |
| 29. Brambles | June | $11,431,554 | Food security, food waste, environmental restoration, education. |
| 30. Fortescue Metals | June | $10,890,000 | Health and wellness education and development, environmental responsibility, arts and culture. |
| 31. Goodman Group | June | $10,800,000 | Children & youth, community, health, food rescue, environment. |
| 32. Future Generation | June | $10,600,000 | Youth mental health. |
| 33. Hearts and Minds Invest | June | $10,237,269 | Medical research. |
| 34. IAG | June | $10,000,000 | Disaster & community resilience. |
| 35. Colonial Foundation | June | $9,225,000 | Medical research, education to improve inequity, rural & regional vitality. |
| 36. Suncorp | June | $9,043,714 | Financial, social and natural hazard resilience, emergency relief, road safety education. |
| 37. Sargents Pies Foundation | June | $8,000,000 | Children’s hospital care. |
| 38. Sonic | June | $7,800,000 | Reconciliation, employment, emergency relief, medical research. |
| 39. Mineral Resources | June | $7,780,000 | Health & well-being, strengthening local communities, economic empowerment. |
| 40. Stockland | June | $7,718,840 | Accessibility, inclusion, health, education, employment and other bespoke community needs. |
| 41. The Lottery Corporation | June | $7,719,747 | Education, health, social welfare. |
| 42. Nib | June | $6,600,769 | Health, mental health and health equity. |
| 43. Northern Star | June | $6,400,000 | Community, health, environment, indigenous advancement, education & development. |
| 44. GPT Group | June | $6,359,962 | Child wellbeing, youth homelessness and mental health. |
| 45. AGL Energy | June | $4,759,570 | Resilience in communities where we operate, support climate action, energy affordability. |
| 46. Origin Energy | June | $4,500,000 | Family violence, natural disasters, and homelessness. |
| 47. Orica | June | $4,100,000 | Health, education, social & public welfare, environment. |
| 48. Humanitix | December | $4,000,000 | Disadvantaged children, education, healthcare. |
| 49. Transurban | September | $3,800,000 | Empowering customers, championing road safety, strengthening communities. |
| 50. Qantas | June | $3,600,000 | Reconciliation, connecting communities. |
—–
Scale of Generosity
The top ten Australian corporate givers listed by percentage of profits.
| Company / Percentage of Profits | Community Investment | Year End (2023) | Causes |
| Who Gives A Crap – 50.0% | $1,405,617 | June | Water sanitation. |
| Coles – 9.03% | $151,858,928 | June | Food rescue, disaster relief, education, health. |
| OceanaGold – 6.98% | $13,719,588 | December | Local business support, community infrastructure, education, health. |
| Bendigo & Adelaide – 3.38% | $32,900,000 | June | Thriving & healthy communities, disaster relief. |
| Woolworths – 3.03% | $122,076,725 | June | Food rescue, disaster relief, education, health. |
| Newcrest – 3.00% | $64,413,424 | June | Sustainable cities and community, health and well being. |
| Tabcorp – 2.49% | $1,400,000 | June | Emergency relief, health. |
| South32 – 2.08% | $41,134,541 | June | Education and leadership, good health and social wellbeing, economic participation, and natural resource resilience. |
| IAG – 2.04% | $10,000,000 | June | Disaster & community resilience. |
| Orica – 2.02% | $4,100,000 | September | Health, education, social & public welfare, environment. |
Data note: Companies counted only include those that report their earnings/profits. Date = latest data
Are Australian corporates doing enough?
While $1.5 billion is a sizeable figure, GivingLarge notes that the global benchmark for corporate giving is 1%, meaning Australian businesses could be donating a lot more to communities.
“In terms of total corporate community investment, extrapolating the pre-tax profit of Australian businesses each year and applying a 1% calculation, we estimate a potential of up to $5 billion that could make its way from corporate to community each year,” Miles says.
