Supporting the Critical Needs of the Public

U.S. Digital Response (USDR) helps governments, nonprofits, and public entities respond quickly to critical public needs.

We’re fast, free, and nonpartisan.

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How U.S. Digital Response can help

U.S. Digital Response (USDR) serves the immediate needs of the public by activating highly-skilled talent, leveraging new technology, and partnering directly with governments and nonprofits.

Tap into tech talent

We identify experts who match the skills you need, as quickly as the same day we receive your request.

Access modern tech

We help you implement lean and effective solutions that work with the systems you already have.

Learn from what's working

We share best practices and success stories from our state and local partners around the country.

Solutions in days and weeks, not years

We move at the speed of need to get you the tools you need to serve the public.

Support for state and local governments

We provide support to governments of all sizes, from small towns to large states.

Your nonpartisan, unbiased tech strategists

USDR can help you understand and vet your options before you commit to a solution.

Learn how we work

“We are honored to see so many dedicated technologists step up to work on behalf of New York City. With technology products that work to combat hate crimes, lower language barriers, and drive digital equity, the work [...] will have a lasting impact on improving New Yorkers’ lives.”

Bill de Blasio
‍Mayor
New York City

“USDR has provided smart, informed, and fast help for a variety of issues. They are an invaluable resource to governments at a critical time.”

Robert Gordon
Director
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

“Volunteers from USDR have not only helped bring incredible expertise and extra hands to us in a great time of need, they’ve provided critical thinking skills at a time when our team is working long hours and experiencing burnout.”

Rebecca Woodbury
Director of Digital Service & Open Government
City of San Rafael

“USDR has been an invaluable source of talent, helping our office move at the ‘speed of need’... I would recommend any agency consider partnering with them to add team capacity and leverage unique skill sets in these trying times.”

Ross Dakin
New Jersey Office of Innovation

“At a time when we needed to move quickly and thoughtfully, U.S. Digital Response assisted the Kansas Department of Labor in making it possible for Kansas residents to apply for the unemployment benefits they need.”

Secretary DeAngela Burns-Wallace, Ed. D.
Executive Branch CITO
Kansas Department of Administration
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Right

Featured case studies

City of Baltimore, MD Mayor’s Office
Building a Digital Service Team with Intentional Hiring Practices
The City of Baltimore was building a new digital services team. With USDR's help, they recruited and hired a technical team and are ready to scale the team when the time is right.
Read the full case study »
State Workforce Agency
Delivering a Multilingual User Experience for Retroactive Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
A state workforce partner needed to reopen applications for multilingual claimants who were previously denied benefits and determine if they are eligible to receive retroactive PUA payments.
Read the full case study »
Mayor's Office of Children, Youth and Families & Department of Human Services - Homeless Services Division City of St. Louis
How Relieving Administrative Burden for One City Helped House More People Facing Homelessness
Within months, the Homeless Services Division, City of St. Louis was able to increase the number of households served and reduce administrative burden through the use of low-code/no-code tools.
Read the full case study »
Office of Harris County Elections
Automating Harris County’s student election clerk program
Harris County's Elections team processed more than 7,000 applications and staffed more than 700 student election clerks using an automated management system built by USDR volunteers.
Read the full case study »
See all USDR case studies »
42 Million
Estimated Americans Impacted
38
States and Territories (and DC)
We've worked in
7,100+
Volunteers who have raised their hands to help
300+
Projects in Progress Or Completed
230+
Government and nonprofit partners
40,000
Estimated hours volunteered in 2021

What's new at USDR

Transitioning into government as a technologist: what to know when you’re considering making the move
Advice on how to transition your career from the private tech sector to government by Rebecca Heywood, Governments Team Lead at USDR.
Read the press release »Read the blog post »
U.S. Digital Response Names Hillary Hartley as Chief Executive Officer
As it honors its third anniversary, U.S. Digital Response today announced Hillary Hartley’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer and Avni Shah’s addition to the board of directors
Read the press release »Read the blog post »
Responding at the speed of need: Three years of U.S. Digital Response
As we honor our third anniversary, our interim CEO, Tina Walha, offers her thoughts on USDR's early beginnings and where we're headed.
Read the press release »Read the blog post »
A Year in Review: How Communities Responded at the Speed of Need in 2022
Our third annual In Review highlights the ways our partners grew their abilities to serve their communities and how our volunteers continue to deploy solutions at scale.
Read the press release »Read the blog post »
How User Research Can Help Improve Your Agency’s Benefits Implementation, Service Delivery Workflows, and Procurement
USDR is launching a call for partners for our user research focus area. Check out our lessons learned from working with governments across the country and find out what user research, and USDR, can do for your agency.
Read the press release »Read the blog post »
Schmidt Futures Announces U.S. Digital Response as Grantee of Expanded Benefits Access Initiative to Modernize the Social Safety Net
U.S. Digital Response joins twelve innovative teams to the Social Safety Net Product Studio grant to accelerate innovation and open access to over $100 million in safety net benefits for low-income families across the country
Read the press release »Read the blog post »
Get the help you need, now.
USDR is fast, free, and nonpartisan.
We’ll get back to you within 48 hours.
Contact us