Category Archives: code-for-change-spring-2012

Who We Are

Partners

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Established in 1938, the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service educates the future leaders of change wherever work of public importance happens – in nonprofit organizations, government institutions, and private organizations serving the public sector. NYU Wagner prepares students to translate personal commitment into public leadership. NYU Wagner offers advanced programs leading to the professional degrees of Master of Public Administration in Public and Nonprofit Management, Master of Public Administration in Health Policy and Management, Master of Urban Planning, Executive Master of Public Administration, Executive Master of Public Administration: Concentration for Nurse Leaders, and Doctor of Philosophy.

 

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One Economy is a national nonprofit dedicated to making technology accessible to all, regardless of income and location. One Economy’s Applications for Good is the lead partner on this effort. It challenges innovators to develop mobile applications through contests, helping service agencies refine their needs and building community partnerships. During 2011, Applications for Good engaged hundreds of developers from across the nation with its first innovation contest. Its local code events paired community service agencies with technology producers in three cities and generated thousands of supporters to develop Public Purpose Apps. Its webcast award ceremony showcased five apps in the areas of health, education and finance.  In addition, dozens of other qualifying apps remain in production.

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Code for America is one of the fastest growing technology nonprofits in the world. The organization helps government become more connected, lean, and participatory through new opportunities for public service that create relationships and networks to support lasting change. Most recently, it partnered with the City of San Francisco and Google to create a new civic incubator. Code for America’s Brigade project is an organizing enterprise for civic-minded developers, designers, data scientists, and leaders who will contribute their talents towards addressing everyday problems. Brigade’s virtual network and live events connect people, projects, and places.

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NPower is a national nonprofit providing IT training and services to nonprofits and young adults. NPower aims to bring the IT community together to do social good and offers its services through 3 programs – The Community Corps, Technology Service Corps and a fee-for-service arm, IT Professional Services.  The Community Corps, NPower’s newest initiative, provides an online matching service that connects IT professionals to nonprofits in need of IT assistance at no cost to the nonprofits.

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Blue Ridge Foundation New York is New York City’s social innovation incubator. Since 2000, Blue Ridge has been helping to build and launch new ventures that enhance economic and social mobility in NYC and beyond. Now in its second decade, Blue Ridge’s incubation efforts are currently focused on solutions that use digital technology and data as core elements of their approach to further equal opportunity in America. In short, Blue Ridge’s goal is to support the most disruptive social innovations that advance our country’s most signature ideal. Support for start-ups (nonprofit or for profit) includes up to $500,000 in seed funding over an organization’s first years; free space in Blue Ridge’s office; hands-on management assistance; and, access to a broad network of social sector leaders. To date, Blue Ridge has provided $9.5 million to nearly 20 start-ups, which have subsequently raised in excess of $110 million during their time in Blue Ridge’s portfolio and positively impacted tens of thousands of lives.

Sponsors

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The Motorola Mobility Foundation is the charitable and philanthropic arm of Motorola Mobility. With employees located around the globe, Motorola Mobility seeks to benefit the communities where it operates. The company achieves this by making strategic grants, forging strong community partnerships, fostering innovation and engaging stakeholders. The Motorola Mobility Foundation focuses its funding on education, community, health and wellness and disaster relief

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Based in New York City, Liquidnet is the global institutional trading network, connecting over 700 of the world’s top asset managers to large-scale equity trading opportunities in 39 markets across five continents. Asset Managers rely on Liquidnet to help them protect the performance of their portfolios by allowing them to enter and exit their portfolio positions more efficiently. This benefits the millions of people across the world who invest in mutual, managed, retirement, or other equity investment funds.  Additionally, through a robust corporate social engagement program called Liquidnet For Good, the company leverages the full range of its resources – financial capital, human capital, technology, brand capital, and convening capabilities – to create positive social impact locally, globally, and systemically. Beyond extensive employee engagement programs in the communities where it has operations and a comprehensive partnership with a youth village for orphans in Rwanda, Liquidnet’s Markets for Good partnership applies the company’s core competency – using technology to make markets more efficient – to help build upgrade the information infrastructure for the social sector with the goal of unleashing more money for good.

 

 

 

 

Participate as a Technologist

Participate as a Technologist

 

1. Register for the Code for Change Launch on Friday Sept 28th at 3pm

In order to compete in Code for Change, you must have at least one team member present at the Launch event. The purpose of the launch is to introduce you to our Challenge Brief authors and technology mentors.  You will be invited to draft a plan of action to develop a solution over the next two weeks. Please use the registration link at right to register.


In the meantime…

2. Get started your solution idea.

During the summer, we worked with nonprofits and local government to create detailed challengesbased on their work. Find a challenge that inspires you. If you start to think of solutions, please post your solution idea for feedback from others and to begin to form teams.We will help facilitate grouping, as needed, by identifying technologists with similar interests or solution proposals.  In anticipation of Sept 28th we invite you to get started, in person or virtually.

