The Yelp Foundation’s mission is to support charitable organizations and activities addressing the needs of local communities, including access to information, education, local economic development, and freedom of expression, and to promote a culture of philanthropy among Yelp employees.
Throughout our journey, we’ve listened, learned, and adapted to the ever-changing landscape of corporate philanthropy. This year, we continued existing partnerships with previously funded organizations and also added four new grantees. We remain committed to providing unrestricted funding to our partners to maximize the impact of our contributions. And, as we lean into being a fully-remote company, we’re seeing employees embrace virtual volunteering and I’m inspired by their ongoing support for causes that matter to them.
After a decade of purposeful giving, the Foundation is pleased to release a new video that captures a sense of what we stand for, highlights the causes we support, and offers a glimpse into the organizations we empower through our funding.
Continuing our Commitment
Today, the Yelp Foundation announced its selections of three additional organizations to fund in 2022. Each of the following organizations will receive a single-year grant:
- Innovations for Learning UK: Seeks to improve literacy outcomes in under-resourced schools by connecting the classroom to the community. They do this through their core program, TutorMate, which targets young children (aged 5 to 7) who are struggling and pairing them with a positive, committed adult who helps them practice reading—many of these committed adults are corporate volunteers. In fact, in 2022, over 90 companies partnered with IFL UK, providing over 13,000 reading sessions.
- Raising a Reader: Focuses on early literacy and family engagement for children 0–8 years old. Known for sending children home with little red bags full of books, Raising a Reader has raised more than 1.7 million readers since 1999.
- Start Small Think Big: Helps small businesses with high potential and limited access to the resources needed to create thriving businesses. This is done by connecting small business owners to Start Small Think Big’s network of volunteer professionals who provide legal, finance, and marketing services. Since its founding in 2010, SSTB has grown to serve more than 15,000 small businesses in all 50 states.
In 2022, we entered the second year of our multi-year grant cycle with these nine organizations:
- 826 Valencia: Supports creative and expository writing skills for underserved youth.
- Freedom of the Press Foundation’s Press Freedom Tracker: Documents press freedom violations in the U.S. to protect, defend, and empower public-interest journalists and freedom of speech.
- Fresh Start Women’s Foundation: Helps women transform their lives through education, resources, and support.
- Hot Bread Kitchen: Creates economic opportunity through careers in food by offering culinary training and incubating low-income food entrepreneurs.
- i.c. stars: Offers technology-based workforce development and leadership training programs for low-income adults and then connects them with career opportunities.
- La Cocina: Cultivates low-income food entrepreneurs as they formalize and grow their businesses.
- Local First Arizona: Provides underserved business owners with funds and expertise.
- Seed Spot: Supports impact-driven entrepreneurs in schools and communities.
- Washington Area Community Investment Fund: Promotes equity and economic opportunity in underserved neighborhoods in the Washington, D.C. region.
Additionally, the Yelp Foundation is excited to continue supporting the following organizations:
- 826NYC: Develops creative and writing skills of underprivileged youth.
- ByteBack: Alleviates poverty by providing students with a clear pathway to a family-sustaining career.
- The Literacy Lab: Provides low-income children with individualized reading instruction to improve their literacy skills.
Amplifying Employee Efforts
One of the ways that the Yelp Foundation promotes a culture of philanthropy among Yelp employees is through donation-matching campaigns. In 2022, we launched a total of five double-match campaigns where we give two dollars for each dollar donated by employees to a select list of nonprofit organizations. These campaigns directed grant funds to organizations working on reproductive rights, gun violence prevention, transgender equality, climate change, and in response to the war in Ukraine. All year, Yelp employees can have donations matched up to $1,000 to any registered nonprofit organization of their choosing.
Cultivating Connection through Volunteerism
As a remote company, Yelp strives for meaningful connection among employees, to the company, and to their local communities. A great way to check all of these boxes is through volunteerism; this year, Yelp saw employees commit to virtual volunteer opportunities aligned with their values.
In partnership with nonprofit organizations in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., Yelpers gave their time and their skills to deserving causes. They may have even had a little fun, too! Some of those events included:
Nonprofit/NGO: Artolution
Country: U.S.
Volunteer activity: Artolution brings together diverse communities through the process of creative collaborative art. They work specifically with refugee artists around the globe. Yelpers participated in a workshop with artists building a collaborative story. The artist practices their facilitation skills by helping Yelpers learn how to build and complete narrative from beginning to end.
Nonprofit/NGO: Collectif Ricolte
Country: Canada
Volunteer activity: Yelpers supported social entrepreneurs who are currently building socially innovative projects and businesses that contribute to sustainable and resilient local food systems. Participants listened to pitches and then helped the entrepreneur hone their communication skills and better tailor their message for future investors and customers.
Nonprofit/NGO: Start Small Think Big
Country: U.S.
Volunteer activity: This skills-based volunteering activity for high potential small businesses leveraged the marketing skills of Yelpers. The entrepreneurs received guidance on a variety of topics including social media strategy, website audits and brand identity.
As we look toward 2023, we are grateful to begin new partnerships and deepen existing ones with organizations that have and continue to make our communities better for all of us. You can see more ways the Yelp Foundation strives to create a positive change in our world here.