Philanthropy Australia says some may argue that 1% of pre-tax profits isn’t enough either. However, the organisation says it’s focused on helping corporates put more structure behind their giving via their Blueprint to Grow Structured Giving initiative, launched in 2021. That blueprint outlines how philanthropic, for-purpose, business and government sectors can work together to double structured giving by 2030.
A part of that is to raise awareness about corporate giving and help educate corporate founders on best practices.
“It’s got to be done with true intent,” Philanthropy Australia chief Maree Sidey says.
“Compliance and regulatory issues need to be considered at the start of a foundation. It needs the right input, expertise and background. So, I think there’s a real piece of education for corporates that is not just a side hustle; you need to employ the right person, support them, and integrate it fully into the business.”
—–
Billionaires pledging their fortunes
Billionaire philanthropists. Image source: Forbes Australia
Original link
Author: Workato
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Workato®, the leading AI-driven enterprise orchestration platform, today announced the launch of Workato Cares, the company’s philanthropic initiative which aims to empower individuals with the knowledge, education, and tools to succeed and to enable nonprofit organizations to do more with less, powered by enterprise orchestration. As a part of Workato Cares, the company announced it has joined Pledge 1% and is committed to donating equity, product, and time for social good.
Workato Cares aims to give employees a sense of purpose, reinforce corporate culture and responsibility, and provide ongoing opportunities for connection and collaboration. The mission of this initiative is to be a force for good and empower people with technology, giving them the ability to build, make an impact, and change their lives. Workato’s co-founder and CEO, Vijay Tella, has been committed to giving back since founding the company in 2013, working with several nonprofits early in the company’s inception.
As part of Workato Cares, the company is launching its “MillionFold Impact” project where the company is targeting to reach the goals below within the next 10 years:
-
- 1 million people helped through Workato employees in partnerships with nonprofits and NGOs
- $10 million in product donations to nonprofit organizations
- $100 million in cost savings for nonprofit organizations using Workato
“As leaders, we have an obligation to give back to our communities to help create a better future. Everyone at Workato can drive positive change and lasting impact where it counts,” said Vijay Tella, co-founder, and CEO at Workato. “With Workato Cares, we’re committing our time, resources, and product to help create a more equitable and thriving future. We are fortunate that Workato is at a stage where we can dedicate resources to support corporate philanthropy as an integral part of our business and values. I am proud of this initiative and cannot wait to join my fellow team members in serving our community.”
Workato has also 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. Workato is joining over 18,000 companies worldwide who have committed to Pledge 1% of their product, profit, equity, or staff time to their chosen cause. Workato 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.
“It was clear from the beginning that community and service are pillars of Workato’s founding principles. Workato leads with their products and platform but at the core of what they do, they are dedicated to changing communities and having a lasting impact through their Pledge 1% commitment,” said Jan D’Alessandro, Pledge 1% ‘s Chief Legal & Philanthropy Officer. “We are incredibly excited to welcome Workato to the Pledge 1% global movement, and look forward to seeing what the future holds.”
Named a Leader in the 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for iPaaS, Workato enables enterprises to transform their business operations by orchestrating business processes end-to-end and operationalizing AI across the entire organization. Designed with best-in-class security and governance, scalability, performance, and availability, Workato’s low-code, no-code platform makes it easy for IT and business teams to orchestrate their applications, data, and experiences.
To learn more about Workato Cares, visit here.
About Workato
The leader in AI-driven enterprise orchestration, Workato helps organizations drive business efficiency at scale without compromising security and governance. Built for Business and IT users, Workato is trusted by over 2,000 top brands, including Broadcom, Zendesk, and Atlassian. Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., Workato is backed by Altimeter Capital, Battery Ventures, Insight Venture Partners, Storm Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, and Redpoint Ventures. For more information, visit workato.com or connect with us on social media:
-
- Blog: https://www.workato.com/the-connector/
- Product Hub: https://www.workato.com/product-hub/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workato
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/workato
About Pledge 1%
Pledge 1% is leading a global movement to embed social impact into all businesses. Providing a simple, flexible framework for setting aside staff time, product, profit, and/or equity, Pledge 1% encourages and empowers companies of all sizes to leverage their assets for good.