We stand with the Black community
Black Lives Matter.
Linode is committed to social justice and equality.
We believe that diversity of people and perspectives makes our world a better place and creates better technology. With recent events sitting heavy in our hearts, we have the responsibility and opportunity to do more in our own efforts as a company and within the communities we serve.
Helping to influence change
Influencing positive social change is essential to our broader mission. This page will be an ongoing and continually updated source for education and information about what we’re doing, where to learn more, and what you can do to help others. We want to keep the focus on the Black community right now, but we plan for inclusion of all communities in need of social justice and equality as we move forward in our own journey of doing better at Linode.
What are we doing?
- Employee charitable donation matching.
- Paid time off for community service.
- Paid time off for voting.
These things only represent the beginning of our duties. As an organization, we're committed to upholding the principles of diversity, inclusion, and equality. And we understand this involves taking a long, hard look at what we can do to better uphold those principles, both internally and externally.
Linode Social Change Grant Program
If you're an organization that believes we can help in your efforts to fight for social justice and equality, you could be eligible for free infrastructure.
Linode is committing $100,000 a year to helping socially-conscious, not-for-profit organizations that promote positive social change in the world. Together, we can unite to enable the potential of technology to create lasting impacts.
- Grant funds will be available to use for one year following the date of issuance.
- Six months after funding, grant recipients will be required to provide a mid-point review showing how the funds have been used. At this time, any necessary adjustments will be made for the remaining six months.
- After the year has passed, grant recipients will be eligible to re-apply for additional funds.
- Applicants and participants should refer to the Social Change Grant Program Policy.
Where to learn more
We believe change starts with education, understanding, and communication. Here are some curated resources from our team to help you educate yourself:
- 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
- 10 Steps to Non-Optical Allyship
- How to Be a Better White Person in 2020
- What White Allyship Looks Like: An Open Letter — Johnathan S. Perkins
- 100 Ways White People Can Make Life Less Frustrating For People of Color
- 10 Books About Race To Read Instead Of Asking A Person Of Color To Explain Things To You
- How to Discuss Race With Black People: FAQ Part 1 — Beginner
We don't have all the answers, If you have suggestions for things that we can do to help in these fights, please reach out to us at change@linode.com.
What you can do
Give to charitable organizations that promote social good:
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was founded in 1920 and is our nation’s guardian of liberty. The ACLU works in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States. They also recently created an app to help record police misconduct.
- Black Lives Matter Foundation is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.
- Black Visions Collective is a Black-led, Queer and Trans centering organization whose mission is to organize powerful, connected Black communities and dismantle systems of violence.
- Campaign Zero is a platform of research-based policy solutions to end police brutality in America.
- Color of Change is a nonprofit civil rights advocacy organization calling for the end of police violence against Black people. Sign the Petition calling for the end of police violence against Black people.
- George Floyd Memorial Fund is the official fund established to support George Floyd’s family to cover funeral and burial expenses, mental and grief counseling, lodging and travel for all court proceedings, and to continue to seek justice for George.
- Minnesota Freedom Fund is a bail fund for protesters and has shared this list from Reclaim the Block of worthy orgs to support.
- NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund is America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice.
- Nationwide Bail Fund Helps support bail for protestors in your community.
- Reclaim the Block organizes Minneapolis community and city council members to move money from the police department into other areas of the city’s budget that truly promote community health and safety.
Give to local groups near our headquarters in Philadelphia, USA:
- Philabundance works to end hunger and malnutrition in the Delaware Valley by rescuing surplus food and distributing it to local organizations serving people in need.
- Reclaim Philadelphia endorses and supports progressive candidates and policies that fight for a vision of putting working people before the profits of corporations and the super-rich. We directly connect with our neighbors to unify our communities to end structural racism, classism, sexism, and oppression in all its forms. Ultimately, we’re fighting for a world where healthcare, education, live-able environment, housing, safety, and justice are human rights - not commodities.
- 215 People’s Alliance is a multi-racial collaborative dedicated to fighting for equity and justice in Philadelphia – at the ballot box, and in the streets. We are parents and neighbors, teachers and students, union members and block captains, cab drivers and cashiers working to unite a broad sector of Philadelphians to make meaningful change.
- Philadelphia Bail Fund goal is to eliminate money bail in Philadelphia. Ending the injustice of money bail requires shifting Philadelphia’s bail system from one that is based on wealth to a fairer and more effective system based on a presumption of release before trial, except in the most exceptional circumstances.
Support social purpose organizations in tech:
- 15 Tech Organizations Actively Supporting Black Coders
- Black Code Collective
- Hopeworks
- Coded by Kids
- Boys' Latin's computer science teacher is trying to crack the code of STEM education
- Meet the BENgineers, Comcast's quickly growing professional org for Black engineers
- Philly Tech Sistas
- Hue Tech Summit
Your vote counts more than ever
Together we can influence meaningful change. Below are some helpful informational links for voters in the USA.
