Code for America

Code for America
Founder(s)Jennifer Pahlka
EstablishedSeptember 2009
CEOAmanda Renteria[1]
EndowmentPrimary sponsors
Location
San Francisco, CA
Websitecodeforamerica.org

Code for America is a 501(c)(3) civic tech non-profit organization that was founded by Jennifer Pahlka in 2009, "to promote ‘civic hacking’, and to bring 21st century technology to government."[2] Federal, state, and local governments often lack the budget, expertise, and resources to efficiently deploy modern software.[3] Code for America partners with governments to help deliver software services, particularly to low income communities and to people who have been left out.[4] "A large population of American citizens in poverty are not connected and exposed to government resources that they are eligible for—nearly US$60,000,000,000 worth of potential benefits for people in need remain unclaimed every year."[4][5] Projects that illustrate the organization's impact include:

  • GetCalFresh – a portal to access food assistance programs in California that lowered the time to complete an application from 45 minutes to under 10 minutes. Users can access benefits from their mobile device and receive text message updates.[6]
  • MNBenefits – a site that allows Minnesota residents to apply for a range of benefits in English or Spanish. Residents can also upload documents and get help via a live chat feature. The site takes what is often an hour long paper process down to a 12 minute task.[7] The work enabled $636 million in benefits for the state that would have otherwise been lost.[8]
  • Clear My Record – Software that analyzes large datasets of criminal records and pinpoint records eligible to be erased or dismissed in states like California, Utah, Illinois.[9][10][11]
  • GetCTC – a streamlined filing tool that enabled low-income families to claim the Child Tax Credit and other tax benefits.[12]
  • GetYourRefund – an online service that allows taxpayers to access Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) services virtually.[12]
  1. ^ "Code for America names new CEO".
  2. ^ "Code For America Announces Five Companies For Accelerator Program". TechCrunch. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  3. ^ Boyd, E.B. (5 January 2011). "Hacker-Driven "Code for America" Kicks Off Today". Fast Company.
  4. ^ a b Renteria, Amanda (2 May 2022). "A bold plan to transform access to the US social safety net". Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  5. ^ Peters, Adele. "Code for America will help states redesign their public benefits systems". Fast Company. An estimated $60 billion in funding for food assistance and other social safety net programs goes unclaimed each year.
  6. ^ Johnston, Ryan (31 May 2019). "California announces statewide expansion of Code for America food stamp tool". StateScoop. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Minn. Hones Its 'Human-Centered' Benefits Web, Mobile Portal". GovTech. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  8. ^ McKenzie, Lindsay (24 July 2023). "Code for America, Minnesota speed up Medicaid renewals". StateScoop. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  9. ^ Garcia-Navarro, Lulu; Bowman, Emma. "Algorithm Targets Marijuana Convictions Eligible To Be Cleared". NPR.
  10. ^ Pace, Eliza (10 February 2022). "Utah's 'clean slate' law goes into effect to expunge old, minor criminal charges". KSLTV.com. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  11. ^ Freed, Benjamin (27 August 2019). "Code for America's pot-conviction clearance program heads to Illinois". StateScoop. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  12. ^ a b "State partners with Code for America, IRS for free e-filing". suncommunitynews.com. Retrieved 23 October 2023.