Why hasn’t technology fixed our civic participation problem?

The goal: While almost every organization in our portfolio uses some form of digital tools, we wanted to better understand how technology fits into the actual infrastructure of civic life, not just as an add-on, but as something that can either strengthen or undermine the work.

The methodology: Our lead researcher drew on data from more than 11,000 civic tech projects in the Civic Tech Field Guide database, along with a broader review of the field’s history, landscape, and existing resources. We also did 1:1 interviews with 16 organizations across a wide range of approaches, from everyday tools like CRMs and video conferencing to vibe-coded apps for neighborhood engagement.

The results: The findings gave us a much fuller picture of how community organizations are actually using technology day-to-day, including where it helps and where it gets in the way. Read on for highlights from the brief about how digital tools and emerging technology fit in building local civic life—and what it means for impactful, place-based grantmaking.