Google and Salesforce.com are using some of their market power to help local cultural institutions. Last week, while in San Francisco for Inman, I found “Tartuffe” by the African-American Shakespeare Co. when I searched “San Francisco” and “Theater.”

It was a great play, but it was a small production off the beaten path on the tip of the Hayes neighborhood. I never would have found it otherwise. Later, an exec with the African-American Shakespeare Co. told me that Google donated $30,000 of ads via its relationship with Salesforce. I’d probably like to hear more stories about things like this.

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