We started with a question: what if a tech company that knows everything about everyone used that power for good? Like, radically good?
In 2014, Gryzzl was already the world's most beloved data and technology company. Our search engine was tight. Our social platform was dope. Our ability to predict what you wanted before you wanted it was, frankly, unmatched by any entity in human history, including some oracles.
But something was missing. During a company-wide retreat at a rented island (the retreat was called "GryzzlFest: The Re-Chill-ening"), our leadership team had a breakthrough. They were sitting around a bonfire that had been algorithmically optimized for ambiance when someone said: "What if we gave back?" And someone else said: "What if we gave back and also it was super chill?" And the Gryzzl Foundation was born.
The idea was radical in its simplicity. Gryzzl had built the most comprehensive understanding of human behavior ever assembled. What if that understanding could be used not just to serve ads, but to serve humanity? What if every data point was actually a story? What if every click was a cry for connection? What if we leaned into that hard?
We incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in January 2015, funded by an initial commitment of $200 million from Gryzzl's parent company and whatever was in the couch cushions of the Pawnee office. Today we operate programs in 89 countries, employ over 400 people, and maintain the only nonprofit data center that plays lo-fi beats 24/7 because we believe servers deserve good vibes too.
The Gryzzl Foundation exists to radically connect every human being on earth through technology, data, and an almost unsettling level of care. We believe that access to information is a human right, that digital literacy is the great equalizer, and that the more we know about each other the better off we all are. We mean that in the least creepy way possible, but also we have your search history from 2016 and honestly? We just want to help.
Our mission is radical in scope and radical in compassion. Two radicals. That's twice the radical of most nonprofits.
We don't just understand people. We understand their browsing patterns, purchase history, location data, and the things they type and then delete. That's empathy at scale.
No person should ever be disconnected from the digital world. Disconnection is just loneliness with extra steps. We're here to make sure everyone is online, always, forever.
We practice sustainable listening, which means we collect data responsibly and with intention. Every byte has a purpose. Every purpose has a byte. It's a whole thing.
We believe in transparency wherever it's convenient and vagueness wherever transparency would be a bummer. It's a balance. We're working on it. Kind of.
Doing good shouldn't feel like homework. Our programs are designed to be engaging, uplifting, and seamlessly integrated into your life whether you signed up for them or not.
Your data is sacred to us. We treat it with the same reverence you'd treat a family heirloom, if that heirloom was incredibly useful for predicting consumer behavior at population scale.
A collection of passionate humans (and one really advanced intern we're not sure about) dedicated to building a more connected world.
Former VP of Caring at Gryzzl. Left corporate to "make impact feel as good as a perfectly targeted ad." Has a rescue dog named Bandwidth. Believes empathy is a KPI.
Came to Gryzzl Foundation from the Gates Foundation, where he ran their malaria program. Says he's doing "basically the same thing here but for loneliness." We don't question it.
Sage invented the phrase "ethical listening" and has been riding that wave since 2019. Previously a data scientist at three companies that no longer exist. Unrelated.
Tyler keeps the lights on, the servers humming, and the cold brew flowing. His actual title on his business card says "VP of Operations & Good Times" and HR has given up trying to change it.
We're always looking for people who believe the world can be better, more connected, and more thoroughly understood.