In the city of Hubli, located in the state of Karnataka, India, a micro-entrepreneur named Channava is scaling her business through the power of clean energy. Hundreds of miles away, in the serene heights of Bhutan, a specialised fire-response vehicle now stands guard over the Pema Choling nunnery and its sacred community. 

While the challenges facing India and South Asia are global in scale, Salesforce believes the most effective solutions are local. These individual stories are the heartbeat of Salesforce’s philanthropic work, underscoring that meaningful change grows from the ground up.

The true measure of impact is found in these personal transformations. By empowering those closest to the challenges, Salesforce helps to ensure that innovation is rooted in the specific needs of the community.

“The greatest impact happens when global resources meet local expertise. In 2025, we partnered with communities that are not just adapting to change, but leading it. By investing in the individuals and local organisations closest to social and environmental challenges, we are building a better, more sustainable future from the ground up,” said Sunya Norman, SVP, Impact at Salesforce.

By investing in the individuals and local organisations closest to social and environmental challenges, we are building a better, more sustainable future from the ground up.

Sunya Norman, SVP, Impact at Salesforce.

In 2025, this focus on local resilience defined the company’s philanthropic journey, brought to life through these top five moments of impact:

1. Restoring Ecosystems from the Himalayas to Jakarta

Nature is a vital ally against climate change, and this year Salesforce scaled restoration efforts across diverse terrains. In the Himalayas, the company supported the planting of over 2,500 native saplings in Chamba, India to protect biodiversity and support human-wildlife coexistence. These efforts extended to Gadchiroli and Weaned in India to restore vital elephant corridors, and reached as far as Jakarta, Indonesia, $50K grant is supporting a partnership with CIFOR-ICRAF to plant 12,000 mangrove trees for community-based restoration, protecting vulnerable coastal communities and boosting local ecotourism.

2. Democratising STEM and AI Access

Salesforce is committed to bridging the digital divide by empowering the next generation with AI literacy. Through a partnership with Wadhwani AI, the company helped build foundational skills for students across the region. Additionally, Salesforce connected 15,000 youth to job opportunities via the 1M1B Green Skills Academy. Salesforce also launched specialised higher-education programmes in Data and AI for Climate with the Climate Collective Foundation to help prepare students for emerging opportunities in the AI-driven economy.

3. Fueling the Ecopreneur Revolution

To reach a nature-positive world, Salesforce actively supports the green businesses of tomorrow. By investing in nonprofit Entrepreneurial Support Organisations, the company helped micro-entrepreneurs through Junior Achievement India to adopt sustainable energy solutions. Furthermore, Salesforce partnered with WRI India to invest in entrepreneurs dedicated to healing soil and restoring local landscapes, proving that environmental restoration and economic opportunity can go hand in hand.

4. Empowering Educators as Change Agents

Because teachers are the heartbeat of social mobility, the company strategy focused heavily on upskilling educators within public school systems. Through partnerships with organisations like Meghshala and Mantra4Change, Salesforce provided teachers with the digital tools and pedagogical support needed to transform classrooms. This investment ensures that education remains relevant and inspiring for thousands of students across the region.

5. Cultivating a Purpose-Driven Ecosystem

This year, the company hosted landmark events including TrailblazerDX India, where Salesforce’s philanthropy team spearheaded the “Giving Back” component. Salesforce also participated in global initiatives such as the UN Reboot the Earth programme. A key highlight was the Net Zero Innovation Meetup, featuring Naomi Morenzoni, SVP of AI for Impact & Sustainability Philanthropy at Salesforce, as a keynote voice. This meetup brought corporate leaders and climate-tech innovators together to turn dialogue into action.

This commitment was furthered by the first-ever in-person Pledge 1% India Impact Exchange events and direct community initiatives like the Salesforce Run and the India Giving Campaign. Together, these moments prove that when an entire ecosystem is mobilised, the spirit of giving becomes a catalyst for resilient, long-term change.

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The Power of Purpose

The milestones of 2025 remind us that communities drive progress, while Salesforce remains a committed partner. We’re grateful for the opportunity to support local action that creates lasting global impact.

Learn more:

• Know how AI and skills are opening new futures here.
• Read about empowering ecopreneurs and fueling India’s green movement here.
• Perspective on reimagining climate vision in India with Agentic AI here.