Philly-based instant commerce company Gopuff delivers thousands of household products in minutes, but the company is also committed to being there in an instant when its customers and community needs it most.
And the community has noticed, including Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney.
“It has been a pleasure to watch Gopuff’s impressive growth and evolution from a local startup into an international business — all while remaining committed to its roots in Philadelphia,” Kenney said in a press release announcing the partnership between Gopuff and the American Red Cross.
The commitment to the City of Brotherly Love is only part of the equation.
GOPUFF’S PHILLY ROOTS
In 2013, Rafael Ilishayev and Yakir Gola were studying at Philadelphia’s Drexel University when they saw a need in their undergraduate community — quick delivery of everyday snacks, drinks and essentials. With an initial focus on convenience items and snacks, Gopuff soon grew to encompass groceries, health items, hot food and pet supplies. Now, almost 10 years later, the business is active in more than 1,200 cities across the U.S. and U.K.
Meeting Everyday Needs
Throughout 2022, Gopuff pledged both monetary and in-kind donations to organizations like James Harden’s Impact 13 foundation, Feeding America and the Red Cross. Those donations include hundreds of thousands of dollars, nearly 1.8 million pounds of food, thousands of Covid-19 test kits, personal items and school supplies.
One relationship in particular stands out for Gopuff’s leaders — that with Covenant House, a nonprofit that gives shelter and support to youth who are experiencing homelessness or are survivors of human trafficking.
On Giving Tuesday last year, Gopuff announced a $40,000 donation in addition to food, personal care items and toiletries to support eight Covenant House locations across the United States.
“Gopuff’s reason for being is meeting people’s everyday needs, and we’re grateful to be able to leverage our platform to advance Covenant House’s crucial social mission,” said co-Founder and co-CEO Rafael Ilishayev.
Partnering for Change
According to Kevin Ryan, former CEO and president of Covenant House, partnerships like that with Gopuff make possible the nonprofit’s work with young people in need of support.
“We are able to help our amazing, resilient young people at Covenant House pursue the great promise of their lives,” Ryan said at the time of the announcement.
The support from Gopuff not only included the donation of personal care items but also access to Gopuff credits, which allowed Covenant House to order the supplies residents need, when they need them, from Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City and Orlando. Gopuff’s wide offerings mean that residents also have access to items like toiletries and hygiene products.
In addition to their work with Covenant House, Gopuff launched a partnership with The American Red Cross in support of disaster relief across the country — one that became particularly relevant when Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida last September.
As residents evacuated their homes along the coast, Gopuff packed two trucks with almost 25,000 products, mostly protein bars and healthy snacks, and the drivers set off for Arcadia and Fort Myers to supply two of the 16 shelters the Red Cross had established in response to the emergency.
“We are truly grateful for their partnership that helps ensure we can use innovative platforms and advanced technology to deliver our lifesaving mission to those in need each year,” he said.
Gopuff’s Community Partners
In addition to partnering with the Red Cross and Covenant House, Gopuff has provided in-kind and financial support to philanthropic and charitable organizations in the United States and United Kingdom including:
- Feeding America
- Too Good To Go
- Baby2Baby
- James Harden’s Impact 13 foundation
Extending Gopuff’s Reach
By following through on the promises “we put customers first,” “we change the game,” “we own it” and “we win together,” Gopuff continues to strive for relentless improvement and responsibility. As the company moves into 2023 and beyond, Gopuff’s focus on impact-based giving offers new opportunities for the company to show up as a local partner in communities across its global footprint.
Whether through donations to Feeding America or by offering quality food at reduced prices though U.K. programs like GoBags and Too Good To Go, Gopuff is meeting community needs conveniently and effectively — a reflection of the many ways in which it can serve its neighbors.
