Humanitix makes $4 million donation to charities in 2023

November 20, 2023

Humanitix, the Sydney-based events booking platform that directs 100% of profits to charitable projects has announced its largest donation to date, injecting a total of $4 million toward causes that assist children in low-income communities, offer Indigenous students scholarships and teaching young girls computer science.

Now self-funded, Humanitix 2023 donations brings the total amount it has contributed to charity projects since it launched in 2016 to $6.5 million, with the capital directly going to the platform’s charity partners.

One example is California,USA-based not-for-profit Room to Read, which helps young girls in disadvantaged communities develop both literacy and life skills. As part of this year’s donation, Humanitix will sponsor school libraries, allowing girls in Vietnam and Laos to stay in school and receive an education.

Humanitix co-founder Joshua Ross, who founded the charity alongside Adam McCurdie, explains “as a tech charity and social enterprise, our shareholders are some of the world’s most vulnerable people.

“We truly believe ticketing should be non-profit, everyone is tired of the big greedy ticketing platforms squeezing artists and overcharging the public with excessive fees.

“Ultimately, it's about shifting the narrative of who benefits from business success."

Other charity partners include Yalari, a Gold Coast-based not-for-profit that provides Indigenous children from regional and remote communities across Australia the opportunity to receive a full boarding scholarship for the entirety of their secondary education.

Humanitix also partners with the Manaiakalani Education Trust, which supports Maori, Pasifika and disadvantaged learners in Aotearoa New Zealand to increase student outcomes and offer equal access to digital education.

Another long-term impact partner is Code org, an edtech resource that has taught more than 80 million students how to code, with roughly 38% of them being young girls.

McCurdie notes “our commitment to donating profits allows us to maximise the impact of every event ticket sold through our platform, ensuring that some of the most disadvantaged individuals in the world are the true beneficiaries of our success.

"Investing in girls' education is a strategic move towards not just societal progress but environmental sustainability. Education empowers them to lead, innovate, and potentially create a more sustainable future for all of us.”

While Humanitix was initially backed by the Atlassian Foundation and the charitable arm of multinational tech giant Google, it is now self-funding. The company continues to select its charity partners in collaboration with both organisations.

All donations made by Humanitix are completed after covering fixed and variable costs that ensure the platform can continue to operate.

Head of Atlassian Foundation, Mark Reading adds “by capitalising on the benefits of their SaaS model, and directing 100% of profits towards charitable causes, Humanitix is setting a new standard for social impact in the tech industry.

Major events that have been organised through the platform include the Strawberry Fields Music Festival, Cancer Council’s 7 Bridges Walk, and tours of Australian Parliament House.

Ross added “we’re in it for the long haul, and the efficiency and scalability of our model align perfectly with our mission to create lasting change.

“$6.5 million donated since 2016 is a huge achievement, and our goal is to be donating hundreds of millions of dollars annually in the coming years.

“We’re working hard for our shareholders, they’re just not the ones you’d expect.”

Image: Humanitix co-founders Adam McCurdie and Josh Ross.

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