Plan initially limited to full-time US employees

Apple is launching an "matching gift" program for charitable donations, CEO Tim Cook has announced through an internal memo. Beginning on September 15th, Apple workers who donate to a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity can have their funds matched dollar-for-dollar. The limit is $10,000 annually however, and Apple is also initially restricting the offer to full-time US Apple workers, expanding to other regions "over time," according to Cook. The decision excludes much of Apple's retail staff, which is frequently hired on a part-time basis.

"Thank you all for working so hard to make a difference, both here at Apple and in the lives of others. I am incredibly proud to be part of this team," Cook writes. "If you'd like more information on the program, you can get it on HRWeb, which can be easily accessed through AppleWeb."

The introduction of the program backs the notion that Cook may have a different managerial style than his predecessor, company co-founder Steve Jobs. Jobs was never known for his charitable efforts while CEO, although Apple did support (Product)RED, and his own experience with a liver transplant prompted efforts to change California laws regarding organ donation.

by MacNN Staff