At Appfire, giving back is in our DNA. Having participated in the Pledge 1% movement since its inception, we are proud of the way our Appfire family embraces it by #LivingThePledge. Appfire Co-founders Randall Ward and Mat Gauvin believe being philanthropic is integral to operating our business, not merely the result of our success.
In 2015, Appfire joined the network of organizations committed to philanthropy through Pledge 1%. From day one we knew philanthropy was a priority, and were drawn to Pledge 1% as an amazing force multiplier for good. Becoming an early partner was an opportunity to amplify our shared commitment to giving back. As our partnership has grown, we’ve helped develop program content, supported local communities, and spread the word about Pledge 1%.
This year, we announced Appfire will donate 1% of the equity in our business to Pledge 1% to continue the movement to inspire, educate, and empower companies to leverage their assets to be that force for good. We’ve now grown our Pledge 1% program to include all four pledge types — product, profit, equity, and employee time. We were among the first to do this, and we’re proud that Pledge 1% is part of our evolution.
Now more than ever — as a fully distributed, global organization with nearly 500 people — we walk the walk with #LivingThePledge. On any given day, we are:
● Caring for stray animals on the streets of Hyderabad
● Offering free coding classes to adults in rural communities looking for a career change
● Making jewelry in the Philippines, with proceeds going back into the community
● Providing support services for at-risk, displaced populations
● Bringing supplies and support to communities impacted by natural disasters
● Giving scholarships to students
● Donating to organizations to help feed hungry children
● Mobilizing in numerous ways — including creating a Slack network to communicate needs, contacting members of Congress, and making donations — to reunite a teenager who was in Afghanistan during the fall of Kabul with his family in the US
“Whenever you put yourself out there like that, your hope is that other people respond to the story, to the message, to the emotion that you've put into it,” said Army veteran and Head of Product Engineering at Appfire Steven Kling, who led the effort to bring the son of his former Afghan interpreter to the US. “When people do, it's so meaningful.”
Maintaining a social-impact mindset fuels us. We are product engineers, analysts, support engineers, marketers, and other professionals who want to have a positive impact on the world and value giving back to the communities where we live and work.
“Our leadership genuinely wants Appfire to make a positive contribution in the world,” said Appfire Technical Writer Christie Gera. “Working here allows me to help others, and the flexibility we are afforded enables me to jump in at a moment’s notice when there’s a need. I feel at home and supported, and lucky to be here.”
Watch our video to learn more about Appfire’s impact.
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