Salesforce today announced Salesforce Accelerator — Agents for Impact, a new initiative designed to help nonprofits harness Agentforce, a new layer on the Salesforce Platform that enables companies to build and deploy AI agents that can autonomously take action across any business function. Salesforce Accelerator — Agents for Impact will provide technology, funding, and expertise to help nonprofits build and customize AI agents, enabling them to improve operational efficiency and scale community impact in the AI-driven future.
Why it matters: As nonprofits face both staffing shortages and burnout, AI agents can augment their teams to offer more effective programs, helping to address some of the world’s greatest social and environmental challenges.
- Agents are at the heart of this transformation, providing 24/7 support that enables nonprofits to address critical issues like poverty, natural disasters, hunger, and climate change — challenges that don’t stop when humans clock out.
- Agents can autonomously manage tasks like donor engagement, fundraising, and logistics — from answering volunteer questions and scheduling shifts to drafting impact reports, as well as summarizing case notes and sending service referrals, enhancing nonprofits’ service to their communities.
- However, building AI solutions can be out of reach for many nonprofits.
Scaling proven success: From education to climate action, nonprofits from previous Salesforce accelerators are already leveraging Agentforce to streamline operations and drive impact:
- College Possible is using AI agents to guide college coaches to better serve students with resources and deadlines, including helping them navigate the financial aid application process. Students and college coaches will also soon have 24/7 access to agents to answer questions and escalate issues.
- Good360 is optimizing its disaster response product placement technology with agents — with disaster response as a key focus — ensuring donated goods reach the right communities efficiently, reducing waste and emissions.
- Per Scholas is leveraging agents to help learners and coaches draft resumes as a foundation for further refinement.
How the accelerator works: Salesforce Accelerator — Agents for Impact provides nonprofits with technology, funding, and pro bono expertise to help them innovate and develop AI-powered agent solutions:
- Solutions selected for the accelerator will be evaluated for feasibility and alignment with Salesforce products to ensure the best fit and maximum impact.
- The accelerator will give $2 million in grants to a cohort of nonprofits, and a two-year contract of donated Salesforce products to support their vision.
- Selected organizations will also receive six months of intensive coaching from Salesforce experts and pro bono volunteers, plus 12 months of one-on-one consulting access on topics ranging from generative AI, product design, and solution architecture.
- Nonprofits in any focus area can express interest in participating in the accelerator by November 19, 2024. Selected organizations will be notified in March 2025.
Fast fact: Salesforce Accelerator — Agents for Impact is the fifth accelerator Salesforce has launched since 2022. It builds on a body of programming focused on sourcing innovative ideas and providing organizations with critical support in the areas of AI, education, climate action, and nature.
- To date, Salesforce has committed $9 million to help nonprofits accelerate their missions and scale impactful solutions through its accelerator program.
Through this new accelerator, we’re helping nonprofits deploy AI-powered agents that augment their lean workforces, enhance their operations, and drive real impact at scale.
Suzanne DiBianca, EVP and Chief Impact Officer, Salesforce
Soundbites:
- “Twenty-five years ago, we showed customers they didn’t need to develop their own software. Now, Agentforce is showing them that they don’t need to DIY their AI. This technology is revolutionizing what’s possible for all types of organizations — businesses, nonprofits, and more — unlocking new capabilities never before imagined. And we’re committed to making this technology accessible to everyone. Through this new accelerator, we’re helping nonprofits deploy AI-powered agents that augment their lean workforces, enhance their operations, and drive real impact at scale.” – Suzanne DiBianca, EVP and Chief Impact Officer, Salesforce
- “For first-generation college students, the 1:385 coach-to-student ratio makes receiving individualized guidance difficult. By integrating Agentforce into our platform, we are implementing cutting-edge solutions to better support students. Agents empower our coaches to focus on high-touch, personalized experiences — real connection and guidance — while Agentforce manages vital tasks like sharing deadlines and answering common questions at any time day or night.” – Siva Kumari, CEO, College Possible
- “A significant amount of new and returned consumer goods that could have been matched with communities in need — up to 6 billion pounds — end up in landfills every year. With resource- matching agents, we’ve transformed how we allocate and ship donations, reducing waste, cutting our carbon footprint, and delivering disaster relief three times faster. This will save five employees over 1,000 hours annually, allowing them to focus on critical frontline response.” – Stephane Moulec, Chief Technology Officer, Good360
- “Creating resumes can be a time-consuming challenge for both learners and coaches, often delaying progress. With resume boost agents, we’re able to streamline this process by guiding learners and coaches through the creation of an initial resume draft, reducing time spent on resumes by 90%. This AI-powered solution accelerates the resume-building process, allowing learners to focus on refining their skills and coaches to provide more meaningful, targeted feedback.” – Caitlyn Brazill, Chief Revenue Officer at Per Scholas
Learn more:
- Read the latest news on Agentforce
- Learn how Salesforce is balancing AI with sustainability
- Go deeper by reading the Agentforce policy principles
- See College Possible’s Agentforce solution in action
