Innovate with us.
Impact Labs is a collaborative program to co-design innovative technology solutions that address the toughest social issues facing us today.
INNOVATING TOGETHER
Impact Labs is a place for cross-sector collaboration.
We believe innovation is part creativity and part risk — both things nonprofits, universities, schools and philanthropies don’t always have the luxury to explore. We combine the expertise of nonprofits and educators with the power of the Salesforce ecosystem to take risks, find new solutions, and address complex social issues together.
Our current focus is Zero Hunger.
CURRENT CHALLENGE
Let’s address hunger together.
Hunger is a complex issue with complex roots including climate change, war and conflict, and food waste. Our next Salesforce.org Impact Lab will address food security. Help us determine where we can have the most impact by submitting an idea regarding hunger.
CHALLENGE SELECTION
How will we select challenges?
1. We select challenges aligned to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
2. We take a fail-forward, iterative approach, and are looking to launch a solutions in less than a year.
3. We invest in areas where there is the most demand from nonprofits and educational institutions.
CHALLENGE 1: HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS
How might we improve access to vital services for people experiencing homelessness?
To address this issue, 17 community members from nonprofits, higher ed and public agencies worked together to research and co-design Service Match, an open-source app available for download on the AppExchange. For case managers, Service Match streamlines the process of finding, making, and following up on service referrals to clients.
CHALLENGE 2: EQUITY IN EDUCATION
How might we drive equity in post-secondary education for Black and Latinx learners?
Our second Impact Lab convened 15 individuals representing community colleges, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), student success-oriented nonprofit organizations, K-12 schools, and research institutions. Our team of community experts worked closely with 20+ Salesforce employee volunteers to co-create a Financial Aid Chatbot that helps students navigate the FAFSA application. Helping ease the complexity associated with financial aid is a huge step forward for equity and access to education for all!
CHALLENGE 3: CLIMATE ACTION
How might we better equip organizations serving disadvantaged communities in solving for climate change?
Recognizing that the effects of climate change aren’t equal, this lab aims to co-design a technology solution to support low-income communities of color that are most impacted by the climate crisis. We know communities disproportionately affected by climate change are already advancing solutions, and the goal of Impact Labs is to bring those experts together and identify solutions where technology can have the most impact. This lab brings together leaders from across the nonprofit, government, and for-profit sectors to lend their expertise to ideate and co-design technology solutions to advance progress on this issue.
How it Works
Tell us what social issue you think could be impacted through technology advancements.
We select a challenge and gather community members to address it through a collaborative design sprint.
We test ideas with the community before coding and launching solutions for all to use.
Learn More
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