 

3. Refine your solutions and vote on ideas.

You can collaborate virtually and in person to develop apps and prototypes during the collaboration. Similar to Google’s “20 percent time” philosophy, for two weeks, teams should dedicate roughly 20 percent of their time to developing and crafting new solutions to benefit the public good. You can post and continue to edit your solution descriptions through this website up until 2:00 pm on October 28th.  Once a solution is published, you becomes its editor. You can invite anyone to vote and comment on your solution. Publishing your solution early allows you to get more public votes before the final event and to get critical feedback on your work. See sample solutions.

4. Attend Code for Change Judging Day and present to win prizes.

On Friday, October 12th, we come back together for a working day at NYU.  Starting at 9:00 AM, we will have space, mentors and encouragement  for you to finalize your work, gather your last votes, commit to some user testing and ultimately present your applications to our panel of judges to compete for various cash, product, and service prizes.

5. Build on the momentum – and lasting partnerships for real impact.

After the competition in October, winning teams will be awarded mentoring and consulting prizes to keep your projects growing. At the end of the year, you will showcase your products in our App Catalog.

 

For inquiries and information, email [email protected].

Participate as a Nonprofit or Government Agency

Participate as a Nonprofit or Government Agency

 

 

Thank you to all the authors who have created compelling challenges. The challenge period is now closed.

Comment on Challenge Briefs here.

 

 

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

 

In advance of the Code for Change competition and expo starting Sept 28th in New York City, we recruited leading nonprofit organizations and government agencies to submit Challenge Briefs. We use these briefs to match you with technologists, innovators, and designers who will work with you, or independently to create solutions and share them here as Solutions.  Read example Challenge Briefs here.

Our work kicks-off in earnest on Sept 28th when we all convene in New York for two weeks of collaboration. Challengers and Developers work in teams to refine the best ideas and create working apps or a prototype and enter it in the Code for Change expo on October 12th.If your solution wins one of several cash and in-kind prizes, you gain the support you need to bring your solution into reality.

For inquiries and information, email [email protected].

 

How to Participate (Archive):

I. Let us know you’re out there

If you haven’t already been contacted by the C4C team about submitting a Challenge Brief, email us directly using the contact form.

II. Create your Challenge Brief

Write a short and concise challenge brief based on specific difficulties you or your constituents face that might be remedied by a mobile, desktop, web or game application.

The Questions: numbered as they are on the entry form.

1.

First we ask you the basics like name, email, mission, location and target audience.  These should be easy to answer using materials you have on hand.

2.

Challenge Briefs should reflect significant issues, the solutions to which could be game-changing for your organization and your work in the field–pressing problems that might be solved with technology interventions.  This should not be about getting you better access to your email or getting your client database up to snuff.  Look at some samples here.   To get the most from this, we recommend that you refrain from suggesting app solutions at this time.  We’ve found that focusing on deeply defining your challenge will get you better solutions once you have formed a team with technologists and innovators. The brief should be two or three paragraphs (with links to background information, if desired).  You will paste your brief into the Challenge Brief entry form when you are ready.

a. If possible, interview the people you serve, your board members or interdepartmental teams to create the brief.

b. What are some simple steps in your work process where a mobile or online solution would really help move things along.  Here’s an example from Goodwill with a challenge for a social media app.

Appropriate technology platforms.  What tech do your constituents already use? You can find this out by simple observation or by interviewing a sample.  Perhaps you already know.  In the form you are given multiple choice options.  If these are not enough, let us know and we will add more.

Then, What does success look like? What would it look like for you to successfully meet this challenge. For the Goodwill example above, success might be, “A facebook and text messaging application that allows Goodwill to form an online social space via facebook and send broadcast messages to former students via text message.”

3.

True Stories. Here we ask that you include a true narrative story of one of your users or constituents.  Many of you may have these on hand from your website or fundraising and we find that they can be of inspiration to the solution team.  This may be a current or former recipient of your service, or other person who was touched by your work.

Supporting Image. We also have a place to upload a supporting image either for your brief or your constituent narrative

4.

Resources, Assets and Gaps. Define how much you or your organization is willing to put on the line for this bet.  These should be a simple list in the entry form.  More will come into play as we get to the solutions.

Assets: Things you already have, or own

    • data opportunities that might be valuable to others
    • communities on the ground that may put your app idea into practice
    • infrastructure, staff that may be interested to help with building and testing

Resources: Funding, partnerships, untapped skills

Gaps: What assets and resources are you still lacking?

Challenge Brief entry form.

III. Support your Challenge Brief

When designers and developers start to share solutions for your challenges during July-Sept, we want to be sure you are part of the conversation. Please designate one person from your team toregister at Applications for Good.  We will help you stay involved in the challenge and join the solution team once solutions start to be published. We will follow up with requests for more contact information and will provide one-on-one assistance as well as hold video or conference calls to help build the solution teams. We also want you to be part of the action in September when we all meet in person (read more here).
New Code for Change specific badges coming soon!!!

Code for Change will supply you with a badge that you can place on your website or newsletter and link back to your challenge brief. You may be able to gain additional support from sponsors or donors when they see you are focusing forward in your problem solving.

 

For inquiries and information, email [email protected].

