When U.S. Digital Response (USDR) emerged in March 2020, we quickly came together with a singular purpose: to help governments respond to urgent needs within their communities during a time of crisis. Our original volunteer oath reflected that critical moment – a rallying cry that outlined not just what skills were needed, but how we needed to show up: with humility, assuming positive intent, and ready to help however we could. This oath became a foundational tool that signaled to potential volunteers the mindset required for this unique work and established the values that would guide our rapid response efforts
Now, as we enter our fifth year, we’ve launched our revamped (& renamed) community oath to reflect how our work has evolved. While we still respond to crises with urgency, we've also embraced longer-term transformation and capacity building projects. Our refreshed oath preserves the core values that have guided us from day one while emphasizing the core values that bring success to our work today and expands the audience to include our entire community – volunteers, staff, government partners, and everyone who contributes to our mission.
A community built on trust
USDR has transformed from those early days into a trusted partner with our community of government partners, technical experts, public servants, and USDR staff members. This community is united in our vision of a government that keeps up with the needs of its people.
The fundamental principles that inspired that initial crush of thousands to join us remain:
- Leading with humility
- Listening first
- Meeting partners where they are
- Assuming positive intent
- Bringing both expertise and empathy to every engagement
The way we live these values has been shaped by every volunteer, partner, and staff member who has been part of our story. Each project has taught us something new about how to effectively serve.
Continuing our journey
After five years of evolution, we recognized that our original volunteer oath needed to grow with us. What began as a crisis-focused pledge has matured into a comprehensive community oath that reflects several important shifts:
From crisis response to sustainable impact: While we still respond quickly when needed, we've moved beyond crisis-centered language to emphasize our commitment to building lasting capacity.
From volunteers to community: Renaming our oath acknowledges that USDR is now a diverse ecosystem where everyone—volunteers, staff, partners, and supporters—plays a crucial role in our collective impact.
From emergency assistance to strategic support: Our updated language focuses on how our community shows up today—through reflective listening, proactive communication, and specialized expertise that meets our partners where they are.
Some of the most meaningful insights from our journey are now woven into our oath:
"Our government partners are the heroes, doing the hard work in and for their communities day in and day out." This isn't just a nice sentiment – it's a fundamental recognition of how we view our role in supporting public servants.
Our commitment to serve across all levels of government – tribal, local, state, and federal – reflects our dedication to supporting the critical needs of all people, regardless of geography or jurisdiction.
An oath for the next five years
As we mark our fifth year, this refreshed community oath serves as a reflection of how far we've come and a compass for where we're headed. It speaks to our dual role: providing rapid response support when a crisis demands it, while also offering focused, short-term support that helps build long-term capacity.
The most exciting part of our story is being written – by current and future members of our community. Whether you've been with us since those first days in 2020, joined along the way, or are considering adding your skills to our community today, you have a part to play in shaping how we serve tomorrow.
This refreshed oath isn't just a statement of who we are – it's an invitation to join us in building capacity for good government.
Want to join the movement in 2025?
- Join our community of supporting funders
- Join our newsletter list
- Raise your hand as a volunteer
- Reach out to request pro bono technical support
