LinkedIn

The pandemic has changed the way companies and people think about work. It’s also affected how we think about opportunity and systemic barriers. Social media company LinkedIn is on a mission to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce, and in 2020, the company upped its philanthropic giving to address economic hardship and economic opportunity gaps around the world.

Addressing Opportunity Barriers

LinkedIn, which has more than 16,000 employees, is headquartered in Mountain View and has offices in more than 30 cities around the world — with a philanthropic footprint in each of those cities. In 2012, the company established its Social Impact Fund — a corporate-advised fund held at SVCF — and partnered with SVCF to strategically support nonprofits around the world.

With more than 756 million global members, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network, and exists to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce — equitably. That means working to ensure equal access to opportunity by helping connect people to one another, and to the jobs, information and skills they need.

“We love working with SVCF, who has been a phenomenal partner to us. Their knowledge and expertise, as well as their deep roots in the community, are integral to scaling our philanthropic efforts so we can help connect more people to opportunity and help job-seekers build the careers they want.”

“As we grow, we’re asking: ‘How do we ensure we are supporting communities who face additional barriers?’” says Cammie Erickson, LinkedIn’s director of social impact. “We do a lot of work with young people, refugees, formerly incarcerated individuals, veterans and first-generation college students. Our focus is on identifying organizations helping those audiences so they can build the skills and networks they need to get the jobs they want.”

2020: Called to Action

The pandemic has underscored the necessity of LinkedIn’s work to advance economic opportunity and build networks to address barriers. The company delivered more funding to its philanthropic partners in 2020 than in any previous year.

“We felt that the need was greater than ever because of the aftermath of COVID-19 and the racial reckonings we saw in this country,” Erickson notes.

Early in the pandemic, the company heard from existing partners that were concerned about funding insecurity, and it used its Social Impact Fund at SVCF to recommend and award grants for emergency financial support.

“We had nonprofits that were serving job seekers who were already vulnerable and then became more vulnerable,” Erickson says. “The funds helped these organizations pivot their operations to virtual and survive this difficult time.”

In addition to deeply affecting workers through job losses, furloughs and business closures, the events of 2020 shined a bright light on the systemic challenges embedded across our society — from healthcare to law enforcement and justice to employment. That’s why LinkedIn increased its support for job seekers facing barriers and leading racial justice organizations, including the National Urban League, The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Southern Poverty Law Center and others.

Beyond its philanthropic commitments, the company leveraged its platform to launch a COVID Talent Marketplace and Vaccine Talent Marketplace to connect frontline organizations with volunteers and staff to help fight the pandemic. And in the Bay Area, the company partnered with El Camino Health to open a vaccine clinic in Sunnyvale, California, which is helping expand access to the vaccine and will provide more than 100,000 shots to the local community.

As it continues to expand its work, LinkedIn is able to lean on SVCF for counsel in identifying strong strategic partners.

“We love working with SVCF, who has been a phenomenal partner to us,” Erickson says. “Their knowledge and expertise, as well as their deep roots in the community, are integral to scaling our philanthropic efforts so we can help connect more people to opportunity and help job-seekers build the careers they want.”

For information about how companies can establish corporate advised funds or consult with SVCF on corporate social responsibility projects, please contact donate@siliconvalleycf.org.