Salesforce's 1-1-1 Model: Empowering Employees to Drive Global Change Through Giving
In the bustling corridors of Salesforce Tower in New York City, the usual hum of keyboards gave way to children's laughter as elementary school kids from PS 119 in the Bronx assembled Build-a-Bear toys, a heartwarming scene from Salesforce's employee giving initiatives.[user_content]
The Power of the 1-1-1 Philanthropic Model
Salesforce pioneered the 1-1-1 model at its founding in 1999, committing 1% of equity, 1% of employee time, and 1% of product to communities. This approach has inspired over 19,000 companies to join the Pledge 1% movement, embedding philanthropy into business DNA.[3][7]
- Employees have delivered 10 million volunteer hours worldwide, from environmental work in Switzerland to digital inclusion in India.[3]
- $200 million donated through the Employee Giving Program, doubled via matching gifts up to $10,000 per employee annually.[2][3]
- 77% of employees feel more connected to company culture; 88% report deeper purpose from participation.[3]
Employee-Inspired Giving and Volunteer Time Off (VTO)
The Employee-Inspired Giving program matches personal donations up to $10,000 yearly and offers special grants for volunteering milestones. Meanwhile, VTO provides seven paid days annually for employees to volunteer on causes close to their hearts, including skills-based support valued at $128 million through 728,000 pro bono hours.[1][2][3]
This bottom-up empowerment turns employees into changemakers. At the Karma Summit Asia 2025 in Bengaluru, Salesforce was honored for leading corporate volunteering, with Managing Director Sanket Atal noting: "The true strength of volunteering lies in its ability to unite people behind a common purpose."[1]
Real-World Ripple Effects: From Malawi to Giving Tuesday
Salesforce's model creates a "ripple effect." In Malawi, volunteers partnered with WASH for Life, matching $500 donations to $1,000 and securing grants for sustainable water projects at orphanages.[4] On Giving Tuesday 2025, employees amplified global impact through events in New York.[5]
Recent milestones include AI-driven initiatives like the Salesforce Accelerator – Agents for Impact, providing nonprofits with Agentforce technology, funding, and expertise to scale operations.[7]
Why This Matters for Business and AI Leaders
As an expert in Salesforce and AI, I see the 1-1-1 model as a blueprint for integrating purpose with technology. It boosts employee engagement while leveraging CRM tools like those in the Power of Us program for 39,000+ nonprofits. Businesses embedding impact—amplified by AI agents—aren't just profitable; they're transformative platforms for societal good.[6][7]
Salesforce proves that giving back scales exponentially, creating legacies of change through empowered employees.[1][3]