Salesforce, the #1 CRM, powered by AI technology and capabilities, has announced an AUD $732,000 grant for the Aurora Education Foundation (Aurora), one of Australia’s leading Indigenous organisations that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to realise their full education and employment potential.
The grant was provided to help Aurora support over 400 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students on their education and career journeys through mentoring, internships and postgraduate pathways into employment.
The grant was part of a AUD $14.6 million grant announcement made at Dreamforce recently, with Aurora one of 14 nonprofits from the U.S., France, and Australia to receive funding to help students explore career opportunities, foster education, and alleviate education inequities. The grants were part of a wider AUD $33.7 million grant program that also included U.S. school districts.
Through interconnected pathways, Aurora supports students from high school through to university and the workplace, redefining Indigenous educational and employment success. Aurora previously received a grant from the Salesforce Catalyst Fund and the Salesforce Foundation.
Andrew Hill, Vice President, Salesforce for Nonprofits APAC, said the new grant builds on the long-standing partnership Salesforce ANZ has with Aurora.
“Salesforce has a long track record of supporting Aussie nonprofits, from small, niche community organisations through to some of the largest service providers. Organisations like Aurora play a vital role in empowering so many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to reach their full potential. We’re proud to contribute to their efforts in creating lasting, positive change in communities across the nation
“These grants are all about equipping today’s students with the skills needed for future success, and we’re excited to be able to continue to support the work of Aurora in driving education equality for Australia’s First Nations students.”
“Aurora’s programs are built on the knowledge that the potential of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people is limitless. We remove systemic barriers that stand in the way of Indigenous potential being realised. Providing support through things like mentoring, internship opportunities and postgraduate pathways is central to this, and the ongoing support from Salesforce helps us to continue this important work,” said Leila Smith, CEO of Aurora.
“To succeed in today’s workforce, people must build the skills to use technology effectively – and that starts in school,” said Suzanne DiBianca, EVP and Chief Impact Officer, Salesforce. “Together with our partners, Salesforce is helping give education nonprofits like The Aurora Education Foundation the tools they need to keep up with the pace of innovation and prepare students so no one is left behind.”
