Start A Project
Welcome! We’re excited you’re interested in starting a Civic Tech Project. Depending on the maturity of your idea, you’ll join either the Onboarding Track or the Incubator Track.
Who We Work With
Section titled “Who We Work With”We welcome projects from:
- Nonprofits or Organizations: Our strongest partners historically have been local nonprofits and community-based organizations. Whether it’s digitizing paper processes, building new forms, or building proofs-of-concept, we’re always interested in seeing how we can use technology to make an impact in our community.
- Government: Local government provides invaluable services and help to our community and we’re interested in helping make it more effective. This might mean developing a community outreach and feedback project, building a tool for people to request a particular service, or building some other proof-of-concept for how government interacts with its constituents.
- Activists and Community Members: Do you have an idea of how technology could help solve a problem in your community? We’re interested in hearing more! Those close to or experiencing a problem in our community likely know it best and have ideas for how it can be improved.
If you don’t fit neatly into one of these categories, you are still welcome to pitch.
What We Don’t Take On
Section titled “What We Don’t Take On”-
Electoral or partisan campaign work: Civic Tech DC does not support campaigns, candidates, or electoral advocacy. We are strictly nonpartisan. Projects may address public issues or policy topics, but they must remain focused on public-interest outcomes rather than campaigning.
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Startup product development for private benefit: We do not accept pitches that ask volunteers to build or advance privately owned startup products. Volunteer time is reserved for public-interest projects.
If you are working on a startup, you are still welcome to participate in the community and share during announcements or in appropriate channels. We are working to expand our programming to startups and businesses but projects themselves remain public-lead.
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Ideas clearly not intended for public interest
If you meet the eligibility requirements, the next step is to review our project checklist.
What Makes a Strong Project
Section titled “What Makes a Strong Project”To officially be part of Civic Tech DC, your project should match these alignment criterias:
| Criteria | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| ✔ | It’s civic tech | The project must relate to civic life in a meaningful way. (See definition) |
| ✔ | It’s open source | Projects must be open source so volunteers can contribute. All code and materials live in our GitHub organization (civictechdc/civictechdc-website). |
| ✔ | It serves a real community or partner | There must be a clear end user (a community, nonprofit, or public partner) whose needs the project is addressing. |
| ✔ | There is a committed project lead | Projects are volunteer-run, so a lead (or co-leads) must be available to define scope, guide contributors, and keep the project moving. We help with scoping and timelines are flexible. |
| ✔ | There is a defined goal or end product | The project should have a clear outcome, even if small or iterative (e.g., tool, prototype, research output, or deployed feature). |
Participation Pathways
Section titled “Participation Pathways”Projects come to us from two directions. Which one sounds like you? It’ll shape what your leadership mode is and how you present it to the community (for more details see here).
Community-initiated: You represent an organization with a problem and need a volunteer team to help solve it.
- We have an open need and are looking for builders
- We have a specific request with a deadline or acceptance criteria
Volunteer-initiated: You are a volunteer who has spotted a problem and wants to build something around it.
- I have an idea but no partner yet
- I have an idea and already have a partner
Where Your Project Fits
Section titled “Where Your Project Fits”✔ Yes to all four: You’re ready for the Onboarding Track
🟡 No to having a community partner: Start in the Incubator Track where we help you identify or develop a partner.
🟡 No to being the project lead: No problem! You can still share your idea and participate as a contributor or advisor and we will work with you to find someone who can lead execution. Start in the Incubator Track so we can make sure this project has structure to exist.
🟡 No to having a defined goal: That’s okay, many early-stage ideas start here. Start in the Incubator Track to help clarify the problem and shape a realistic first milestone.
⚠️ No to civic tech or open source: Sorry, we’re not able to accept the project. However, civic tech is broad, feel free to talk with us to explore whether your idea can be reframed or supported in another way.
Tracks
Section titled “Tracks”Choose Your Track
Onboarding Track Ready to go
Your idea already meets project requirements. You're ready to pitch your idea and form a team.
Learn About the OnboardingIncubator Track Needs development
Your idea is civic-minded and open source, but still needs work. Maybe you don't have a community partner yet or the scope isn't defined. We'll support you in getting there.
Learn About the Incubator →