Twilio Announces Twilio.org - Delivering a Billion Messages for Good

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Twilio, the communications API platform, today announced Twilio.org, an initiative aimed at helping certified non-profit organizations meet their objectives and further social good through enhanced communications. As part of the initiative, Twilio's goal is to enable these organizations to send a billion messages by providing donations and long-term discounts on the company's voice and messaging products. Communications is core to how non-profit organizations engage their audience and this initiative will help expand the reach of those who are making a real change in the world. To learn more about communications for social good, visit: www.twilio.org.

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"We've seen the impact communications can have when working with incredible groups such as Thorn and Code For America," said Jeff Lawson, Twilio CEO. "We established Twilio.org to extend our efforts and make it easier for non-profits to add communications apps to their programs and make a real difference. As this organization grows we will continue to expand how we provide support locally and internationally to groups who need it. We can't wait to see that the non-profit community will build next."

Qualified non-profits and charities will receive the following benefits:

• $500 in Twilio kickstart credits
• 25 percent discount on Twilio voice and messaging services

Any certified 501(3)c non-profit organization in the U.S. qualifies for participation in the Twilio.org program, as do similar groups in Canada, Europe and elsewhere. In addition, Twilio is interested in funding groups that support the following initiatives:

• Civic Engagement - Organizations targeting communities at a local, national, or international level, inspiring change through engagement and communications.
• The Arts - Organizations focused on changing the future of human interaction, making art accessible and engaging, and promoting vitality in the community via art.
• Developing Regions - Organizations utilizing communications technologies to address the needs of emerging economies including issues of health, civic engagement, and communications enablement.
• STEM Education - Organizations focused on strengthening STEM-related programs for educators and students, and closing the gap for underserved communities.

Code for America (CfA) is one of the initial participants in the Twilio.org program. CfA works to foster and facilitate innovation in local government -- using modern tools and technologies. By working with Twilio.org, the group will be able to fund ongoing development of projects that are using Twilio voice and messaging products to improve the way citizens interact with their local governments.

"We use Twilio to enable all citizens to engage and participate in their communities. Not everyone has a smartphone, and with Twilio, we can easily add messaging and voice to reach people who don't use web or mobile apps," said Tim O'Reilly with Code for America. "When you change the interfaces to government to make them easier to use, we all benefit."

About Twilio
Twilio (www.twilio.com), the communications API platform, is reinventing telecom by merging the worlds of cloud computing, web services and telecommunications. Twilio provides a telephony infrastructure web service in the cloud, allowing web developers to integrate phone calls, text messages and IP voice communications into their web, mobile and traditional phone applications. The company is privately held and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

CONTACT: Michael Selvidge, +1-415-350-3091, [email protected]

SOURCE Twilio