We are offering $10,000 and additional prizes for developers to create apps and tech solutions to the challenges faced by nonprofit organizations and government agencies in New York and across the USA.  

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Prizes

Grand Prize: $15,000 value

$8000 in cash (check) +
Free workspace for up to five at Center for Social Innovation Valued at $6000 +
1 Zurb notable ten-page web design audit with 30 minute Q&A Valued at $1000

Change Prize: $1,000+ value

$1000 cash (check) +
Mentor Lunch with Code for Change VC team

Popular Choice Prize: $500 value

$500 cash (check) +
Mentor lunch with Code for Change VC team

 

 

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Contest Archives

Announcement   |   Partners   |    Entry Guidelines   |    Non Profit Challenges   |   Official Rules

 

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Judges

Rachel Haot (formerly Sterne), Commissioner

NYC Digital

Beth Noveck, Professor

New York University, former Deputy CTO to the White House

Seth Pinsky, President

New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)

Andrew Rasiej, Entrepreneur

NYC Tech Meetup

Mindy Tarlow, CEO & Executive Director

Center for Employment Opportunities

Aaron Hurst, Founder

Taproot Foundation

Charlie O’Donnell, Partner

Brooklyn Bridge Ventures

 

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Timeline

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Details

Code for Change (C4C) is a newly formed “innovation pipeline” to address civic organizations’ greatest technology challenges by matching them with talented coders, designers, data scientists, and other innovators. C4C aims to establish a sustainable ecosystem in which nonprofits, government agencies, and global NGOs can leverage the home-base talents of the New York corporate and technology sector in an ongoing, rather than one-time basis.

On Friday, September 28th, at NYU’s Wagner School, we kick off the competition with an afternoon and evening of team matching, giving you a chance to meet face to face, pitch ideas and form working groups. Over the course of the next two weeks, teams will meet on their own time to work collaboratively on their solutions. On Friday, October 12th all participants will reconvene at NYU Wagner for a “demo day” when they present their solutions for judging at our exposition.

Developer, Designer or Innovator and ready to get started?

enter your solution here.

 

Prizes will be awarded in multiple categories. Top award recipients will win cash and additional support to continue working with their civic and community partners, bringing their concepts to full development by the end of 2012. Judging will be based on the following four criteria.

1. Potential Impact on target audience (Total of 10 points available)
2. Feasibility to implement (Total of 5 points available)
3. Usability (Total of 5 points available)
4. Originality (Total of 5 points available)

Code for Change is a partnership between NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, One Economy, Code for America, NPower, Blue Ridge Foundation, and Motorola Mobility Foundation.

For inquiries and information, email codeforchange.wagner@nyu.edu.

 

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More Details

The Method

1. Identifying and Refining Challenges

During the summer of 2012, nonprofit organizations and government agencies  were invited to share their challenges.  With the support of the Code for Change team, these specific problems were refined into Challenge Briefs to cleanly frame the challenge in a way that is easy to digest, readily understood, and actionable.

2. Coming Up with Solutions

During September, you can explore the Challenge Briefs, pick your favorites, and begin developing Solutions.  Groups (no more than five per team) may also enter the competition as a team.  Teams are encouraged to immediately collaborate through the Code for Change website and otherwise to get solutions underway.

3. Code for Change Competition, September 28th – October 12th, 2012

Challengers are invited to pitch their ideas in timed presentations.  Technology and design participants can get to know the challenge and form teams fo create a solution. During the two-week collaboration, we will match you with mentors and support to help you get the job done. On Friday October 12, teams demo their entries in an exposition style.  Judges will visit with each team and assess their presentations. At the end of the day prizes will be awarded. Register for the Judging

Register for the September 28th kick-off event here!

4. Lasting Impact

The Code for Change event, activities, and prizes promote cross‐sector relationship building, continuing partnerships, and the full development of prototypes.  All teams will be provided with mentorship at, and in many cases, beyond the Fall event. Many prizes emphasize continued activity and include VC lunches, introductions to national foundations and space with business incubators.

 

What Makes Code for Change Unique?

Code for Change (C4C), a newly formed partnership of New York University Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service (NYU Wagner Innovation Labs), One Economy, Code for America, NPower, and Blue Ridge Foundation New York is developing an “innovation pipeline” to address public service organizations’ greatest technology challenges. C4C matches nonprofit  organizations and government agencies with talented coders, innovators, and designers, who propose creative, game-changing solutions. C4C’s goal is to establish a sustainable ecosystem in which social sector agencies can leverage the talents of corporate, entrepreneurial and technical talent on an ongoing, rather than one-time, basis.

The current wave of hackathons, app contests, and similar tech prize competitions has inspired new applications and technology uses in the social sector.  The next wave must capitalized on the initial enthusiasm and transform it into lasting improvements. C4C takes a new approach by focusing on scalable solutions relevant beyond individual organizations and fostering sustained relationships between social and tech sectors. The complex world and challenges that nonprofits organizations and government agencies face demands sustained, multi-sector collaboration.