Salesforce Foundation

Charity Number: CUSTOM_4A6DBB2F

Annual Expenditure: £31.0M

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $36-40 million globally (£28-31 million)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only model)
Decision Time: Quarterly review cycle (letters of inquiry reviewed in February, May, August, November)
Grant Range: £50 - £750,000+ (highly variable; strategic grants typically £350,000-£550,000)
Geographic Focus: Global, with focus on regions with major Salesforce hubs including London

Contact Details

Main UK Office:

Floor 26 Salesforce Tower

110 Bishopsgate

London, EC2N 4AY

Phone: +44 800 086 8530

Website: https://www.salesforce.com/company/salesforce-foundation/

Note: Salesforce.org EMEA Limited was dissolved in February 2024; UK grantmaking operations now managed through main Salesforce structure.

Overview

The Salesforce Foundation, established as part of Salesforce's pioneering 1-1-1 philanthropic model (dedicating 1% of equity, 1% of product, and 1% of employee time to charitable purposes), has provided over $841 million in grant funding globally since its founding. With approximately $395 million in assets (2024) and annual grantmaking of $36-40 million, the foundation focuses on strategic partnerships rather than open grantmaking. In the UK, Salesforce has invested significantly in education and workforce development, including £700,000 to Big Education Trust and Catch22 (2021), and £1 million in grants to School 21 and Ada, the National College for Digital Skills (2018). The foundation operates on an invitation-only model for strategic grants, though it accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry reviewed quarterly. In 2024, the foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $36.1 million to 46 organizations globally. Beyond direct grantmaking, Salesforce provides technology access through its Power of Us Program, offering 10 free Salesforce licenses to all UK charities registered with the Charity Commission.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Strategic Grants (Invitation-Only)

£350,000 - £550,000 (typical range for UK partnerships)
Multi-year partnerships common
Application: Invitation-only or through quarterly letter of inquiry process
Examples: Big Education Trust (£510,000), Ada National College (£365,000-£550,000), School 21 (£365,000)

Catalyst Fund

£73,000 per organisation (fixed amount, $100,000 USD)
Unrestricted capital
Application: Open calls periodically announced
Target: Nonprofits led by underrepresented leaders, less than 10 years old or with budgets under £1.5 million
UK recipients include: 2-3 Degrees, Football Beyond Borders

Power of Us Program

10 free Salesforce licenses (value: approximately £9,000 annually)
Available to all UK charities registered with Charity Commission
Application: Online registration process, rolling basis

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on three strategic pillars:

Education

Public school improvement and innovation
STEM and computer science access, particularly for underrepresented groups
AI education and digital skills development
Real-world career skills for students
Leadership development for educators

Workforce Development

Early career exposure and work-based learning for young people
Diverse pathways to employment (professional and technical skills)
Bridging transitions between higher education and careers
Digital apprenticeships and vocational training
Support for underrepresented communities entering tech careers

Thriving Communities

Ending homelessness (housing support and prevention)
Disrupting poverty cycles (rental assistance, eviction prevention, food security)
Building resilience (mental health and psycho-social support)
Community development in areas with major Salesforce presence

What They Don't Fund

Events, sponsorships, or galas
Scholarships or grants to individuals
Endowment funding
Lobbying activities of any kind
General operating support (except through specific programs like Catalyst Fund)
Organisations outside regions with major Salesforce hubs (unless exceptional alignment)

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Governance and Leadership

The Salesforce Foundation operates as an integrated part of Salesforce's global corporate social responsibility structure. Key UK partnership decision-makers include the global foundation leadership team based in San Francisco, working closely with Salesforce UK leadership.

Foundation Approach (from leadership):

The foundation emphasizes: “We look for demonstrated program impact or strong evidence-informed models, commitment to measure, learn, and adapt, and strong, diverse leadership teams reflective of the community and connected to the issues they are addressing.”

