Adobe brings philanthropy in house

Stephen Withers
Thursday, 02 October 2008 03:46

IT Industry - Strategy

Bucking the outsourcing trend, software developer Adobe has set up its own philanthropic organisation - the Adobe Foundation - after years of corporate giving through the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

The IT industry and its founders have a long history of philanthropic activity. For example, in 1964 the co-founder of Hewlett-Packard formed the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, which currently makes grants to support conservation and science; population; and children, families and communities.

More recently, Google established the Google Foundation with a sum equal to the value of 10 percent of its IPO. Recent grants have been to organisations working in areas including climate change, health and education

But back to Adobe. The first program to be administered by the Adobe Foundation is Adobe Youth Voices, which works through schools and non-profit organisations to provide 11-18 year olds in "underserved communities" with hands-on experience with digital media.

Launched in June 2006, this international program is currently offered at 75 locations in four countries: the US, the UK, Canada and India. An international 'train the trainer' effort aims to extend activities to  Argentina, Belarus, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey and Uganda.

The US version of Adobe Youth Voices provides participating sites with $US5000 to purchase equipment and materials needed for the project and Adobe software with a market value of up to $US25,000.

Participating educators - at least two per site - receive a new laptop computer loaded with Adobe software, and a $US1000 stipend for participating in a one-week summer workshop covering project-based teaching methodologies, an introduction to Adobe software, and the development of a complete plan for implementing an Adobe Youth Voices project.

They receive a second $US1000 stipend when they successfully complete the year's work.

What else is Adobe Youth Voices doing? See page two.