Learn More about Code for Change

Learn More about Code for Change

 

Starting June 28, 2012, nonprofit organization or government agency can enter your Challenges here at the Code for Change website hosted by Applications for Good. Learn how to create an awesome Challenge Brief here. Or, contact us to find out more on being Code for Change nonprofit or government partner.

 

If you are a developer, designer or innovator we match you to the Challenges and others with similar interests. Starting June 28 and all the way up until our two weeks of collaboration, you can start working. Register here as a technology partner or if you already have a challenge in mind, enter your solution here.

 

In September we are all coming together for two weeks of collaboration in New York, starting Sept 28th. Finally, challenge/solution teams will showcase your work at our Oct 12 expo and awards. We are offering $10,000 in cash and additional prizes for those who build Applications, create viable prototypes or enter into promising partnerships as a result of Code for Change. Winning applications are recognized with our App Catalog and other promotional venues (tba).

 

The creativity begins June 28, 2012 when we begin sourcing and developing challenges from the nonprofit organizations and government agencies. We will present the challenges during the summer through our website and invite teams to commit to solving challenges. Anyone can play.

On Friday, September 28th, at NYU’s Wagner School, we kick off the competition with an afternoon and evening of team matching and gathering, giving technologists, designers, innovators, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies a chance to meet face to face, pitch ideas, and challenges 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.

Register for the September 28th kick-off event 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.

Prizes include mentor sessions, VC lunches, introductions to national foundations, space with business incubators, general support for project development, cash, and more. At the end of the year, we’ll present final results and products.

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 [email protected].

 

Register for Updates

More about Code for Change

More about the Competition and Expo

Code for Change’s lead partners and supporters

 

Nonprofit Organizations & Government Agencies

Submit a Challenge, Get a Solution.

Do you have a challenge that could benefit from an innovative technology solution? At no cost and with the support of the Code for Change team, nonprofits and public agencies are invited to submit “Challenge Briefs,” which technologists and innovators with big ideas will build solutions around. Code for Change is about impact. Challenge Briefs should address bold, systems-oriented issues, the solutions to which could substantively improve services, accessibility of programs, and how an organization does business. Code for Change welcomes agencies to pitch their toughest problems with field-wide relevance to innovators and technology experts. Many of the Code for Change prizes will support organizations in the full development of new prototypes. How to Enter a challenge.

 

Technologists, Innovators, & Designers

Show Your Skills, Do Good.

Are you an expert coder with technology chops you want to share with the world? Do you have innovative ideas that could make a difference? Do you think good design can change the world? Put your skills to work for a better world and compete to win cash and prizes. Code for Change matches you with the leaders of nonprofits and public agencies in New York City. These organizations may focus on kids in NYC or access to water in developing countries – what they have in common is that they’re all in the Big Apple and in need of technology interventions and innovative solutions to their challenges. That’s where you come in to compete. Prizes include mentor sessions, VC lunches, introductions to national foundations, space with business incubators, general support for project development, cash, and more. Recently, the White House has become interested in this effort; one winner may also have the opportunity to work with the Obama administration to take this work to the national stage. How to Enter a Solution

The Basics: Challenge, Meet Solution

Code for Change is the catalyst for a sustained effort to meet the technology challenges of nonprofit and public sector agencies. To truly address social challenges, ensure relevant solutions, and develop partnerships, Code for Change facilitates an engaging process of challenge identification and refinement, solution generation, and ongoing development:

1. Identifying and Refining Challenges

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

2. Coming Up with Solutions

Throughout the summer and into September, Code for Change will invite technologists and innovators to enter the competition by registering for the C4C events in October.  Over the course of the month, these technologists will explore the Challenge Briefs, pick their favorites, and begin developing Solutions.  Groups (our suggestion is 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. The Code for Change team will be available to help facilitate the process.

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

On Friday, September 28th, challengers and teams will come together, new teams may be formed, and technologists will meet nonprofit organizations and government agencies. All teams will be invited to pitch their ideas in a timed presentation.  Each team will receive feedback after their pitch via a question and answer session. Teams can gather more feedback by mingling during the event. On Saturday, June 2nd, 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.
→ Learn more about prizes

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 June 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.

Judging Panelists

Judging Panelists

 

Aaron Hurst, Founder Taproot Foundation

Aaron is a globally recognized social innovator and leading architect of the growing pro bono services movement. He is known throughout Taproot offices for his striped socks, Post-it® doodling, and endless supply of bold ideas. Aaron’s career is dedicated to challenging and empowering the public and private sectors as well as individuals and organizations to drive our collective social, environmental and economic progress. He is the founder of the Taproot Foundation—a nonprofit organization building a national pro bono marketplace and leading the global service movement—and is a creative force behind the conception of the national Billion + Change initiative and the Service Enterprise model.

Beth Simone Noveck, Visiting Professor, NYU

Visiting Professor Beth Simone Noveck served in the White House as the first United States Deputy Chief Technology Officer and founder and director of the White House Open Government Initiative (2009-2011). UK Prime Minister David Cameron appointed her Senior Advisor for Open Government. She served on theObama-Biden Transition Team and was a volunteer advisor to the Obama for America campaign on issues of technology, innovation, and government reform. Dr. Noveck recently received a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, to create a research network on the impact of technology on democratic institutions. She is also a visiting professor at the MIT Media Lab, Dr. Noveck is on leave as professor of law and founder of the Institute for Information Law and Policy at New York Law School.

