At Salesforce’s AI for Impact event in Sydney this month, the conversation among Australia’s tech and nonprofit leaders wasn’t just about the ‘what’ of artificial intelligence. The focus shifted to a more urgent corporate imperative: ensuring the agentic era doesn’t widen the digital divide, but closes it.
This reset comes at a pivotal moment for the sector; nearly half of nonprofits face surging demand for their work, but only one-third have the capacity to meet it. While nonprofits have historically led social change, they have often lagged behind in technological transformations due to a lack of resources, with two-thirds of nonprofits struggling with staff burnout and retention.
“The pace of AI innovation is moving incredibly fast,” said Naomi Morenzoni, SVP of Corporate Philanthropy & Employee Impact at Salesforce “Nonprofits are constantly being asked to do more with less, and the impact sector is at a critical crossroads. We must bridge the AI accessibility gap.”
Beyond Traditional Philanthropy
When Salesforce was founded, the company committed 1% of company time, equity, and product to giving back. As part of this 1-1-1 philanthropic model, the Salesforce Accelerator – Agents for Impact initiative equips nonprofits with funding, cutting-edge technology, and pro bono expertise to power impact at an unprecedented scale. The Salesforce Accelerator has committed $11 million in grants to 39 organisations globally to directly improve AI implementation and impact across nonprofits of all sizes.
It’s an important program: while 92% of nonprofit leaders believe AI will improve their mission delivery, access to the necessary capital and technical capability remains a significant barrier.
“Agentforce can be a force multiplier for good,” Morenzoni explains. “It augments teams across grantmaking and operations, freeing them to focus on high-value, mission-critical work. The Salesforce Accelerator is our 1-1-1 model in action for the agentic era.”
The 10-Year Blueprint: Australian Schools Plus
A decade-long partnership with Australian Schools Plus is tangible proof that Salesforce support is driving positive outcomes locally. What began as a commitment to STEM equity has grown into a sophisticated AI-readiness program.
“At a time where there is a widening divide in outcomes between the most and the least disadvantaged students, Salesforce’s support has been a real driver,” says Sherrill Nixon, CEO of Australian Schools Plus. “It’s the difference between a school simply having a computer lab and a school having a future-ready STEM strategy.”
Nixon views this technological leap as a social necessity. “Equity in education is crucial in tackling every other social issue we have in Australia. When we support schools in disadvantaged communities, we are investing in the next generation of innovators. We’re building a living legacy, one where a child from Western Sydney is the first in their family to head to university because they were inspired by a teacher we supported together.”
Trust, Technology and the Future of Giving
The ripple effect of the 1-1-1 model is staggering. The Pledge 1% movement, co-founded by Salesforce, has ignited over $3 billion in global philanthropy. The momentum is particularly visible across Australia and New Zealand, with 2,000 companies now accounting for roughly 10% of the Pledge 1% membership, providing more than $15.5 million in total funding for local communities.
For Morenzoni, the Sydney visit served as a reminder that AI for impact is ultimately about trust. “Our founders created the 1-1-1 model to build a better world,” she noted. “We are ensuring that the nonprofits on the front lines of climate and education aren’t just spectators in the AI revolution, but are the ones leading it.”
As the AI for Impact event concluded atop the Tower, the message to the ANZ business community was clear: in the agentic era, business must remain the ultimate platform for change. The 1-1-1 model proves that when giving back is part of a company’s DNA, technology doesn’t just drive profit, it drives progress.
- Find out how the ANZ team in Salesforce is giving back to the community through volunteering
- Learn more about employee giving at Salesforce
- Catch up on Salesforce’s model for impact innovation
- Get the details on the Salesforce Accelerator – Agents for Impact initiative
