Zendesk Announces Global Foundation for Local Giving
May 13, 2015
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — May 13, 2015 — Zendesk Inc. (NYSE: ZEN) today announced the Zendesk Neighbor Foundation, a nonprofit organization, to expand its commitment to being a good neighbor and lay the groundwork for the company’s long-term global corporate social responsibility initiatives. The foundation launched with $1 million in funding and made its first gift of $100,000 to St. Anthony’s Tenderloin Technology Lab.
The Zendesk Neighbor Foundation provides financial and strategic support to organizations committed to neighborhood renewal in San Francisco and the company’s 10 other offices across 10 countries worldwide. It focuses on addressing issues of poverty, homelessness and healthcare; improving education and promoting gender equality; workforce development; and technical literacy. Tiffany Apczynski, Zendesk’s director of social responsibility and public affairs, also was named the foundation’s executive director.
“Growing up as a tech company in the Mid-Market neighborhood of San Francisco has taught us the meaning and importance of being a good neighbor,” said Mikkel Svane, Zendesk founder, CEO, and chair of the board of directors. “We believe in forging real relationships with our customers, our partners and our local community. The foundation extends the community involvement we developed in our headquarters to the neighborhoods around the world where we’re rooted.”
The foundation will receive ongoing funding through a one-of-a-kind model where, for the initial year of subscription, Zendesk will contribute $1 per month for every net new agent seat sold across all paid subscription plans for its customer service platform and live chat product.
Beginning in 2012, Zendesk tied its growth to its community engagement by donating the amount of revenue generated by its entry-level Starter subscription plan to its corporate social responsibility efforts. The Zendesk Neighbor Foundation expands the connection between Zendesk’s customers and its community engagement across all of its customers.
“St. Anthony’s is proud to call Zendesk a long-term neighbor and partner,” said Barry Stenger, executive director at St. Anthony’s. “This gift will support St. Anthony’s Tenderloin Tech Lab to provide more education, more classes, and more coaching to people in this community who are hungry for this knowledge. We look forward to continuing our work together to bring more help and hope to those in need here in the San Francisco community.”
To learn more about the foundation and please visit: www.neighborfoundation.org
About St. Anthony’s
St. Anthony’s is an organization providing essential support to thousands of San Franciscans living in poverty. Every day, with dignity and respect, we offer the most vulnerable among us the basics we all need to feel human: a hot meal, fresh clothing, and an opportunity to connect with the world around us. Learn more at www.stanthonysf.org
About Zendesk
Zendesk provides a customer service platform designed to bring organizations and their customers closer together. With more than 57,000 paid customer accounts, Zendesk products are used by organizations in 150 countries and territories to provide support in more than 40 languages. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in San Francisco, Zendesk has operations in the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. Learn more at www.zendesk.com
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