 

 

Charlie O’Donnell, Partner at Brooklyn Bridge Ventures

Charlie is a connector–introducing like minded friends, helping entrepreneurs find supporters, or just trying to make sense of disruptive ideas and the appropriate opportunities to create change.  His interest in technologies that improve connection and empower individuals has led him to the creation of Path 101 (www.path101.com), a career discovery destination. He is the company’s co-founder & CEO and passionately leads the business strategy, marketing, and business development. Charlie works on the company’s product vision with co-founder and CTO, Alex Lines.

In early 2006, Charlie founded nextNY (www.nextNY.org), a grassroots a participant-driven organization of almost 1,000 up and coming digital media and technology professionals in NYC–the largest in the area. Events have included discussions on the NYC startup environment, an open house at Google NYC, and an discussion on the future of online advertising.

 

Micah Kotch, Director of Incubator Initiatives, NYU Poly

Micah Kotch is Director of incubator initiatives at NYU-Poly and Director of the New York City Accelerator for a Clean and Renewable Economy (NYC ACRE) initiative, where he is helping develop New York City’s emerging cleantech sector. His work assisting startup tech ventures has been profiled in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Scientific American, and NPR Marketplace. A Chinese major at Colgate University, Micah graduated with distinction and wrote his first business plan while working in Ningbo, China. He has developed new business for wireless telecom carriers and device manufacturers, brokering licensing deals with large media companies and game publishers. Micah was the first green initiatives coordinator for Pratt Institute, helping grow the Pratt Design Incubator for Sustainable Innovation at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and establishing the Center for Sustainable Design Studies and Research (funded by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Federal DOE).

 

 

Mindy Tarlow, CEO Center for Employment Opportunities

Mindy Tarlow is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), a New York-based nonprofit corporation that provides employment services to men and women with criminal convictions in New York, and beginning in 2011, in Oklahoma and California. CEO was created by the Vera Institute of Justice in the late 1970s and has been operating as an independent corporation since 1996. Ms. Tarlow began her association with CEO as a Program Director at the Vera Institute of Justice in 1994, where she managed the successful spin-off of CEO from Vera. Prior to joining CEO, Ms. Tarlow spent close to ten years at the New York City Office of Management and Budget where she rose from Senior Analyst in 1984 to Deputy Director in 1992. Ms. Tarlow guided many criminal justice projects during her tenure in government including co-authoring the Mayor’s Safe Streets, Safe City Omnibus Criminal Justice Program.

 

 

Rachel Haot (formerly Sterne), Chief Digital Officer, City of New York,

Rachel Haot Leads NYC Digital, part of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. The mission of NYC digital is to realize Mayor Bloomberg’s digital roadmap for New York City, a plan to fulfill the City’s digital potential.  The full strategy is available at nyc.gov/digital. Today New York City government has a digital audience of over 5.4 million, and more than 200 specialized social media feeds catering to City services and resources. Prior to this role, Rachel was an independent digital strategy consultant, and Founder and CEO of GroundReport, a global, crowd-sourced news startup. She founded GroundReport in 2006 with the mission to democratize the media and help the world share its stories. She has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School, specializing in social media and entrepreneurship. A lifelong New Yorker, Rachel attended public schools and graduated magna cum laude from New York University with a BA in History. In 2012 she was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, and serves on the digital advisory board of [email protected] and the NY/NJ 2013 Super Bowl Hosting Committee.

 

Seth Pinsky: President, NYCEDC

Seth W. Pinsky was appointed President of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in February 2008. NYCEDC’s agenda includes an aggressive slate of programs aimed at diversifying the City’s economy, helping legacy industries transition to 21st Century business models, and expanding entrepreneurship to ensure that the City is well-represented in the fields of tomorrow. The more than 60 programs launched during Seth’s tenure focus on industries such as the arts, bioscience, fashion, finance, green services, manufacturing, media, and technology and include: incubator spaces providing hundreds of low-cost work stations and business development services to startup companies; the first City-sponsored investment fund outside the Silicon Valley; and international competitions aimed at spurring the creation of new business plans and smart-phone applications using long-neglected government data. Read more.

Code for Change Official Rules

Code for Change Official Rules

Code for Change (C4C) innovation contest (the “Competition”) is sponsored by Applications for Good (A4G) at One Economy Corporation, New York University Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, NPower, Code for America, and Blue Ridge Foundation New York (collectively the “Sponsor(s)”). No purchase or payment necessary to enter or win. A purchase or payment of any kind will not increase your chances of winning. By entering the Competition you agree that your participation will be governed by, and you shall abide by, all of the following terms and conditions (the “Terms and Conditions”) outlined herein below:

1. Mission:

The goal of the Competition is to challenge emerging and experienced developers to design mobile applications, games and web based applications for the specific challenges outlined by leaders in nonprofit organizations and government agencies. Competition entrants are invited to submit any operable application, working prototype or executable design for Internet based technology that would increase access to services and life tools for any target audience of a participating service agency.

