Fresh off its $17 billion valuation, Uber today announced a new initiative in Seattle that will establish partnerships with local non-profits.
Called Uber Impact, the program will use Uber’s technology and brand to help create a campaign for one non-profit each month.
“In the same way that Uber has changed the way people move around their cities, the goal of Uber Impact is to change the way people think about giving back,” Uber wrote in a blog post.
Uber seems to be taking a page out of Lyft’s book. In April, Lyft launched Lyft for Good, a new program that encourages its drivers and passengers to fill community needs across the country via Lyft.
But Uber may not be offering Uber Impact in Seattle for long. Mayor Ed Murray may issue a cease-and-desist letter to Uber, Lyft and Sidecar if an agreement over regulations between taxi drivers, city officials and representatives from the transportation startups cannot be reached by this Monday.
Uber rocked the tech world today when it announced a $1.2 billion round at a record-breaking $17 billion valuation. The four-year-old company, which is now in 128 cities worldwide, has raised $1.5 billion total.
