Which cloud software company pioneered the '1-1-1' philanthropy model?

Salesforce pioneered the 1-1-1 philanthropy model, dedicating one percent of its resources to charitable causes.

The model was introduced when Salesforce was founded in 1999. Its three parts traditionally represent one percent of the company’s equity, one percent of its products, and one percent of employees’ time. In practice, this means combining financial support, donated or discounted technology, and employee volunteering rather than relying only on occasional corporate grants.

Salesforce’s philanthropic structure became associated with the Salesforce Foundation, later known as Salesforce.org. The approach was designed to make social impact part of the company’s operating model from the beginning. It also influenced other technology companies and helped inspire Pledge 1%, a movement encouraging startups and established businesses to commit part of their equity, products, or time to community benefit.

The numbers are a framework, not a claim that every contribution is exactly one percent in every year. The key idea is embedding philanthropy into a company’s resources, culture, and product ecosystem. Adobe, SAP, and Oracle have their own charitable programs, but Salesforce is the company most directly identified with 1-1-1.