2. Eligibility:

The Competition is open only to individuals who are 18 years of age or older as of the date of entry and who are legal residents of one of the fifty (50) states of the United States or the District of Columbia or the U.S. Territories. The following are not eligible to enter or win the Competition: (1) employees, officers, directors and contractors of the Sponsors, and any member of their immediate family (i.e., a spouse, parent, grandparent, child or grandchild of the entrant) or household of any of the foregoing individuals; (2) employees of the City of New York and any member of their immediate family (i.e., a spouse, parent, grandparent, child or grandchild of the entrant) or household of any of the foregoing individuals; and (3) any member of the immediate family (i.e., a spouse, parent, grandparent, child or grandchild of the entrant) or household of any judge. The following judges have been identified: Arron Hurst, Beth Simone Noveck, Seth Pinsky. As other judges are identified, they will be announced to those entering the Competition. In order to be eligible to win, each Applicant must attend the September 28, 2012 Kick-Off event and the October 12, 2012 Expo in New York City at their own expense. Space is limited to both events and applicants must preregister.

3. A Final Submission:

A Final Submission consists of one or more of the following products that is designed as a solution to one or more Challenge Briefs authored at the Applications for Good Code for Change website: 1) A functioning mobile or web-based application; 2) A demonstrable digital prototype (using an SDK, wireframe model or other digital prototyping tools) of mobile or web-based application with an actionable plan for additional project completion; 3) A paper or slide-based prototype that represents a viable and actionable  solution;  or 4) Additional entry categories that may include: research posters, infographics, visualizations, contributions to open data, unique uses of application programming interfaces, all as determined by the Sponsors in their sole discretion. *All Applicants are encouraged to use an open-source software license, though they are not required to, to be eligible.

4. Entries by Teams:

Final Submissions may be submitted either by individuals or by groups of individuals (a “Team”). If a Final Submission will be submitted by a Team, the Team must consist of no more than six (6) individuals, and each member of a Team must satisfy the eligibility requirements set forth in these Terms and Conditions. Each Team must designate in the application a single member of the Team who will serve as the Team’s sole representative for communications and all other purposes in connection with the Competition (the “Team Leader”). All agreements, consents, representations and warranties made or given by a Team Leader herein or otherwise in connection with the Competition will be deemed by Sponsors as binding upon all members of the pertinent Team as if made by each such member. The Team Leader will be responsible for ensuring that all Team members have agreed in writing to these Terms and Conditions. Failure to comply may result in disqualification of the Team.

5. Entry Period:

The entry period for the Competition begins at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EDT) on Thursday, September 1st, 2012 and ends at 2:00 p.m. EST on Friday, October 12, 2012 or when all available Applicant spaces are filled. (the “Entry Period”).

6. How To Enter:

To enter, visit http://applicationsforgood.org/submit-a-solution/ (the “Site”) during the Entry Period and follow the entry instructions. To be eligible to win, Applicants, whether an individual or Team, must also submit a Final Submission (as defined below) in the English language no later than 2:00 PM EST, Friday, October 12, 2012. Proof of entry is not proof of receipt. A4G’s computer will be the official clock for the Competition. Sponsors reserve the right not to acknowledge or return any Application Form or Final Submission. Each Final Submission must be comprised of the following (a submission which meets these criteria will be referred to as a “Final Submission”):

(a) A fully-completed Application Form, <http://applicationsforgood.org/submit-a-solution/>, which must specify the name of the entrant or, if the Final Submission is to be submitted by a Team, the name of the Team Leader (entrant) and all members of the Team and all accurate and up-to-date contact information as collected in the Team Leader’s profile page on Applications for Good.

(b) The Final Submissions must include the following: Title, Challenge(s) addressed, Project description, Project featured image, Product plan (includes timeline and projected goals for app), Role of entrant on the project, Assets of team, and Other members of the team with names and roles. Optional: Link to code website and a link to video of working application (2:00 min limit).

(c) All open-source Final Submissions are required to specify the applicable open source license.

(d) Previously published applications are eligible only if the Final Submission includes the addition of significant new features that make the app better fulfill public purposes and address the Challenges proposed by service agencies.

(e) Entrants may submit multiple entries, as long as each entry is unique and original.

7. Entry Guidelines:

Each individual or Team that submits a Final Submission (each “Applicant”) must retain a copy of the Final Submission. Sponsors and the City of New York are not responsible for, and each Applicant specifically releases Sponsors and the City of New York from any claims or liability relating to, any loss or damage to the Applicant’s Final Submission.

(a) All Final Submissions must comply with the following Content Restrictions:

The Final Submission must not contain material that violates or infringes the rights of another, including but not limited to privacy, publicity, copyright, trademark, patent, or intellectual property related rights; The Final Submission must not disparage Sponsors, any person or party affiliated with the promotion and administration of the Code for Change Contest, including but not limited to the City of New York, or any other persons or entities generally. The Final Submission must not contain footage, images, music or artwork not created by entrant. The Final Submission must not contain material that is inappropriate, indecent, obscene hateful, defamatory, slanderous or libelous. No Final Submission may contain material that promotes bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age. Final Submissions must not contain material that is unlawful, in violation of or contrary to the laws or regulations in any jurisdiction where a Final Submission is created.

