Salesforce
Foundation

Our vision is to ensure economic opportunity for young people furthest from success. We invest in Education and Workforce Development so students have job-ready skills and can build meaningful careers.
 
 

our focus areas

Education

An equitable future begins with equal access to a high-quality education. By partnering with school districts and education nonprofits, we seek to provide all students with the resources and experiences they need to realize their potential.
 
 

What we invest in

  • Academic Success: Providing engaging and inclusive academic experiences, including STEM; and supporting the mental, physical, and social-emotional wellness of students.
  • Educator Support: Increasing educator excellence by investing in professional development and inclusive, diverse educator pipelines.
  • Higher Education and Career Readiness: Equalizing access into and through higher education and work opportunities.
 

Grantee Spotlights

 
 
Oakland Unified School District (U.S.)
serves nearly 50,000 students and their families. Our partnership is focused on STEM education, redesigning the middle school experience, advancing principal innovation, closing the digital divide, and providing comprehensive social support for newcomer students.
 
Big Education (U.K.)
strives to develop educators into bold and innovative leaders with the mindset and tools to transform the education system. Our partnership is focused on scaling the organization’s leadership program, supporting educators, and improving academic and social-emotional outcomes.
 
Australian Schools Plus (Australia)
supports students at more than 4,600 schools. Our partnership is focused on helping educators build the knowledge and skills they need to inspire their students for future careers in STEM, with a particular emphasis on students from underrepresented backgrounds.
 
 
 

our focus areas

Workforce
Development

Filled with potential, intelligence, and drive, too many people from underrepresented and underserved communities are overlooked for career opportunities. Together with our partners, we are working to ensure that untapped talent can build social capital, succeed in meaningful careers, and achieve economic prosperity.

Grantee Spotlights

 
 
Ada, the National College for Digital Skills (U.K.)
strives to remove the glass ceiling for women and individuals from low-income backgrounds in the tech industry. Our partnership is focused on scaling degree-level digital apprenticeship programs and advancing equitable assessment and recruitment practices.
 
Joblinge (Germany)
enables young adults to access long-term apprenticeship positions regardless of their background through career counseling, training, and mentoring. Our partnership is focused on supporting participants in the job search process and post-placement for apprentices.
 
Braven (U.S.)
empowers promising, underrepresented young people with the skills, experiences, and networks to transition from college to strong first jobs. Our partnership is focused on helping young people from diverse communities launch careers and build their social capital through professional connections.
 

our focus areas

Thriving Communities

Our communities thrive when they have equal access to basic necessities for life: stable housing, food security, and mental health and wellbeing supports. Together with our partners, we are committed to ending homelessness and building resilience in young people and families.
 
 

What we invest in

  • Ending Homelessness: Providing access to rapid, transitional, and permanent housing support.
  • Disrupting the Cycle of Poverty: Supporting rental assistance, eviction prevention, vocational training, and food security.
  • Building Resilience: Providing psycho-social support, including mental health services.
 

Grantee Spotlights

 
 
Compass Family Services (U.S.)
helps those who face homelessness achieve housing stability, economic self-sufficiency, and family wellbeing. Our partnership is focused on access to transitional and permanent housing, and trauma-informed care and mental health support.
 
Larkin Street Youth Services (U.S.)
provides a continuum of healthcare, housing, employment, and education services that help young people move beyond homelessness. Our partnership is focused on holistic support to nurture young people’s potential and promote dignity.
 
Hamilton Families (U.S.)
has a mission to end family homelessness in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our partnership is focused on rapid rehousing for homeless families, wraparound services to increase financial and housing stability, and student support.
 

Does the Salesforce Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

Proposals for strategic grants are accepted on an invitation-only basis. Due to the high volume of inquiries we receive, we are not able to respond to unsolicited funding inquiries.

What does the Salesforce Foundation not fund?

The Salesforce Foundation does not fund events, sponsorships, galas, scholarships, grants to individual people, endowment funding, or lobbying of any kind.

What does the Salesforce Foundation look for in a potential grantee partner?

The Salesforce Foundation looks at the following factors when sourcing and shaping new strategic grant partnerships: alignment with Salesforce’s Education, Workforce Development, and Thriving Communities strategies in regions with major Salesforce hubs; demonstrated program impact or strong evidence-informed models; commitment to measure, learn, and adapt; and strong, diverse leadership team reflective of the community and connected to the issues they are addressing.

If I don’t fit the requirements for funding from the Salesforce Foundation, what are ways I can receive support from Salesforce?

Through Salesforce.org, we give nonprofit organizations and educational institutions access to Salesforce products and resources to help expand their collective impact. The program includes 10 donated subscriptions and deep discounts on additional subscriptions, products, and/or services from Salesforce.org.

 

The Salesforce Foundation is a private foundation and files a Form 990-PF each year with the Internal Revenue Service. This tax return provides detailed financial data and a complete list of grants awarded. To view the Foundation's recent returns, please click on the links below.

 

Leadership

Board of Directors

 
 
Marc Benioff, Director
Chair & Co-CEO, Salesforce
 
Ron Conway, Director
Founder, SV Angel
 
Laura Scher, Director
Cofounder & Executive Chair, Working Assets/CREDO

Officers and Advisors

 
 
Becky Ferguson, CEO
SVP, Head of Philanthropy, Salesforce
 
Sam Chung, CFO
EVP, Chief Transformation Officer, Salesforce
 
Sarah Dods, Secretary
Chief Compliance Officer & Corporate Secretary, Salesforce
 
 
Joachim Wettermark, Treasurer
EVP & Treasurer, Salesforce
 
Suzanne DiBianca, Advisor
EVP, Chief Impact Officer, Salesforce