Twilio Announces Twilio.org Board of Advisors, Delivering on Mission to Provide a Billion Messages for Good

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Twilio, the communications API platform, today announced the advisory board for Twilio.org, the company's initiative aimed at helping nonprofit organizations meet their objectives and further social good through enhanced communications. The members of the advisory board include leaders from the nonprofit and technology communities. Their guidance will propel Twilio.org's Billion Messages for Good program and help shape the organization's future direction.   

Members of the advisory board include:

• Byron Deeter, Partner, Bessemer Venture Partners: Bryon Deeter is a successful entrepreneur, investor and consultant currently focusing on investments in the cloud-computing and Internet sectors. He most recently worked as an executive at IBM after the company's 2004 acquisition of Trigo Technologies, where he served as founding president & CEO.
• Mitch Kapor, Co-Chair, Kapor Center: Mitch Kapor is a pioneer of the personal computing industry, relentlessly pursuing creative strategies to leverage technology for positive, progressive change as the Co-Chair of the Kapor Center for Social Impact. He is also the director of the Level Playing Field Institute, which works to increase fairness in education and the workplace by closing the opportunity gap and removing barriers to success.
• Judy Levine, president, Catoo Partners: Judy Levine's experience as president of Catoo Partners, a consulting practice focused on corporate citizenship, and vice president of marketing & engagement at the Salesforce.com Foundation includes leading programs that expanded the reach and impact of corporate philanthropy and building cross-sector partnerships serving corporate and community needs.
• Abhi Nemani, Co-Executive Director of Code for America, is a writer, speaker, organizer, and technologist. For the past four years, he has helped build the national non-profit, Code for America, a technology organization dedicated to reinventing government for the 21st century. Abhi has led CfA's strategic development, including the development of multiple new initiatives designed for scaling the organization's impact, including the launch of a first-of-its-kind civic startup accelerator and a collaborative network for hundreds of government innovators. Currently serving as Co-Executive Director, Abhi leads growth and product strategy.

"We launched Twilio.org to make it easier for non-profits to add communications to their programs. We are fortunate to introduce new board members to support our goal to deliver one billion messages for good," said Jeff Lawson, Twilio co-founder and CEO. "At Twilio we believe that technology can and should be used to benefit others and we're grateful to be able to expand our reach in the community. We can't wait to see what the non-profit community will build next."

Since officially launching in September of 2013, dozens of nonprofits have signed up to take advantage of Twilio.org resources. Organizations such as The Polaris Project, The Magnum Foundation, and Code for America, who are making a significant impact in local communities for civic engagement, the arts, developing regions, and STEM education are now leveraging the power of communications initiatives. The nonprofits currently working with Twilio have seen tremendous success and engagement following their implementation of Twilio's platform for their communities. Some early success stories include:

• Code for America (CfA), one of the initial participants in the Twilio.org program, works to foster and facilitate innovation in local government -- using modern tools and technologies. By working with Twilio.org, the group is able to fund ongoing development of projects using Twilio voice and messaging products to improve the way citizens interact with their local governments.
• The Polaris Project, in collaboration with the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) uses "BeFree," a Twilio-powered short code, to assist human trafficking captives. The short code text message allows victims to communicate with the NHTRC hotline which operates 24/7. The Polaris Project will work to gather critical information, and even help coordinate rescues.
• Merging the lines between technology and art, the Magnum Foundation's SEE POTENTIAL Chicago project utilizes Twilio Text Messaging and local documentary photography to rally support for revitalization projects within the South Side neighborhood. SEE POTENTIAL sites, abandoned building in need of restoration, asks local residents to show their support for the revitalization efforts. The quantified support from people who vote is then used as the evidence needed for the fundraising and charity drives financing the campaigns.

"Twilio.org is giving us the opportunity to develop a sustainable model for SEE POTENTIAL's SMS platform," said Emma Raynes, emergency fund program director for the Magnum Foundation. "This platform helps to accelerate positive, community-driven revitalization across Chicago's South Side."

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.

SOURCE Twilio