Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky pledges $500 million to nonprofit arm

Airbnb plans to direct more than $500 million to its charitable arm over the next five years. The funds will expand temporary housing services for people displaced by medical needs and natural disasters.

The company launched its formal nonprofit, Airbnb.org, in 2020 when it went public. Since then, the organization has provided 1.6 million nights of free housing across nearly 140 countries. Beneficiaries include families escaping domestic violence, those recovering from natural disasters, and people traveling for medical care.

When Washington state wildfires forced tens of thousands of evacuations in August, Airbnb.org provided more than 1,400 nights of free housing during the initial days of the crisis. The organization also supports medical relief partners. In Mexico, a pilot program housed medical travelers for nearly 1,500 nights last fall. Many of these patients are children with cancer who lack access to social security.

The new funding model relies on a donation of 10 cents from every Airbnb booking. If the total falls short of the $500 million target, the company will cover the difference. This structure requires the platform to register 5 billion bookings over the next five years to meet the goal through donations alone. CEO Brian Chesky stated that the company will complete the commitment regardless of business outcomes.

The announcement comes as many corporations reduce their giving due to tax law changes. Some affordable housing advocates question whether a for-profit entity should use philanthropy to offset the impact of its core business. Chesky argued that the company is doing the right thing with its natural superpower. He noted that the core business needs to be responsible and that any irresponsible actions must be corrected.

Christoph Gorder, executive director of Airbnb.org, described the nonprofit as an ambulance that gets people to the hospital. He said the new funding mechanism provides a reliable annual income rather than shuffling deck chairs. The organization aims to provide 1 million nights of free housing annually.

Airbnb.org will expand its medical stays program to 20 countries by the end of the year. The company says the flexibility of its platform allows families to bring pets and relatives, and to cook meals in a quiet setting.