(b) By entering, each Applicant represents and warrants that (i) the Applicant’s Final Submission and all components thereof, including all ideas, creative elements and any other materials and information contained in the Final Submission are wholly original with the Applicant or used under a valid open-source license, (ii) except with respect to any validly licensed open-source material, no person or entity has collaborated with Applicant in creating the Final Submission, provided any material or information for inclusion in the Final Submission, or has any ownership rights in and to the Final Submission or any component thereof (note: an Applicant that is a Team warrants and represents that no person who is not a Team member collaborated with the Applicant, provided any material or information, or has any ownership rights in and to the Final Submission), (iii) Applicant has the exclusive, unconditional right and authority to submit the Final Submission and (iv) the Applicant’s Final Submission complies with these Official Rules in full.

(c) Sponsors, in their sole discretion, reserve the right to disqualify and/or not accept any Final Submission that Sponsors determine: (i) does not or is likely not to comply with the Terms and Conditions, (ii) is inappropriate for public viewing, or (iii) is contrary to Sponsors’ mission or reputation. Prior to October 12, 2012, Sponsors may, but have no obligation to, inform Applicants of unacceptable Final Submissions and permit re-submission.

(d) Must be present to win:

In order to qualify as a Winner, each Applicant must attend the September 28, 2012 Kick Off and the October 12 Expo. Applicants will present to the Panelists at the Expo (and in the event of a Team, at least one member of the Team must be so available). Any costs or expenses associated with attending the Launch and the Expo, or acceptance or use of any prize (including, without limitation, additional transportation, meals, gratuities and incidentals) are the responsibility of the Applicant.

(e) Affidavit of Eligibility And Publicity/Liability Release:

In order to qualify as a Winner, each Applicant (including each Team member, if Applicant is a Team) must execute the Affidavit of Eligibility And Publicity/Liability Release on October 12, 2012 at the Expo and submit it to Sponsor’s representative. In addition, all participants at both the September 28th Kick Off and at the October 12th Expo will be required to sign releases.

8. Judging:

The judging will occur during the Expo on October 12th, as follows: A jury of judges comprised both of Sponsors and industry leaders selected by Sponsors will score all valid Final Submissions based on the Judging Criteria.Sponsors and Judges will rate entrants based on the following four (4) criteria (“Judging Criteria”). Weight of each Judging Criteria is noted in points.

Criteria
  • Potential Impact on target audience (Total of 10 points available)
  • Feasibility to implement (Total of 5 points available)
  • Usability (Total of 5 points available)
  • Originality (Total of 5 points available)

 

The valid Final Submission that receives the highest score from the Judges will be the potential “Grand Prize Winner,” subject to verification. In the event of a tie, the Grand Prize Winner will be determined by a separate vote of the Judges. Prize categories other than the Grand Prize are listed below under Category Prizes, part (b).

All decisions of the Sponsors and the Judges are final and binding in all respects. If at any time during the judging process, the Sponsors determine, in their sole discretion, that the quality and breadth of any Final Submission is not of a standard to qualify for the awarding of the any prize, then the Sponsors shall have the right to discontinue the judging and/or terminate the Competition. The odds of winning depend on the number and quality of the entries received.

9. Winner Notification October 12, 2012, and Verification for the Competition:

In order to qualify as a Winner, each Applicant must attend the September 28 Kick Off and the October 12th Expo. Applicants will present to the Panelists at the Expo (and in the event of a Team, at least one member of the Team must be present). Any costs or expenses associated with the acceptance or use of any prize (including, without limitation, additional transportation, meals, gratuities and incidentals) are the responsibility of the recipient.

At the Expo on October 12, 2012, Sponsors will announce the potential Winners in person at approximately [5:00pm]. Sponsors may, in their discretion, announce the name(s) of one or more potential Winners on the website or in other forms of communication, provided that no potential Winners shall be certified as a Winner until the potential Winner has executed and returned the Affidavit of Eligibility And Publicity/Liability Release. Should Sponsors be unable to reach any of the proposed Winners or any proposed Winner does not execute and return the Affidavit of Eligibility And Publicity/Liability Release by [INSERT TIME], then Sponsors, in their sole discretion, may replace any Winner or reduce the number of Winners.

10. Prizes:

(a) General Terms and Conditions: All income taxes and any other applicable taxes on each prize are the sole responsibility of the recipient. An IRS form 1099 will be issued if required by law. Prizes consist only of items expressly specified herein. Any costs or expenses associated with the acceptance or use of any prize (including, without limitation, additional transportation, meals, gratuities and incidentals) are the responsibility of the Winner. No substitution, cash redemption or transfer of right to receive any prize will be allowed, except at sole discretion of Sponsors. Sponsors reserve the right to substitute an alternate prize.

