On Salesforce’s $6 million education grant

Salesforce is proud of its philanthropic credentials. The San Francisco based tech company employs a “1-1-1″ model where it sets aside 1 percent of its equity for a foundation (grants), 1 percent of its employees’ time as community service and 1 percent of its product as a donation. A few weeks ago the company announced it was donating $5 million to San Francisco’s public schools (an increase on last year’s $2.7 million donation) and $1 million to Code.org for computer science education. This is the biggest grant the company has ever gifted and represents 25% of the company’s annual grant giving budget (approx $20 million each year).

salesforce-logo

Here’s how the grant will be applied:

$2 million in 20 principal innovation grants of $100,000 each (no strings attached – generally used for 3D printers, classroom improvements, media studios, software licences etc)

$3 million will pay for infrastructure and training:

  • 1,200 iPads
  • 800 Google Chromebooks
  • Expand to 48 Wi-Fi enabled digital classrooms across 12 middle schools and eight K-8 schools;
  • Four full-time district technology instructors to assist the 20 schools
  • Training for 100 teachers to go through professional development on computer science

$1 million for Code.org to support school computer science programs

  • Computer science elective classes offered as a part of their school schedule
  • Code.org’s “Code Studio” classes in middle and K-8 schools
  • After school computer science classes hosted at salesforce.com offices in San Francisco

In addition, the Salesforce Foundation has pledged:

  • 5,000 volunteer hours from Salesforce.com employees – an increase on the 1,500 hours in the 2013-2014 school year.

Sources: