Salesforce Invests Additional $3M to Support Climate Resilience

Donations to American Forests, Ceres, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Clean Energy Buyers Institute, and RMI aim to support communities disproportionately impacted by climate change

Society is in a planetary emergency — a climate crisis that impacts everyone, especially the most vulnerable. To help limit the effects of climate change and protect communities in need, Salesforce has announced more than $3 million in new donations towards ecosystem restoration and climate justice. This adds to Salesforce’s $300 million commitment, announced in October, in support of these efforts.

In October, for the first time ever, the United Nations passed a resolution recognizing access to a healthy and sustainable environment as a universal right. This is a significant step in promoting and protecting human rights around the world, and one Salesforce has vocally supported. However, people in every country, especially those from marginalized communities, continue to face disproportionate climate risk.

Salesforce’s new donations will support two key areas. The first is ecosystem restoration, specifically focused on advancing tree equity and coastal resilience in an effort to protect communities that are experiencing extreme heat, lack of tree covering, and increased flooding. The second is climate justice, with an emphasis on advancing decarbonization while focusing on the needs of those most impacted by climate change. 

The ecosystem restoration grantees include: 

• American Forests: As the nation’s oldest conservation nonprofit, American Forests is dedicated to creating healthy and resilient forests, from cities to large forested landscapes. Salesforce’s donation to American Forests provides critical support to tree equity efforts, helping cities adapt to climate change by increasing tree canopy in neighborhoods that need trees the most, particularly in Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. It also helps place those facing barriers to employment into urban forestry jobs.
• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF): A national nonprofit organization committed to sustaining, restoring, and enhancing the nation’s plants, habitats, and wildlife. Salesforce’s donation will help mitigate the impact of disasters on historically marginalized coastal communities through multidisciplinary community planning, with a focus on nature-based solutions that protect local communities and improve essential habitat for wildlife.

The climate justice grantees include: 

• RMI: An independent nonprofit that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5°C future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. Salesforce’s donation to RMI will enhance climate resilience, focusing on the most vulnerable populations, while also advancing decarbonization.
• Clean Energy Buyers Institute (CEBI): A public good charity that solves the toughest market and policy barriers to achieve a carbon-free energy system. Salesforce’s donation to CEBI will maximize the environmental and social impacts of clean energy procurement with a specific focus on enhancing energy security and resilience, and prioritization of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
• Ceres: A nonprofit organization transforming the economy to build a just and sustainable future for people and the planet. Salesforce’s donation will help Ceres integrate environmental and climate justice priorities into its approach to advance ambitious corporate climate policy advocacy that will result in a more just and sustainable future.

“Salesforce has been a true market leader in continually pushing the envelope in what it means to be a good corporate citizen,” said Miranda Ballentine, CEO of the Clean Energy Buyers Institute. “Not only deploying renewable energy, but also ensuring that renewables are good for the environment, good for communities, and add grid resilience. Salesforce readily offers their own thinking and best practices to other companies, making all of us better.”

Dr. Jane Mantey, senior manager of environmental justice policy at Ceres shared, “The time is now for environmental and climate justice to take center stage in our nation’s approach to resolving the climate crisis and our long history with environmental racism. Salesforce is leading by example, modeling a myriad of ways companies can move the U.S. towards a more just, equitable, and sustainable economy. We are grateful and look forward to using this grant to help restore and build healthy, thriving, and resilient communities across the U.S. by mobilizing more companies and investors to become bold advocates for environmental and climate justice.”

A pledge to act, and to inspire action

Salesforce recognizes that the effects of climate change are not equal, and intends for these donations to elevate climate justice in underserved communities. 

As Salesforce continues to expand its philanthropy efforts in ecosystem restoration and climate justice, it asks others — particularly other businesses — to join in the movement. Together, today’s businesses must act boldly to combat climate change. 

See more information on Salesforce’s recent climate donations here.