Particle for Good – providing benefits to socially conscious IoT builders
Particle for Good now live! Applications open for social impact organizations – Particle Blog
Last October, we shared early details of a new program that would provide special benefits to those making a positive social impact using Particle’s IoT platform. We were humbled by the positive reactions to the Particle for Good announcement, and inspired by the stories we heard from organizations creating a brighter future with IoT.
Today, the Particle for Good program is officially accepting applications for membership.
Nonprofits, social impact organizations, and educators who are using IoT to make a difference are invited to apply. With this program, we hope to enable innovators to use Particle to promote equality, protect our environment, empower underserved communities, support the arts, and more.
Members get access to discounts, priority support, and more
Organizations that are accepted into the Particle for Good program will receive a variety of benefits to support IoT initiatives that create positive social change:

Hardware + software discounts of up to 20% off Particle IoT hardware and 20% off Device Cloud costs
Priority support from our customer support team
Access to private communities to connect with other socially-minded IoT innovators
Co-marketing opportunities to share your story alongside Particle

Those who were previously enrolled in Particle’s educator program will be converted into a Particle for Good member, and receive the benefits listed above. This includes an increase in hardware discounts from 15% to up to 20%.
Smarter stoves, saving lives
Envirofit is working with Particle to improve the lives of those living in extreme energy poverty. They have created an ultra-low emission, environmentally sustainable cookstove. These stoves conserve fuel and reduce harmful emissions emitted from cooking over an open flame, all while taking traditional cooking customs into consideration.

Envirofit has begun using Particle to understand cookstove adoption in remote areas. Recently, the Honduran government partnered with Envirofit to deploy 300,000 cookstoves to families living at the base of the economic pyramid. Envirofit took a sample of 1,000 stoves in Honduras and equipped them with Particle Electrons. These connected stoves collect usage data to help Envirofit improve improve cookstove designs and create better trainings in the future. Read the full story here.
Check out other Particle for Good members making big impact in their communities:

Opti helps prevent urban flooding before it happens. Their “smart” system proactively monitors weather forecasts to minimize sewer overflows and environmentally hazardous run-off. In 2017, Opti helped mitigate the impact of Hurricane Irma.
The Smartfin, created by Scripps Institution of Oceanography scientist, Phil Bresnahan, uses surfers to gather valuable near-shore ocean chemistry data. A Particle Electron-powered surfboard fin transmits readings to the lab, where the team digests the data in order to better understand the ocean and inform environmental policy change.
Educators around the world are helping students learn embedded hardware and the power of connected devices from Particle-powered weather balloons in Mexico to introducing STEM to diverse students at dev/Mission in San Francisco to high schools to local students building a connected city in Chicago.

We’re proud to partner with organizations like these who are using IoT technology to create social change. We encourage you to apply if you are are affiliated with a social impact organization and using Particle to make a positive impact.
Is Particle for Good right for your organization?
Today, any organization that is a 501(c)(3) organization, B-corp
certified, public benefit corporation, or academic institution (public
or private) can apply. The program is best suited at this time for those
focused on environmental preservation, developing regions, STEAM education, or social justice.
Organizations with technical team are best suited to be successful with Particle. In the future, we’ll be able to expand access to more developer resources for those who don’t have a technical team — stay tuned.
Learn more about the program here and let us know about the problems you’re solving in your community.
