These days building a values-driven business is a no brainer, just ask salesforce.com’s Foundation’s creator Marc Benioff and he’ll tell you all about it. You see philanthropy starts with an idea, and he developed a great strategy around giving. He needed to decide what issue or issues the company will be addressing and why, and what form will the philanthropy take. He thought about how the philanthropy would be accomplished, and what would be the long-term goal. He also wondered how will it all fit into the company’s core values. His vision became clear: to use salesforce.com’s people, technology and relationships to improve our communities, inspire youth to be more successful, support the world during times of extreme need, and promote compassionate capitalism.
On March 16th of this year the foundation pledged a $50,000 matching grant for donations made to the Red Cross through Causes.com. The following day saw the Salesforce.com Foundation partnered with the Miner Foundation to increase their match to $100,000.
Some companies have their goals written into a clear mission statement that serves as the business’s moral compass and salesforce.com’s approach is truly innovative. CEO and Co-Founder Marc Benioff integrated the salesforce.com corporate social responsibility strategy in 1999. The salesforce.com Foundation – is focused on leveraging people, products and services to strengthen communities, based on Benioff’s 1/1/1 model.
The company gives their employees six paid days to perform community service, donating 1% of their time to the community, and the company donates 1% of its product and 1% of its equity to the foundation. According to the latest figures posted on their website, they have contributed over 241,880 in volunteer hours, have served over 10,230 organizations and have donated more than $21 million to charitable causes. Salesforce.com supports organizations that are working to make the world a better place.
What is interesting is that all successful philanthropic endeavors have something in common: they are built steadily over time. The greatest impact for the organizations that are involved see the development of positive, lasting relationships between both the companies and their communities.
What are the benefits and associated with this type of philanthropy? Well for one thing successful projects reflect well on the business, which could influence consumers and clients who are constantly making choices in the marketplace. Essentially, the marketplace is a tool to create wealth and resources that can be distributed back through the community to solve daily challenges that exist. So far it seems to have paid off in handsome dividends for everyone!
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