Here's a list of the social change organization that tech companies and rich tech CEOs have vowed to support in response to George Floyd's death
REUTERS/Edgar Su
The wealthy tech elite are opening their checkbooks to donate millions of dollars to organizations that they think will bring about criminal and social reform.
Some of them are even vowing to match the donations of others who contribute.
For those wanting to do the same, this list may act as a reference of organizations that have the endorsements of some powerful people.
As the nation has risen to protest the death of George Floyd, luminaries across the tech industry were quick to chime in with statements of support for the Black community.
Many are going further and also publicly donating to organizations that are working to solve problems of racial inequality, criminal justice, or police brutality.
Some feel that this kind of charitable giving is not a good enough solution from the tech industry: They want to see it coupled with concrete actions within their own companies — the tech industry has an appalling record on diversity — and on their own platforms, which have been criticized for allowing content that incites violence or harassment.
But for those wanting to donate to a worthy organization, this list may offer some inspiration, especially since a number of these tech execs have offered to match donations.
Apple is giving an unspecified amount to the Equal Justice Initiative.
REUTERS/Edgar Su
The EJI works to end mass incarceration, excessive punishment, and racial inequality. It provides legal representation to prisoners who may have been wrongly convicted of crimes, as well as prisoners that can't afford effective representation.
While CEO Tim Cook, in an internal memo to employees, did not say how much the company would donate, he added that Apple would match all employee donations two-for-one in the month of June.
Mark Zuckerberg said Facebook would donate $10 million to racial justice groups, and highlighted Fair and Just Prosecution, which the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative supports.
Charles Platiau/Reuters
Zuckerberg said Facebook would donate $10 million to racial justice groups recommended by employees and the company's "civil rights advisors." But he wasn't more specific in his post on Sunday.
Zuckerberg also said that the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative foundation has invested about $40 million, over several years, to criminal justice reform organizations. For example, Fair and Just Prosecution, which is a support and networking organization for newly elected criminal prosecutors interested in justice reform.
Box CEO Aaron Levie and Paradigm CEO Joelle Emerson, who are married, have committed $500,000 to unnamed justice reform groups
Getty Images/Steve Jennings
Silicon Valley power couple Aaron Levie and Joelle Emerson — the CEOs of Box and Paradigm — are donating $500,000 to support organizations working on social and criminal reforms, Levie said in a tweet.
At the time of that message Friday, he was looking for ideas, and responses included the Minnesota Freedom Fund, a nonprofit that helps pay bail for low-income individuals who cannot otherwise afford it and also works to protect immigrants.
Peloton is donating $500,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Kimberly White/Getty Images for TechCrunch
The NAACP LDEF is one America's oldest and well-respect legal organization fighting for racial justice. It has been endorsed by most of the others on this list.
Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield and Away cofounder Jen Rubio — another powerful Valley couple —are donating $700,000 to Black Lives Matter and a bunch of other organizations.
Getty Images
Beyond the $700,000 pledged, the duo also set aside $300,000 to match donations to those orgs, per posts on Twitter.
While Black Lives Matter started as a Twitter hashtag after a jury acquitted the man on trial for killing Trayvon Martin, it's now a thriving social organization founded by three black women. The group acts as a watchdog on policies ranging from police reform to COVID-19 information, distributes resources, and funds Black artists.
The couple is also donating to the NAACP LDEF, EJI, and to:
Bail Project, a non-profit fund that helps pay bail for people in need, and combats racial and economic disparities in the bail system.
The Center for Policing Equity, which uses data science to measure bias in policing.
Campaign Zero, a think-tank advocating for data-backed criminal justice and policing policies.
Project Nia, which is working to end the incarceration of children and young adults.
Color of Change, which organizes social media campaigns and petitions to expose and demand justice on incidents of racial injustice.
Until Freedom, an organization that helps network and train organizers and develop thoughtful campaigns to combat racial injustice.
Loveland Foundation, which supports Black women and girls by funding therapy, fellowships, and other programs.
David Karp is donating $1 million to NAACP LDF, The Policing Project, and unknown others.
Rob Kim/Getty Images for Tumbl
David Karp, the founder of Tumbler who sold his company to Yahoo for $1.1 billion in 2013, announced on Twitter that he and his partner are donating $1 million to various organizations including the NAACP LDF and The Policing Project.
The Policing Project partners with communities and the police to promote public safety through transparency and engagement.
Stripe CEO Patrick Collison and his brother John have endorsed Campaign Zero
Stripe
Collison tweeted that he and his Stripe cofounder and brother John investigated organizations most likely to be effective in creating effective police and criminal justice reform.
Although he wrote that he and his brother would like to "support their work," he did not pledge a specific dollar amount.
He then recommended reading the social media posts by Campaign Zero founder Samuel Sinyangwe and former President Barack Obama, who recommended organizations like the Nationwide Bail Fund, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Center for Policing Equity.
Obama also supports:
Black Futures Lab, which works with Black people to transform Black communities through programs that encourage voting and engages with leaders and watches corporate policies.
National Black Justice Coalition, a civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black and LGBTQ/SGL communities.
Movement For Black Lives seeks to organize the black community around policies that give Black citizens more power in government and ends racially unfair practices.
Venture capital investor Hunter Walk has shared a document listing $500,000 worth of matching donations available from wealthy techies to social change organizations
As more offers of donations and matching funds come pouring from the tech community, Hunter Walk, an investor for seed stage venture fund Homebrew is keeping track in a list.
In addition to Black Lives Matter, the NAACP LDEF, and EJI, and other previously mentioned organizations, Venture Capitalist Greg Sands will also match donations to the Voter Participation Center.
VPC encourages under-represented voter communities to vote especially young people, people of color and unmarried women.
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