(b) Category Prizes: All qualified Applicants, including the Grand Prize Winner, shall be eligible for prizes in special categories, depending on availability of additional prizes. Additional prize categories may be announced at any time. Additional prize categories may include: research posters, infographics, visualizations, contributions to open data, use of application programming interfaces, web and mobile applications, and others as determined by the Sponsors. Additional prize categories may have judging criteria separate and different from the Grand Prize.

(c) Grand Prize: The monetary prize consists of US $10,000.00 (the “Grand Prize”), awarded in the form of a check or another payment method selected by Sponsors. The Winner is encouraged to use the Grand Prize towards further development of the winning Final Submission. In the event that the Grand Prize Winner is a Team, the Team Leader shall receive and be solely responsible for the Grand Prize on behalf of the Team. Sponsors will have no responsibility for allocation of funds received as part of the Grand Prize among Team members.

(d) All prizes will be awarded in the form of a check or another payment method selected by Sponsors. The Winner is encouraged to use the Grand Prize towards further development of the application.

(e) The total ARV of all Prizes is $10,000.00 and in-kind awards such as donated work space.

11. Grant of Rights:

Applicants retain all ownership rights of their Final Submissions, including code, images, and other intellectual property. By entering, each Applicant grants to Sponsors and their designees the irrevocable, royalty-free right to publish, disseminate and use the Applicant’s name, likeness and biographical information (and in the event of a Team, the name, likeness and biographical information each member of said Team) without further notice or consideration, in perpetuity, throughout the world, in all media and formats now known or hereafter invented, in connection with the execution and promotion of the Competition and the promotion of Sponsors and their activities. In the event that any Winner at any time exploits, exhibits, disseminates, produces, broadcasts, executes or implements the project that is the subject of their Final Submission, or authorizes any third party to do so, Sponsors request that the such Winner cause a credit in the following form to be displayed in connection therewith: “This project generously supported by Applications for Good, One Economy Corporation, New York University Wagner School of Public Service and Code for America.”

*For Applicants entering solutions based on New York City agency challenges only. Please be advised that by participating in the Contest and submitting a Final Submission in response to a challenge from a New York City department, you will be required to grant to the City of New York a written, royalty-free worldwide license in perpetuity, without limitation, to use any materials submitted, offered or prepared in connection with the Competition and to allow others to promote, use or further develop the Final Submission. In order to submit a Final Submission in response to a New York City department challenge, an Applicant will be required to sign addition documents on September 28, 2012. These additional terms appear athttp://bit.ly/PA2jSa.

12. Disputes:

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and interpreted under the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of law provisions. Applicant hereby agrees that any and all disputes claims, causes of action or controversies arising out of or in connection with the Competition or these Terms and Conditions shall be resolved individually, and without resort to class action, exclusively by a state or federal court located in New York, NY. By entering, each Applicant irrevocably waives any right to seek and/or obtain rescission and/or equitable and/or injunctive relief.

13. Representations & Warranties:

Applicant represents and warrants that he/she: (a) has the right to make a Final Submission as contemplated hereunder without the need of any consent of any third party;  (b) Will abide by these Terms and Conditions and all applicable laws and regulations;  (c) If Applicant is a Team Leader, that Applicant has the full right and authority to make the Final Submission and to agree to accept and abide by these Terms and Conditions on behalf of the Team, and that each Team member will abide by these Terms and Conditions; and (d) Applicant is under no obligation or disability, created by law or otherwise, which would in any manner or to any extent prevent or restrict making a Final Submission or becoming a Winner or Grand Prize Winner.

14. Indemnity:

By submitting an entry, each Applicant (including each Team member, with respect to Applicants who are Teams) agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and defend Applications for Good, One Economy and New York University Wager School of Public Service, Sponsors, the City of New York, and each of their parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, successors and assigns, and each of their trustees, officers, employees and agents (all of the foregoing, the “Sponsor Parties”), from and against the full amount of all claims, liabilities, actions, suits, proceedings, assessments, judgments, decrees, losses, fees, damages, settlement funds, and associated costs and expenses including attorney’s fees arising from or in connection with the Applicant’s participation in this Applications for Good Code for Change Contest, any use by Sponsors Parties of the Applicant’s Final Submission and/or the exercise by Sponsor Parties of any rights granted to them herein, including without limitation claims based on rights of privacy, rights of publicity, false light, defamation, copyright, patent and/or trademark infringement relating to the Applicant’s Final Submission. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event of any claim by a third party affecting or relating to the Final Submission, Sponsors shall have, in addition to any other rights available to them, at law or in equity, the right to immediately revoke any prize.

