Social
Strengthening Our Communities
The transition to a digital economy offers significant benefits to society, but its impact depends on inclusive access to technology, skills and career opportunities.
Equinix’s Impact
Through the Equinix Foundation, we invest in global and community-based partnerships and empower Equinix employees to help build a more accessible and interconnected digital future. To better serve our customers, we work with suppliers who share our values.
In 2024, we contributed to our communities through:
- Donations: US $2,266,716 from employee donations, company matching and WeGive donations, a 15% year-over-year increase from 2023.
- Volunteer hours: 37,695 employee volunteer hours, a roughly 50% year-over-year increase from 2023.
- Grant partners: 63 grant partners with a total of US $1.9 million funded in grants, more than a 30% year-over-year increase from 2023.
- Crisis relief: US $91,155 raised for crisis relief.
- Relief funds: 70 Equinix Employee Relief Fund grants totaling US $101,289, a 250% year-over-year increase from 2023.
- Employee engagement: 34% in employee engagement through service and/or giving, a 21% year-over-year increase from 2023.
Since 2015, Equinix has invested in digital inclusion, focusing on:
- Digital access and connectivity: Providing communities with access to the digital world.
- Digital literacy training: Developing digital skills and technology education
- Technical career development: Offering training and career opportunities in technology fields
We established the Equinix Foundation in 2022 to expand equal access to digital technology, education and skills through funding and volunteering, focused primarily on organizations driving digital inclusion and environmental sustainability. The Foundation also funds the Equinix Employee Matching Gifts Program and matches employee contributions to the Equinix Employee Relief Fund.
During its second full year of operation, the Foundation broadened its use of company and Foundation resources—including Equinix employees’ time and expertise, product and service donations, partnerships, co-marketing and Foundation funding—to further digital inclusion. In 2024, the Foundation supported 63 grant partners with a total of US $1.9 million in funding.
Case Study
Supporting digital connectivity through the Equinix Foundation
Giga, a UNICEF-ITU initiative, aims to connect every school to the internet by 2030, giving all young people access to information, opportunities and choice. Giga provides expert guidance on technical solutions for reliable, secure and future-ready school connectivity infrastructure.
In 2024, the Equinix Foundation awarded Giga a grant totaling US $300,000 over three years to advance digital inclusion in marginalized communities, along with pro bono products and services.
Employee-led initiatives
Equinix employees are central to the Equinix Foundation’s work.
Founded in 2023, WeGive is the Foundation’s core employee-led, community-centered initiative for advancing local digital inclusion. By using Foundation funding and collaborating with regional leaders and WeAreEquinix teams, WeGive supports impactful nonprofit organizations in our communities. In 2024, 36 WeAreEquinix programs participated in WeGive to support 41 different organizations. Over half of the teams continued partnerships from the previous year, highlighting the lasting impact of these relationships. Through the Foundation, WeGive funding totaled nearly US $365,000 to help narrow the digital divide in communities where Equinix operates.
The Board of Directors that governs the Foundation is composed of seven employees spanning regions and functions, representing a wide range of backgrounds. The Board ensures a community-centered approach to decision-making reflective of the unique interests and priorities of our global workforce.
Collaboration for impact
The Foundation takes a collaborative, ecosystem-based approach to philanthropy, working closely with key partners and customers to maximize its impact and expand the reach of initiatives.
In 2024, the Foundation supported 63 nonprofit organizations working to bridge the digital divide, including:
The Loudoun Education Foundation and Learning Undefeated
Provides equal access to transformational STEM education resources and opportunities for students across Loudoun County, Virginia, U.S.
Streetcode Academy
Empowers people from communities of color to realize their full potential by providing the mindset, skills and access necessary to embrace technology and innovation
Generation
Transforms education to employment systems to prepare, place and support people into life-changing careers that would otherwise be inaccessible
Recognizing the importance of environmental sustainability, the Foundation launched the Digital Climate Equity initiative with guidance from our Sustainability Program Office. Through this program, the Foundation supported organizations who work at the intersection of climate and digital equity, including The Nature Conservancy and the National Geographic Society’s virtual learning and leadership Externship Program, Awana Digital and WorldLink.
