Neil Hughes
AppleInsider has learned that Apple has announced to its employees that the company has matched more than $1.3 million in donations in its program so far. Combined with the $1.3 million in personal contributions initially donated by employees, it brings the total sum of the "Apple Matching Gifts Program" to more than $2.6 million in less than two months.
The $1.3 million matched so far is being used by Apple to internally promote the program and solicit more donations. An image touting the success of the program links employees to a page that provides an overview of the matching program.
The charitable matching program was announced by Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook in an e-mail to employees in September. The program, through which money donated to a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization is matched dollar-for-dollar by Apple, kicked off on Sept. 15.
Should employees choose to take advantage of the program, they can donate up to $10,000 to a nonprofit of their choice every year, and that money will be matched by Apple. The program is currently available to full-time employees of Apple in America, but will expand to more countries in time.
"We are all really inspired by the generosity of our co-workers who give back to the community and this program is going to help that individual giving go even farther," Cook wrote to employees in September. He continued: "Thank you all for working so hard to make a difference, both here and in the lives of others. I am incredibly proud to be part of this team."
Separately, a person familiar with Apple's corporate operations also revealed that the company is hoping to boost recruiting for its Silicon Engineering Group by offering a $5,000 bonus for employee referrals. A current Apple employee who refers someone for a job by Nov. 12 can receive the bonus if the person they recommend is eventually hired.
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30 Comments
The title of the article is a bit misleading since the Apple matching program only raised $1.3 million. The other $1.3 million was donated without any involvement of Apple.
The title of the article is a bit misleading since the Apple matching program only raised $1.3 million. The other $1.3 million was donated without any involvement of Apple.
Not at all. The PROGRAM raised $2.6 M - $1.3 M from Apple and $1.3 M from the employees.
Granted, some of the employee contribution would probably have occurred without Apple's program, but it doesn't change the fact that $2.6 M was contributed through this program.
Not at all. The PROGRAM raised $2.6 M - $1.3 M from Apple and $1.3 M from the employees.
Granted, some of the employee contribution would probably have occurred without Apple's program, but it doesn't change the fact that $2.6 M was contributed through this program.
I disagree, but you can believe what you want.
Steve Jobs did NOT approve of charitable activities at Apple. The creation of this program by Tim Cook is a first step in the destruction of the culture Steve created.
And since that culture is key to creation of the products we all know and love, and since those products are far more valuable to the world than a few million in donations here and there, this is both short sighted by Tim and bad for the world as a whole.
I disagree, but you can believe what you want.
Nothing misleading about the article at all. Nothing suggests that Apple coughed up the full $2.6M. And obviously some of the employees' $1.3M would have happened anyway. So what? The article is just an update on the program and gives us a sense of how significant it is. I'd characterize it as modestly to moderately successful given the size of Apple, but it's only been in place for a few weeks so that's impressive.