Afi Social and Charitable Initiatives

We strongly believe that Afi’s primary responsibility is towards our customers and partners, providing a secure, reliable and affordable service. We believe that by focusing on this goal and creating value for our users in the long-run, we deliver a positive impact on the society – reducing data loss and helping fight growing cyber-security threats – as opposed to concentrating on numerical ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) scores and frameworks.

Afi is not subject to the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive or similar reporting standards, and our non-business initiatives are limited to a small number of issues where we believe we can make a difference. In this blog post we will describe these initiatives, not because we have to make the disclosures according to formal ESG guidelines, but because we believe that our customers and partners are entitled to know what are our priorities and values.

We spend around 0.3% of revenue on charitable causes. This means that approximately 30 cents from every $100 you pay us are spent according to the priorities outlined below. Had we not made those charitable contributions, our prices could be somewhat lower, so effectively you – our customers and partners – help fund these activities.

We expect that cyber risks will only grow in the medium-term, as the society rapidly adopts digital technology. Through our interactions with customers and partners, it is evident that the global community requires much more resources than it currently has, in order to build adequate cybersecurity defenses. Major gaps include the shortage of experienced security professionals, the lack of streamlined cybersecurity tools and the need of broad employee cybersecurity awareness.

We believe we can make a meaningful difference helping fight cyber security threats, by offering a scalable and reliable data protection service, and supporting nonprofit organizations advancing cyber security initiatives.

We support Cloud Native Computing Foundation and Linux Foundation, which advance open-source technologies and improve security and trust in digital systems. We also contribute to Cybercrime Support Network, a nonprofit promoting cyber security awareness, educating small businesses and users on cyber issues.

Freedom and human rights are essential for sustainable development and technological progress. They are also critical for cyber security, as over 80% of all state-sponsored cyberattacks originate from authoritarian states, and many independent malicious actors operate out of autocratic and corrupt states.

Over the last century democratic nations achieved remarkable safety and prosperity, benefiting not just their own societies but the entire world. Mobile communications, Internet and machine learning are just a few examples of innovations fostered by free enterprise and the rule of law. These fundamental values that advance the global society are now under attack on many fronts.

One of the frontlines of the defence of global freedoms is Ukraine, which is fighting against a powerful force that repressed human rights at home and seeks to undermine them in Europe and rest of the world. By helping Ukraine withstand the war, including through economic aid and humanitarian programs, the free world can prevent the war from moving further to the West. We contribute to major international disaster relief organizations, including UNICEF, Red Cross and World Vision, which run programs to support victims of the war in Ukraine.

We also support Freedom House, an independent watchdog dedicated to democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and we leverage their Freedom in the World country rankings to develop and enforce our workforce location policy.

The US is home to 60% of the 100 most expensive companies and 40% of the richest persons in the world, it has the world’s largest economy, some of best universities and top technology hubs. But too many people are left behind and don’t share in this success. More than 44 million Americans face hunger, almost 38 million live in poverty, and 650,000 are homeless.

This disparity is, to a significant extent, due to the relatively limited government social security programs in the US, especially when compared to rich European countries or even some middle-income economies. Private nonprofits in the US work to close this gap, helping people achieve a decent living. These independent charities are privately-funded by individuals and corporations like ours, with government grants accounting for only 8% of their revenues, and they are often way more efficient, agile, and innovative than government agencies.

We support local charities that provide food, education, healthcare and housing assistance in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. We donate to Chapman Partnership, a charity doing an incredible job helping homeless people and managing assistance centers in Miami and Homestead. We support Feeding South Florida, a food bank in Pembroke Park, which provides as many as four meals per every $1 donated. We also donate to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital foundation which supports pediatric patients of the 300-bed hospital in Coral Gables, FL.

The table below lists nonprofits we contributed to, the sustainability area they fall under and their Charity Navigator score, a metric reflecting accountability, results, strategy and financial health.

Organization	Description	Sustainability Area	CN Score
American Red Cross EIN: 53-0196605	National emergency response organization providing disaster relief in the US and internationally.	Global Freedoms	99%
Center for Cyber Safety and Education EIN: 45-2405127	Charitable trust providing scholarships for CISSP certification, undergraduate and gradnuate programs.	Cyber Security	96%
Chapman Partnership EIN: 65-0425069	Miami charity managing homeless assistance centers and providing help in overcoming homelessness.	Local Community	100%
Cybercrime Support Network EIN: 82-1013947	Nonprofit serving small businesses and individuals impacted by cybercrime.	Cyber Security	97%
Feeding South Florida EIN: 59-2097520	South Florida nonprofit providing access to food, leading poverty advocacy and education efforts.	Local Community	99%
Freedom House EIN: 13-1656647	Independent NGO advancing democracy worldwide through its research, education and advocacy.	Global Freedoms	83%
International Association of Privacy Professionals EIN: 23-3048008	Nonprofit association advancing privacy issues and providing information privacy education.	Cyber Security	n/a
The Linux Foundation EIN: 46-0503801	Nonprofit supporting open-source software projects and tackling the challenges of technology industry.	Cyber Security	n/a
Nicklaus Children's Hospital Foundation EIN: 46-1784918	Sourth Florida's top health care provider serving over 3,500 children a year.	Cyber Security	97%
UNICEF USA EIN: 13-1760110	UN agency providing humanitarian aid to children, including programs to support children Ukraine	Global Freedoms	92%
World Vision EIN: 95-1922279	Humanitarian organization providing food and child protective services for victims of the conflict in Ukraine.	Global Freedoms	94%

We aim to update this information continuously, at least once a year. Feel free to reach out at info@afi.ai if you have any questions.