Pledge 1% Spark Festival Meetup

Tuesday

,

14

April

2026

7:45am

–

8:30am

AWST

Activating for impact: How founders do the do

Pledge 1% is a global movement to inspire, educate and empower every company to be a force for good. We provide a simple, flexible framework that lets businesses set aside a percentage of staff time, product, profit or equity for social impact.

Come along to learn more about the model and how one startup turned their pledge into a real giving program - mess, mistakes and all.

Most founders take the Pledge because they believe in giving back. The harder part is turning belief into action - especially once it's no longer just you, but a team.

This session helps you understand what pledging means in practice.

Nick Shepherd (Founder & MD, tekFinder) and Joni Fleischer (Co-founder, tekFoundation) will share the honest version of how a small Sydney recruitment business started giving back and have since supported over 50 Australian charities. No polished CSR pitch - just what they got wrong, what they'd do differently, and what actually got them moving.

If you want to know more about Pledge 1%, or you're figuring out how to get your team on board, this one's for you.

What to expect:

- An overview to the Pledge 1% framework

- A candid, on-stage conversation with Nick and Joni on starting messy and staying motivated
- Breakout Q&A with Joni (focused on giving in practice) or Nick (focused on founder motivation)
- Networking with other Pledge 1% members and the Spark community

Save your spot - spaces are limited.

Register Now

Questions about the event? Get in touch with the Pledge 1% Australia team on members@pledge1percent.org

Member Highlight: The Lookout Foundation

Making A Difference In The Communities We Care About

The Lookout Foundation invests in communities outside our own doors where we can see the results. Its mission is to support Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education for women, girls, and other underserved groups, and security and privacy rights for all, with an emphasis on partnering with organizations that actively work on improving the ideals of equality and justice for Black and other underserved communities.

The Lookout Foundation is a public charity and a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It is entirely run by Lookout employees on a voluntary basis. Employee-led committees decide where and how Foundation money is distributed, and organize activities to donate time to local organizations.

In order to provide employees with opportunities to see their contributions make a real impact, Lookout has joined the Pledge 1% movement. It is a commitment to donate 1% equity to the communities in which we operate, 1% of our employees' time to local volunteer projects, and 1% product to non profit organizations. By making the local community a key stakeholder in our business, success means more than profits. It means helping our friends and neighbors.

Event Schedule

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Member Highlight: The Lookout Foundation

Making A Difference In The Communities We Care About

The Lookout Foundation invests in communities outside our own doors where we can see the results. Its mission is to support Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education for women, girls, and other underserved groups, and security and privacy rights for all, with an emphasis on partnering with organizations that actively work on improving the ideals of equality and justice for Black and other underserved communities.

The Lookout Foundation is a public charity and a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It is entirely run by Lookout employees on a voluntary basis. Employee-led committees decide where and how Foundation money is distributed, and organize activities to donate time to local organizations.

In order to provide employees with opportunities to see their contributions make a real impact, Lookout has joined the Pledge 1% movement. It is a commitment to donate 1% equity to the communities in which we operate, 1% of our employees' time to local volunteer projects, and 1% product to non profit organizations. By making the local community a key stakeholder in our business, success means more than profits. It means helping our friends and neighbors.

FAQ

Where do I start?

We have a great guide to help companies set up their product donations. Join Pledge 1% now to learn more and get one-on-one guidance to support your program development.

What does it mean to Pledge 1% of Product?

There are many ways companies can donate products. When you join Pledge 1%, our team will walk you through the key questions and considerations to help you determine the best product donation model for your company. We’ll also provide you with the best practices, case studies, and partner connections necessary to establish a quality donation program.

How do I give Product?

There are a few ways companies can give product and it is very important that you set up a program that makes the most sense for your business. Some typical ways to donate product include giving:

Product in its existing form
Product in form revamped specifically for nonprofits
Hardware/goods
Services (can also be considered a time donation)

Pledge 1% • 1014 Torney Ave, San Francisco, CA 94129 • Have questions? Contact us at members@pledge1percent.org