In the spring of 2020, as the world grappled with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a simple call for help sparked a movement. Today, we’re thrilled to announce that U.S. Digital Response (USDR) has reached a remarkable milestone: 10,000 “handraisers” — individuals who have signed up to volunteer their skills and time to support government agencies across the country.
What began as an urgent response to a global crisis has blossomed into a robust network of tech-savvy volunteers eager to strengthen our nation’s digital infrastructure. In just four and a half years, USDR has grown to over 30 full-time staff members, completed more than 500 projects, and partnered with nearly 500 government agencies at the tribal, city, county, and state levels — what’s more, we’ve even worked closely with the federal government. Over the last four years, USDR has notably:
- Helped governments attract and retain digital talent, including working with Pennsylvania to build CODE PA.
- Launched a generative AI focus area along with support from Google.org, designed to provide governments with a safe space for experimentation and empower them to create solutions responsibly.
- Built simple, effective tools for election officials such as working with Grand Rapids, Michigan deploy an easy-to-use digital tool to manage poll workers.
- Supported nearly 838 grant managers across 535 organizations in 17 different states through our Federal Grant Finder to bring much-needed federal resources to their communities.
This growth is a testament to the enduring spirit of civic engagement and the power of technology to transform public service. You can find even more highlights in USDR’s fourth-anniversary blog post.
The impact of volunteering
Our volunteers, driven by empathy and a desire to make a difference, bring a wealth of professional experience to every project. Their contributions have been invaluable:
- Our Federal Grants Tools have saved partners over 32,000 hours in grant reporting over the last two years — over 1,000 hours per partner per quarter.
- Supported election offices through rapid technical assistance projects, empowering them to serve over 20 million voters with efficiency and security.
- A recent user research cohort of five simultaneous research projects generated 1500+ survey responses and 50+ user interviews in a single city, resulting in dozens of recommendations for improving their public services.
Perhaps most importantly, USDR is serving as a bridge between tech professionals and public service. We’re proud that 5% of our deployed volunteers have transitioned into government roles, proving that exposure to civic tech can inspire long-term career shifts. Together, we’re facilitating digital services while mitigating risks for government partners, all while demonstrating that technical talent has a place in government service.
A model for the future
USDR’s approach is unique. We combine a “listen first” mentality while rapidly deploying skilled volunteers, in both the technology and government sectors, and developing scalable, easy-to-adopt tools.
This model allows us to provide surge support where it’s needed most, while also building long-term capacity within government agencies.
Our success is best illustrated through the stories of our volunteers. From UX researchers to community managers, each brings a unique perspective and skill set to their work with USDR.
“USDR invited me to their User Research meetings, and I was excited. I didn’t realize it at the time, but these meetings were probably the first time I saw actual user research being done,” Shelley Nason, a former USDR volunteer and software engineer for the Technology Transformation Services, a division of the U.S. General Services Administration. Shelley found a transition from working in “big tech” to a place in government — something she’s found rewarding. “I’m doing something valuable now. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt that way about a job. I was hoping that getting a job in government would be the first time that I truly felt like that.”
Jia Liu (in the video above) joined USDR as part of another partnership with the City of New York, the U.S. Digital Response NYC[x] Innovation Fellowship. As a designer, he found volunteering his time in meaningful ways often fell flat. Through USDR, he was able to use his hard-earned skills in a way that benefitted his community.
Check out even more stories of our volunteers in this post from 2023 celebrating our 1,000th placed volunteer.
Where technologists volunteer
As we celebrate this milestone, we’re more committed than ever to our mission of increasing the capacity of governments to meet their communities’ needs. The overwhelming interest in volunteering for government projects sends a clear message: There is a strong desire among tech professionals to contribute their skills to public service.
To those who have raised their hands to help, thank you. Your dedication is building a more resilient, responsive, and technologically adept government for all.
And to those considering joining us: There’s never been a better time to lend your skills to this important work. Visit www.usdigitalresponse.org/volunteers to learn more and become part of this growing movement.
Here’s to the next 10,000 handraisers, and to a future where digital and public service go hand in hand!
