Three Fellowships for Government Broadband Programs & Digital Deployment
Fellowship programs are designed to fill specific needs for both governments and nonprofits by placing qualified fellows in an office that needs support. The following programs seek to connect emerging technology leaders with broadband offices to build public interest digital solutions. Interested in hosting a digital fellow? Learn more below.
1. U.S. Digital Response (USDR)
U.S. Digital Response connects experienced pro bono technologists with public servants and organizations responding to their communities’ critical needs. Since March 2020, USDR’s projects have impacted 42M+ people in 37 U.S. states and territories. They have worked with over 230 governments and organizations on more than 300 projects.
USDR deploys volunteers and staff with deep technology expertise to work with our government partners on 4–8 week projects, bringing the right skills to meet governments’ needs quickly. While this is not an extended Fellowship program, they have deployed over 800 volunteers to work with government partners to-date. It takes on average 7 days to fill a volunteer request.
Dates to remember
USDR accepts requests for assistance from governments on a rolling basis, providing flexibility when local and state governments need a technical implementation advisor.
Who to Contact
Tina Walha, USDR’s Director of Public Digital, is the main point of contact: twalha@usdigitalresponse.org. Governments can reach out to request help from USDR anytime by submitting a request at https://www.usdigitalresponse.org/request-help/.
2. Coding it Forward
Coding it Forward is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit by and for early-career technologists creating new opportunities and pathways into public interest technology. To date, they have empowered over 350 early-career technologists to innovate at the intersections of technology and public service in local, state, and federal government offices across the United States. Fellows work across software engineering, data, design, and product management to deliver policy, improve systems, and strengthen products on behalf of the American people.
The Civic Innovation Corps is a first-of-its-kind, 10-week summer internship program mobilizing the next generation of technologists to create civic impact in state and local governments across the United States. In its inaugural year, the Corps placed 55 Civic Innovation Corps Fellows in 19 host offices across 3 states and 6 cities.
Dates to remember
The 2022 Civic Innovation Corps will take place from June 13 — August 20, 2022.
Interested offices should contact Coding it Forward by February 23rd as their team is actively finalizing 2022 partners.
Who to contact
Interested offices are encouraged to reach out to corps@codingitforward.com for further details on engagement.
3. Govern for America (GFA)
https://www.govern4america.org/
Govern for America (GFA) is a 501(c)(3) organization working to build the next generation of public servants to create a more responsive government that better reflects and serves our communities. They bridge the gap between state governments and emerging leaders to fill talent needs, improve government operations, and ignite a lifetime of public sector leadership.
The GFA Fellowship is an opportunity for recent graduates from diverse backgrounds to work full-time in government for 2 years while developing the skills to succeed as effective leaders. They recruit and connect exceptional early career leaders from diverse backgrounds to high-impact state government roles and support them to improve the systems we interact with on a daily basis. Our agency partners hire GFA Fellows into full-time positions and GFA provides the support and training that Fellows need to ensure that they make an outsized impact. For additional program details, see the GFA Fellowship Overview.
Dates to remember
The 2022 GFA Fellowship runs from July 1, 2022 — June 30, 2024. States interested in hiring Fellows for the 2022 cohort should reach out by February 28th. Applications for the 2023 cohort will open in Fall 2022.
Who to contact
Interested government partners should reach out to kyleigh@govforameria.org.