Recent UK Partnership Examples:

Peter Hyman, Co-Founder of School 21 and Co-Director of Big Education: “This partnership with Salesforce is transformative for us and will enable us to develop the next generation of education leaders.”
Carl Konadu, CEO of 2-3 Degrees (Catalyst Fund recipient): Organisation delivers employability programs matching young people in underrepresented communities with jobs, internships, and work experience.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Strategic Grants:

Invitation-Only Model: Most strategic grants are by invitation only
Letter of Inquiry Option: Unsolicited letters of inquiry are accepted but funding success is very limited
Letter of Inquiry Review: Reviewed quarterly in February, May, August, and November
Response: Foundation will either request additional information/full proposal or notify that they cannot provide support
Full Proposal: Only by invitation after successful letter of inquiry review

Alternative Pathway:

Employee giving and matching donations - networking with Salesforce employees can provide an entry point around the less accessible grant process.

For Catalyst Fund:

Applications accepted during open call periods (announced periodically, not currently open)

Decision Timeline

Letter of Inquiry Review: Quarterly cycle (4 reviews per year)
Response Time: Typically 6-12 weeks after quarterly review period
Full Proposal to Decision: Variable, typically 3-6 months
Multi-year Partnerships: Longer relationship-building process, often 12+ months from initial contact to grant award

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However:

Foundation receives high volume of inquiries and can only fund “a very small portion” of letters of inquiry
In 2024, awarded 27 grants from global applicant pool
Invitation-only model suggests highly competitive process
Employee-connected applications may have higher success rates

Reapplication Policy

No formal reapplication policy is published. Given the invitation-only model and quarterly letter of inquiry review cycle, organisations may resubmit letters of inquiry in subsequent quarters if circumstances or programs have evolved.

Application Success Factors

Alignment is Critical:

Strategic fit with Education, Workforce Development, or Thriving Communities priorities is essential, particularly in regions with major Salesforce hubs (London for UK applicants).

Evidence and Impact:

“Demonstrated program impact or strong evidence-informed models” - the foundation prioritises organisations that can show measurable outcomes or are using evidence-based approaches.

Commitment to Learning:

“Commitment to measure, learn, and adapt” - applicants should demonstrate robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks and willingness to iterate based on data.

Diverse Leadership:

“Strong, diverse leadership team reflective of the community and connected to the issues they are addressing” - leadership diversity and lived experience are valued factors.

Recent UK Funding Examples:

Big Education Trust: Leadership development program for educators, scaling innovative school leadership models
Ada, National College for Digital Skills: Scaling degree-level digital apprenticeships, removing barriers for women and individuals from low-income backgrounds in tech
Catch22: Digital skills gap closure, developing educators in underserved areas
2-3 Degrees (Catalyst Fund): Youth employability programs for underrepresented communities
Football Beyond Borders (Catalyst Fund): Expanded service reach by 25% after funding

Language and Terminology:

Focus on “pathways,” “access,” and “equity”
Emphasis on “skills-based” and “career-aligned” learning
“Diverse pathways to employment”
“Underserved” and “underrepresented” communities
“Evidence-informed” and “scalable” solutions
“Digital skills” and “AI literacy”

Standing Out:

Employee Connections: Networking with Salesforce employees can provide valuable entry points
Multi-year Vision: Present sustainable, scalable models rather than one-off projects
Technology Integration: Demonstrate how technology (potentially including Salesforce products) enhances program delivery
Regional Presence: Being based in or serving London and surrounding areas strengthens applications
Youth Focus: Programs directly serving young people (K-12, ages 16-24) particularly well-aligned

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-only model means relationship-building is essential - start with letters of inquiry reviewed quarterly, or seek employee connections to gain visibility
Only apply if you have exceptional alignment with Education, Workforce Development, or Thriving Communities and can demonstrate measurable impact
London location or service area significantly strengthens applications - foundation focuses on regions with major Salesforce hubs
Evidence-based approaches and robust evaluation frameworks are non-negotiable - be prepared to demonstrate commitment to measuring, learning, and adapting
Leadership diversity matters - ensure your application highlights how leadership reflects the communities you serve
Consider the Catalyst Fund if you're a newer organisation (under 10 years) or smaller budget (under £1.5m) led by underrepresented leaders - this may be more accessible than strategic grants
Don't overlook the Power of Us Program - free Salesforce technology (£9,000 annual value) is available to all registered UK charities and may be easier to access than grant funding
Multi-year strategic partnerships are the norm - position your organisation for long-term collaboration rather than one-off project funding