Salesforce has announced $27 million in new education grants nationwide, including $18 million directly supporting public school districts in San Francisco, Oakland, New York City, Chicago, and Indianapolis. The new funding is said to build on 14 years of partnership with public schools and reflects Salesforce’s continued and growing commitment to supporting schools, educators, and students. Announced ahead of Salesforce’s annual Dreamforce conference, the grants come alongside an expanded focus on education across the company.The latest donation marks the continuation of an effort launched in 2013, when Salesforce CEO and founder Marc Benioff wrote an initial $2.7 million check as a down payment on a decade-long, $100 million pledge. Over the years, Benioff sustained and expanded the initiative, which he claimed represents more funding than any company has given in history and provides consequential support to local public classrooms.
Marc Benioff: No conditions for donation schools, except one
Himself a San Francisco resident, in his growing up years, Benioff emphasizes that the money comes without mandates on district policy. He said that the only condition is that there is “no hate, no discrimination” and the grants focus on quality and sustainability.The program pairs capital with direct labor under the company’s 1-1-1 philanthropic model, which dedicates 1% each of equity, product, and employee time to charitable causes. Days before the fall term began, high-ranking executives joined staff members on campuses to prepare classrooms.On the latest gift Benioff said, “At Salesforce, we believe business is the greatest platform for change.” He added, “That’s why we created the 1-1-1 model of giving back and built it into our culture from Day One, and it’s why we’ve continued to invest in our communities, in our hometown of San Francisco, and in our public schools for nearly three decades. As AI transforms our world, we have an even greater responsibility to support schools and teachers and help make sure every young person has the opportunity to thrive. When we bring together our financial resources, our technology, and the time and expertise of our employees, we can make an incredible impact.”Beyond classroom preparation and unrestricted $100,000 checks provided to every middle school principal, the Chronicle reported that the scope of the grants has evolved alongside technological shifts. The funding historically targeted computer science access and math instruction, but recent disbursements have increasingly addressed the rise of artificial intelligence. In partnership with groups such as aiEDU, the initiative helps educators establish responsible usage policies and train students for future workplace demands.
Bringing the 1-1-1 model to schools
For more than 27 years, Salesforce’s 1-1-1 model is claimed to have guided the company’s philanthropy, committing 1% of equity, technology, and employee time to giving back. As per the company, “Since its founding, the company has provided $970 million in grants, employees have contributed nearly 11 million volunteer hours, and 65,300 nonprofits and educational institutions use Salesforce technology for free or at a discount.“In a release, Salesforce said that this year the company is bringing that model into “schools through a relaunched Adopt-a-School program across more than 25 public schools nationwide, including 15 middle schools in the Bay Area. The program pairs employees and senior executives with schools to build ongoing relationships and provide hands-on support based on what schools need most, from mentoring students and leading workshops to setting up classrooms and refreshing school spaces. Salesforce has already reached its first-year goal of over 25 adopted schools and plans to expand the program globally in FY28.”