High-Profile Departure from Salesforce Foundation
Prominent startup investor Ron Conway, known for backing companies including Google, Airbnb and Stripe, resigned from the board of the Salesforce Foundation on Thursday, according to reports confirmed by CNBC. The New York Times was first to report on Conway’s departure, with sources indicating the decision came after Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff’s comments about welcoming troops to San Francisco.
Political Context and Values Misalignment
Analysts suggest the resignation reflects deeper political divisions, as Conway is a longtime Democratic donor who was a member of VCs for Kamala and donated approximately $500,000 to at least two funds tied to Kamala Harris‘ unsuccessful 2024 election campaign. According to reports in The New York Times, Conway told Benioff in an email that their “values were no longer aligned” following Benioff’s public statements about public safety approaches.
Benioff’s Controversial Comments and Backtrack
The controversy emerged when Benioff told The New York Times last week that he would welcome troops to San Francisco, stating “We don’t have enough cops, so if they can be cops, I’m all for it.” The comments came as the Trump administration had recently deployed the National Guard to Portland, Oregon and Chicago, sparking protests and lawsuits. Benioff later appeared to walk back his comments, writing on X that safety is “first and foremost, the responsibility of our city and state leaders.”
Political and Tech Community Reactions
By the time Benioff moderated his position, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and other right-wing figures had already amplified his original comments to their audiences. Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom and San Francisco leaders issued statements and held press conferences to deliver the message that federal troops are not welcome in the city, emphasizing that crime is coming down. Conway has supported Newsom, including opposing the 2021 recall effort against the Democratic governor.
Salesforce Foundation’s Impact and Conway’s Legacy
A Salesforce spokesperson confirmed Conway’s exit in an e-mailed statement, expressing “deep gratitude for Ron Conway and his incredible contributions to the Salesforce Foundation Board for over a decade.” The statement noted that the foundation has donated “$250 million to public schools and education nonprofits to advance opportunity and access for young people, including $30 million announced this week” according to company announcements.
Broader Tech Industry Implications
The departure occurs against a backdrop of increasing scrutiny of tech leadership’s political positions and their alignment with corporate social responsibility efforts. Conway, founder and managing partner of SV Angel, has long been an advocate for tech in San Francisco, having founded trade organization sf.citi and helping start FWD.us, which focused on immigration reform. The Salesforce Foundation isn’t his only connection to Benioff’s philanthropic efforts, as Conway is also a large donor to the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital.
This developing story reflects ongoing tensions between tech leadership and political values in urban policy discussions. Additional context about corporate governance and political alignment can be found in related coverage from financial analysts and industry observers, while broader corporate accountability discussions continue as noted in regulatory coverage.
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