Applications will open up again on January 31, 2025!

Maximize Your Chances of Being Selected: Attend the Nonprofit Tech Plan Workshop!

We typically host a Nonprofit Tech Plan Workshop (time and place TBD) before the main event, and we highly recommend attending this session before submitting your application. This workshop is designed to help you refine your project proposal and ensure that your plan is feasible within the 48-hour timeframe. By participating, you'll receive guidance and feedback to strengthen your application and increase your chances of being selected for the event.

During the application process, we will ask you for the following:

  • Your organization’s mission, vision, and values.

  • Information about your proposed technology plan including existing resources and how this hackathon project will help your nonprofit achieve its mission.

  • Be ready to share some of your organization’s proudest moments.

  • How many staff members does your organization have (including volunteers) and what is your nonprofit’s annual operating budget? (This does not need to be super specific… it helps us understand the size of your organization.)

  • Your nonprofit EIN.

  • Links to your website and all of your social media channels.

  • If selected, who from your organization will be attending the hackathon?

 

86+

Nonprofits Impacted

+$1.6M

In-Kind Services Donated

736+

Volunteers Recruited

 

General FAQ’s

  • You know the story: nonprofit organizations are constantly operating on a tight budget and with limited time, making many operations and processes inefficient, paper-heavy, and labor intensive. We want to help you change that. Submitting a project proposal to dsmHack will provide you with the opportunity to work directly with technology professionals that are experienced at helping nonprofits realize their technology goals. Great tools will be built or improved for your organization and you will learn a tremendous amount! The goal for every project is for it to reach full completion by the end of the 48 hour event.

  • The Des Moines Charity Hack event is free of charge for nonprofit organizations to apply for and attend. Ahead of the event, our nonprofit team leaders will work with each organization to prepare them for the event and guide them in organizing the materials they will need to bring to the event.

  • Developers working with your organization will be at the Charity Hack for most of the 48 hours. Although all nonprofit representatives don’t need to be present for the entire 48 hours, the more accessible you are, the more successful the project will be! Nonprofits will need to be available Thursday evening for the event kick-off and should plan to be available to their team in-person periodically during the day Friday and Saturday. During the times a representative from your nonprofit is not present, someone should be available by phone to answer any questions from your team. Our event typically follows this schedule:

    • Day 1

      • 5:30pm – Participants and nonprofit reps will be checking in and mingling.

      • 6:30pm – Kickoff presentation and nonprofit “speed dating”.

      • 7:30pm – Let the hack begin!

      Day 2

      • Meals will be served at 8am, 12pm, and 6pm.

      • Teams will be coming/going all during the day.

      • We’ll have a couple of checkins throughout the event to get a feel for how the teams are progressing. Times TBD.

      Day 3

      • Meals will be served at 8am, 12pm, and a buffet during the wrap event.

      • 6pm – Closing presentations.

      • Mingle and Network!

  • Absolutely! Both events are meant to provide nonprofit leaders with easy access to resources and information. If you miss the workshop you can still apply. You can also reach out directly with any questions, and a board member will assist you.

  • Here are some examples of projects that would be candidates for submission...

    Update and/or improve your organization’s website, including:

    • Functionality Limitations

    • Accessibility Concerns

    • Mobile Responsiveness

    • Hosting Challenges

    • Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

    Fundraising

    • Create and/or Update Online Giving Portals

    • Donor Management (*Please see our note below — “When will dsmHack say ‘no’ to a project?”)

    • Help Combining or Merging Databases

    Education, Outreach and Advocacy

    • Build mini-site or educational platform to educate users on your mission.

    • Showcase publications, research or other expertise in your organization.

    • Projects involving maps or data visualizations.

    • Basic assessment tools that help people navigate your programs (for example, a tool that lets people see volunteer opportunities near where they live, or educational programs based on the age of their children).

    Improve Existing Systems:

    • Move paper forms online!

    • Build web-based system to track clients.

    • Make CRM more effective.

    • Streamline calendar functionality.

    • Streamline board communication.

    Database Improvements:

    • Build a staff development database.

    • Centralize database information.

    • Create a database search functionality.

    You can also check out our case studies to see projects we’ve completed in the past.

  • Here are the things that make us say no to a project:

    • We cannot accept any projects that involve confidential client data or information protected by HIPAA or other regulatory frameworks. We can help you find a local professional development team who serves these needs if you contact us.

    • We are not a replacement for purchasing accounting software, or a commercially available donor database. We are not a replacement for products like QuickBooks, Volunteer Local, Raisers Edge/Nationbuilder/Salsa (or the hundreds of other donor database options out there), MailChimp, Eventbrite, or Constant Contact.

  • Each year we receive an unpredictable number of applications. The board of directors accepts project proposals based on the following factors...

    Variety: We try to admit nonprofits who work in a variety of areas, and we are looking for unique, fun project ideas that will give our developer participants a chance to showcase their skills.

