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Hack for the Community
Nonprofit Overview
 

 

We are so grateful to The HCA Healthcare Foundation, HCA Healthcare, Greater Nashville Technology Council, and Nashville’s technology community for partnering with Hands On Nashville’s GeekCause to host the 2022 Hack for the Community (H4TC)!

This 36-hour hackathon took place April 28-29, 2022 at the Nashville Software School, and implemented 120+ of Nashville’s best software developers and visual designers to come together to meet the specific technology needs of local nonprofits. Together, they completed 12 projects for local nonprofits, and raised $273,000 worth of economic impact in just two days! 

Congratulations to Turnip Green Creative Reuse, The Sexual Assault Center, and Big Brother Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee for being chosen as the 2022 Hackers Choice Award winners!

 

Check back soon, as we'll be announcing plans for 2024!


 



 

What is Hack for the Community?

H4TC projects are built for impact - they help nonprofits redirect time and energy from internal processes so they can focus on what they do best: their mission. From website builds to custom app development, process automation to database reporting and dashboards, Hack for the Community is here to help organizations with solutions to their most pressing technology challenges. Click here for examples of previous Hack projects.

How could our organization benefit from a Hack project?

 If selected, nonprofits will benefit from:
•    Lead volunteer expertise: Get guidance from your lead project manager and lead developer.
•    MVP identification: Meet with your volunteer leads to define a minimum viable product (MVP) to meet your nonprofit’s need. This may be a custom technology product or a replication/customization of a past Hack for the Community product.
•    Tech team talent: Collaborate with a volunteer tech team focused on building your solution for 36 hours.
•    GeekCause assistance: Receive post-hackathon status assessment and additional volunteer support from GeekCause, as needed.

Please note that some products will prove unfeasible or will serve as a proof of concept that will require longer-term development.

What is expected of your nonprofit?

Selected nonprofits will need to:
•    Identify nonprofit leads: Assign a lead communications and lead technology contact to work with lead volunteers.Your lead technology contact does not need to be a tech expert, but they do need to be the expert on the problem the solution will address and how that solution will be used.
•    Commit to prep work: Ensure that your lead technology contact is available to collaborate with volunteer leads, coordinate a volunteer site visit, and other prep work as needed.
•    Guide development: Arrange for the lead technology contact to be available onsite at the Hackathon (2024 dates TBD) to guide solution development. To ensure consistent input for the tech team, you will need to identify no more than two knowledgeable representatives who can alternate shifts.
•    Share impact: Assess the potential impact of the product and provide post-hackathon status reports on actual impact.

What criteria will be used to select proposals?

•    Impact: Will it improve the organization and the community?
•    Viability: Will it be easy to implement and maintain?
•    Replicability: Could it potentially work for other organizations?
•    Innovation: Is it unique or innovative?

What are my next steps to participate?

Once the proposal process has opened, nonprofits are encouraged to submit proposals. In the meantime we would recommend:

•    Brainstorm possibilities with your team
•    Hone in on your primary challenge
•    Complete the initial survey
•    Participate in a coaching call
•    Submit your proposal by Oct. 27

For more information, please reach out to Hands On Nashville, at hon@hon.org.

 


Examples of Previous Projects


“THE SUSTAIN GAME”: interactive web-based game that teaches users about sustainability and the environment (2020 Hackers Choice Award Winner - video overview)

VOLUNTEER TRACKING SYSTEM: to allow volunteers to check in/out digitally and track hours served

PROCESS AUTOMATON: to streamline donation process, integrating website with database

INTAKE PORTAL: to streamline patient intake process, with registration form and admin hub

MOBILE FRIENDLY WEB APP: to survey emotional outcomes for club participants and evaluate overall club experience.

"IMPACT HUB": to provide a forum for volunteer, teacher, and student comments to improves outcomes & impact

ONLINE APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING: to connect students with music instructors

SMS APPOINTMENT FOLLOW-UP PLATFORM: to evaluate success and outcomes of mediation

INTEGRATED DATA SYSTEMS: to track students and measure success

SMS & EMAIL MESSAGING SYSTEM: to share important messages with parents and caregivers

 

For more information, please reach out to Hands On Nashville at hon@hon.org.

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