15. DISCLAIMER:

NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY, IN NO EVENT WILL ANY OF THE SPONSOR PARTIES BE LIABLE TO APPLICANT OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSS OF REVENUES, LOST PROFITS, LOST CAPITAL OR OVERHEAD ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE COMPETITION AND THE INTERPRETATION OR ENFORCEMENT OF THESES TERMS AND CONDITIONS, WHETHER BASED ON BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) OR OTHERWISE, WHETHER OR NOT SPONSOR PARTIES HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

16. Release of Claims:

By submitting an entry, each Applicant (including each Team member, with respect to Applicants who are Teams) releases each of the Sponsor Parties from and against the full amount of all claims, liabilities, actions, suits, proceedings, assessments, judgments, decrees, losses, fees, damages, settlement funds, and associated costs and expenses including attorney’s fees arising from or in connection with the Applicant’s participation in this Applications for Good Code for Change Contest, any use by Sponsors of the Applicant’s Final Submission and/or the exercise by Sponsors of any rights granted to them herein, including without limitation claims based on rights of privacy, rights of publicity, false light, defamation, copyright, patent and/or trademark infringement relating to the Applicant’s Final Submission and claims for injury, loss or damage of any kind resulting from the Applicant’s participation in this Applications for Good Contest or acceptance or use of any prize.

17. Limitation on Exploitation of Materials:

No entries will be returned. Each Applicant acknowledges that Code for Change and each of the Sponsors have engaged and continue to engage in the development, production, acquisition and dissemination of materials that may be similar or identical to the Applicant’s Project or Final Submission. Each Applicant agrees that it will not be entitled to any compensation because of the use by any of the Sponsor Parties of any such similar material. The Sponsor Parties may use the Applicant’s Project or Final Submission in whole or in part, without any payment or other obligation whatsoever to the Applicant, if the Applicant’s Project or Final Submission (a) is not unique, novel, or original, so as to be entitled to protection under applicable laws, (b) has been made public by anyone at the time of its submission to Sponsors or otherwise is in the public domain, (c) would be freely usable by a third person if it had not been accepted as a Final Submission, or (d) is similar or identical to, or contains significant elements encompassed in, an idea, concept or material that has been independently created by either the Sponsor Parties, A4G or any third party. Acceptance by Sponsors of a Final Submission is not an admission by the Sponsor Parties of the novelty or originality of the Final Submission.

18. General Terms:

All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Sponsors reserve the right at their sole discretion to disqualify any individual who violates these Terms and Conditions, tampers with the entry process and/or acts in any way that would, in any way, discredit or harm the reputation of Sponsors, and/or to cancel, modify or suspend this Applications for Good Contest should entrant fraud or misconduct or other causes beyond the control of Sponsors corrupt the administration, integrity, security or proper operation of the Applications for Good Contest. Without limitation of the foregoing, Sponsors reserve the right to terminate, modify or suspend this Applications for Good Contest due to any of the following reasons: act of God; unavoidable accident; epidemic; fire; blackout; act of public enemy; war, riot or civil commotion; enactment, rule, order or act of government or governmental instrumentality or tribunal; strike, lockout or other labor dispute; inclement weather; failure of technical facilities; failure of essential production, or technical personnel to appear or be available; or other cause beyond its control. Sponsors are not responsible for lost, late, illegible, incomplete, damaged, mutilated, misdirected, mis-delivered, or delayed entries, or for technical or human errors or failures of any kind in connection with the submission, transmission, processing or judging of entries, including without limitation any malfunctions or failures of computer hardware, computer software, networks or telephone equipment or any technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website or any combination thereof. Sponsors reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to cancel or suspend the Competition or terminate the Competition and award a prize from entries received up to time of termination or suspension should virus, bugs or other causes beyond Sponsor’s control, unauthorized human intervention, malfunction, computer problems, phone line or network hardware or software malfunction, which, in the sole opinion of Sponsors corrupts, compromises or materially affects the administration, fairness, security or proper play of the Competition or proper submission of entries. Sponsors are not liable for any loss, injury or damage caused, whether directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from downloading data or otherwise participating in the Competition.

Caution: Any attempt by an entrant to deliberately damage any Web site or undermine the legitimate operation of the Applications for Good Contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Sponsors reserve the right to seek damages from any such entrant to the fullest extent of the law. Sponsors are not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of

the offer, administration of the Applications for Good Contest, or in the announcement of the prize.

These Terms and Conditions and the Affidavit of Eligibility And Publicity/Liability Release set forth the entire agreement and understanding between Sponsors and Applicant concerning the subject matter hereof and merges and supersedes all prior discussions, agreements and understandings of any kind between them. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Sponsors reserve the right, in their sole discretion, at any future time to modify these Terms and Conditions or terminate, modify or suspend the Applications for Good Contest for any reason.. All notices shall be in writing and shall be delivered to Applicant in accordance with instructions contained on the Application Form. Applicant shall be deemed an independent contractor and nothing contained herein shall constitute this arrangement to be employment, a joint venture, or a partnership. Sponsors’ failure to enforce any provisions of these Terms and Conditions shall not constitute a waiver of any provision contained herein. The titles of Sections of these Terms and Conditions are for convenience only and shall not be given any legal effect. The word “including” is used in these Terms and Conditions to mean “including but not limited to.”

19. Requesting a copy of the official rules and the names of winners:

To obtain the names of the winners and/or a copy of these Official Rules, send a self-addressed and stamped envelope marked “OFFICIAL RULES” and/or “WINNERS LIST REQUEST” to:
NYU Wagner: Code for Change
The Puck Building
295 Lafayette Street, 2nd Floor
NewYork, NY 10012
Winners’ names will be available after October 12, 2012.

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