Employee-led service
Our community impact begins with our employees through the employee-led Equinix Community Impact Program. In 2024, 34% of employees participated in giving and/or volunteering that supports communities and strengthens unity within Equinix. Our employees’ service and contributions make a meaningful difference, amplified by donations and matching programs.
Annual month of giving
October is Equinix’s Impact Month, a time when our employees join forces globally to serve their communities through volunteering and fundraising. In 2024, we celebrated our 10th anniversary of Impact Month, commemorating a decade of giving back to the communities where we work and live.
2024 was a record year in all categories, with 2,688 employees participating virtually or in person, raising over US $576,800 and contributing over 15,600 service hours. The impact stretched across 1,172 causes, an 80% increase from the prior year.
To further our impact, our Global WeAreEquinix (WRE) teams and Equinix Employee Connection Networks (EECNs) organized giving campaigns and volunteer activities.
Case Study
WeAreEquinix Virginia
WRE Virginia collaborated with Loudoun County Education Foundation and Learning Undefeated to engage students in grades six to eight in STEM-related activities. The Equinix Foundation sponsored a mobile STEM lab as part of the initiative giving the students an immersive and inspiring experience as they explored their potential in various STEM fields. The event was a huge success, inspiring young minds and shaping the future of STEM education. The team furthered its impact by sponsoring two more mobile labs in December 2024 and early 2025.
WeAreEquinix China
The WRE China team held a three-day volunteer teaching activity at a rural school in Henan province. Equinix employees educated the class on topics not usually taught in the classroom, including basic computer knowledge, AI, SMART goal setting, basic financial literacy and the importance of mental health. The team received excellent feedback from the teachers and were greatly appreciated by the students. Through this activity, Equinix volunteers raised a total of US $13,500 toward Stepping Stones, an organization that works to bring digital education to underprivileged students in China.
WeAreEquinix Poland
The WRE Poland team gave back to its community by organizing close to 20 volunteer and giving campaigns this Impact Month. Activities included a Charity Bake Sale that raised over US $1,100 for victims of floods in Poland, participation in the Pink Ribbon Run and packing care packages in partnership with Fundacja Daj Herbatę for people experiencing homelessness in Poland. With all the amazing activities and campaigns, the Equinix Poland team logged 550 volunteer hours and raised approximately US $4,500 in support of various causes in the community.
Equinix Employee Relief Fund
Now in its fifth year, the Equinix Employee Relief Fund (EERF) continued to offer employees a meaningful way to support one another during challenging times. In 2024, employees contributed over US $8,900 to the EERF, with donations eligible for an Equinix match through our Equinix Matching Gifts Program. The fund awarded 70 grants, totaling over US $100,000. This year, the EERF provided timely support to meet a high volume of grant requests for employees affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Pathways to Tech
Advancing digital inclusion promotes equal access to tech careers and skill development. Through our Pathways to Tech program, Equinix employees help educate youth about careers in the data center industry, bridging the gap between underserved communities and high-growth tech careers.
Through classroom presentations and Equinix data center tours, the program raises awareness of varied tech opportunities and supports STEM education and skills-building in the community.
Now in its third year, the program has expanded globally to locations like South Africa, Bangalore, Dubai, Frankfurt, Madrid and Atlanta. In 2024, we enhanced resources to help employees speak about our industry, offered student data center tours and refined our offerings to include school visits and dedicated education days.
Supplier inclusion
People power our business, and that includes our suppliers. We remain dedicated to identifying and engaging the most qualified suppliers and making merit-based procurement decisions that best serve our customers.
We create opportunities for a broad range of suppliers through inclusive procurement practices and outreach programs. Doing so allows us to support businesses from various backgrounds that promote economic growth in the communities where we operate, including small businesses, veteran-owned businesses, and those in historically underutilized business zones. In 2024, over 7.8% of our qualified U.S. spend went to certified businesses that were identified through these practices.
Supply chain human rights
We respect human rights for all, which includes workers in our supply chain. In 2024, we began executing against our comprehensive three-year roadmap developed in our 2023 Supply Chain facing Human Rights Impact Assessment. This roadmap strengthens our evaluation of suppliers’ human rights practices, reporting and remediation practices.
Collectively, these efforts serve to ensure that Equinix and our stakeholders can thrive by offering an exceptional employee experience, fostering belonging for all, making an impact in our communities and delivering for our customers.
