Like many working in the tech sector, I look back on 2023 and breathe a sigh of relief, thankful that such a challenging year is behind us. However, despite the many curveballs and the broader macroeconomic climate, our community donated more money to high-impact charities and initiatives than ever before. I learned, once again, that even in the toughest of times, people can and will do incredible things to help others.

In 2023, our community donated $168m to the charitable sector, granted $84m to our high-impact recommendations, and saw 129 new members join its ranks. This money is saving lives, increasing incomes, averting CO2 emissions, and improving the world’s ability to prevent, mitigate, and withstand catastrophic risks.

But we’re not only focused on the money. I started Founders Pledge in 2015 to make it easy for entrepreneurs to do the most good possible with their giving, and to provide a platform for society’s most innovative thinkers to give back. We connect - and connect with - founders and investors, taking them on a journey as philanthropists and leaders. We’re aiming to be the easiest and most effective way for entrepreneurs to come together and help solve the world’s gnarliest problems.

We do all of that without charging a fee or taking a cut from any donation. As a nonprofit ourselves, we’re grateful to be supported by an incredible group of donors (many of whom are our members) who believe in our work as an impact multiplier. Our ROI (return-on-impact) is industry leading: for every $1 invested in our mission in 2023, $22 was donated to the charitable sector. We’ve never been more effective in moving money to the organizations and initiatives making the most difference in the world.

I’m enormously grateful to, and proud of, our community and the more than 60-strong Founders Pledge team for delivering our mission. Reflecting on the achievements captured in this report, and as we approach our 10-year anniversary, I am awed by the real-world difference that the Founders Pledge community is making, and the lasting impact this will have on humanity, the planet, and our future.

Thank you for being on this journey with us.

David Goldberg
Co-Founder & CEO