Canva co-founder, Cameron Adams and wife Lisa Miller have signed The Giving Pledge, promising to donate at least half of their A$7 billion fortune to charity over their lifetime.
The couple has also signed up for the London-based not-for-profit, Founder’s Pledge, committing to give away 25% of their wealth at points of “liquidation” over the next five years.
This comes as the company is expected to list on the NASDAQ over the next year.
Adams says the pledge was not timed to coincide with a listing but instead reflected the couple's approach to philanthropy.
“We particularly like the disciplined approach that the Founder’s Pledge takes towards giving – it’s a good muscle to build into normal operations,” he told The Australian Financial Review.
“The vast majority of our wealth is still embodied in Canva, so as it continues to grow so does our potential impact. We feel an immense responsibility to put the value of Canva back into serving our communities and the world.”
Adams and Miller's philanthropy will focus on environmental causes, with Miller already operating a nature financier called Wedgetail.
“Lisa’s background as a zoologist and her work at the Australian Museum give her deep roots in this space, and her love of animals and the environment has rubbed off on me, and our whole family,” Adams said.
“Our focus really crystallised during the devastating 2019 east coast bushfires when we read that an estimated three billion animals died or were displaced.
“That was a pivotal moment for us to start putting our plans together, and it inspired Lisa to focus full-time on establishing Wedgetail and regenerative work.”
Adams and Miller signing the pledge comes three and a half years after fellow Canva co-founders Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht signed the Giving Pledge. In the 2024 financial year Perkins and Obrecht were ranked the 15th most charitable Australians, giving away $19 million.
The Canva co-founders were also named Australia’s second most generous philanthropists through their work with the Canva Foundation.
