Ron Conway, founder of the influential venture capital firm SV Angel, has retired from his seat on the Salesforce Foundation’s board. He continued in that role for ten years. His exit follows closely behind inflammatory remarks by Salesforce’s Marc Benioff, the company’s CEO. Benioff, who has been a friend of Conway for many years, ignited considerable controversy within the tech community by calling out the National Guard. The resignation was initially reported by the New York Times.
Conway has invested early in other companies you may have heard of like Google, Airbnb, and Meta. For decades, he’s helped shape the direction of Silicon Valley. During his long-running friendship with Benioff, for more than 25 years, it’s clear that both men have held similar political convictions—often to the left. Recent actions taken by Benioff, who has publicly supported Trump while previously backing the Democratic Party, appear to have strained their relationship.
In his resignation email to Benioff, Conway articulated his disgust with the utterances of his former friend. He just wanted to send along his profound disappointment at your recent statement. He has now lost all connection to the person that he once idolized because of your inability to appreciate their influence. This simple statement captures both the tragic nature of their decades-long close friendship and the corrosive effect that media-driven political hyperbole can have on personal bonds.
We’re proud to support the Salesforce Foundation’s efforts to further education and workforce development programs focused on underprivileged youth. In 2023, it made an amazing $36 million in contributions to special interests. By the end of that year, its assets had reached $400 million, according to late-released tax filings. A representative from the foundation praised Conway’s deep contributions. They continued, “We are eternally thankful for Ron Conway’s unwavering service on the Salesforce Foundation Board for more than a decade.”
Yet Conway’s resignation is the latest sign of a dramatic shift in the Salesforce Foundation’s leadership. This transition couldn’t happen at a better time as the foundation’s mission has arguably never been more needed. The foundation’s ongoing efforts to address educational inequities and support workforce development will continue as it navigates this leadership transition.