    Realistic Expectations: We want you to leave with a successful project, so we think a lot about what can be accomplished in the 48 hour time frame of the event. If you have questions or concerns about how much time your project will take, contact us at nonprofits@dsmhack.org.

    Charitable Purpose & Benefit:  We also consider the potential impact to the community and the nonprofit from completing the project. Will the project really help people? Will it make a complicated task easier? While we admit plenty of groups who mostly need a better website, it’s no secret that unique challenges (such as dealing with databases, communication tools and application development) are engaging for our volunteers and will give you a better chance of being admitted. So throw us a curveball! You’ll be surprised what we can do. Contact us for help figuring out what project ideas will be a good fit (nonprofits@dsmhack.org).

  • Yes, please do!

  • Nonprofits are welcome to submit multiple project ideas, but you will need to fill out a complete application for each idea you want to submit. In the past, we have worked with nonprofits to combine multiple proposals into one project, given that the scope of work is realistic for the hackathon timeframe.

  • Each application must include...

    • Contact information for the person applying, and anyone from your organization who will be involved in decision making.

    • Organization information including...

      • Website & Social Media URLs

      • Financial information including your organization's annual operating budget and how many staff members and/or volunteers are involved in the day to day operations.

      • EIN Number

    • Your Logo

    • Project Idea/Description

      • What is the problem you would like your dsmHack team to help you solve?

      • What does your project need to accomplish for you to consider it successful?

      • How will completing your project advance your organization’s mission?

      • If this project requires additional funding (ie: web hosting, system support) what funds or resources are in place to support this?

2024 Nonprofit Participants

  • To expand Operation Santa from a cherished local initiative to a statewide program, the team built tools that match donors with foster families, helping spread holiday cheer and reinforcing support for Iowa’s foster community.

  • Dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing wild birds, the team developed upgraded rescue tools to streamline communication with volunteers, ensuring faster rescues and better data management across the state.

  • Focused on delivering high-quality legal services to immigrants and refugees while simultaneously increasing opportunities for advocacy and community engagement, Iowa MMJ’s team designed an accessible, multilingual website to streamline access to critical information for Iowa’s diverse communities.

  • Hackers created an innovative mapping tool designed to connect Iowans with lending programs and related services, bolstering neighborhood revitalization efforts in Polk County and Cedar Rapids..

2023 Nonprofit Participants

  • Provides a fun, safe, and educational environment for young children and their families to explore the arts, nature, and the world around them. They provide hands-on exhibitions and programs to encourage a love of learning, and be a positive resource for parents, children, and the surrounding community.

    The team implemented a comprehensive redesign, ensuring that the website becomes a seamless platform for adding, removing, and displaying data. This overhaul enables the museum to keep information up to date, ensuring that visitors have access to the latest details. Additionally, the team prioritized improving the visibility of essential information, such as renting the museum space for private events and facilitating donations. https://dsmchildrensmuseum.com/

  • Committed to building a stronger and more diverse music community in greater Des Moines. Through their mission to support and cultivate Iowa’s music economy, our vision is to establish and maintain Des Moines as a nationally recognized music city.

    The hackathon team tackled a full refresh of the DMMC website, focusing on presenting their mission and major projects. The team reworked the org’s Wordpress site to be more accessible to nonprofit staff to update and maintain the website in the future. https://www.desmoinesmc.com/

  • Provides young adults with opportunities to build confidence, set goals, and create a healthy lifestyle through mentor-based interactions centered around bicycling. In March, a team of 50-60 teenagers start their 5 month journey to RAGBRAI. The riders work with caring volunteers to set goals, work hard, and DREAM BIG!

    The hack team solved a check-in workflow problem by building an innovative application that streamlines the process. Now, riders embarking on their 5-month journey to RAGBRAI can conveniently check in from their phones even in low cell service areas, thanks to this offline-enabled app. This solution not only enhances the organization of the rides but also ensures that every participant is accounted for at the start, during, and end of the ride. https://www.dreamteamdesmoines.org/

  • Educating and empowering youth with the skills to succeed in life and to attain their greatest potential. Their program prepares them for real-life challenges such as job interviews, appropriate attire, body language, healthy living habits, financial literacy, and positive relationship goals and much more.

    The team successfully built a new, modern, and responsive website using WordPress, offering a user-friendly experience to visitors. With the introduction of a new, easily memorable domain, FOCUSS Inc. enhances accessibility and engagement. Furthermore, the automation of the crisis hotline process strengthens their ability to provide timely assistance. As an additional feature, the website now showcases board members, aiding in the grant writing process and further supporting the organization's objectives. https://focussinc.org/

  • Connects business and education to provide the most cost-effective dropout prevention and school to career solutions in Iowa. Their goal is to help young leaders find their passion and purpose, and then connect them with the resources they need to live it.

    The team built an interactive map showcasing the school districts and schools where iJAG operates. This map serves as a valuable resource for companies interested in partnerships, mentorships, and sponsorships, providing them with a visual representation of iJAG's reach and impact. To further elevate their digital presence, the team migrated the organization's website to WordPress, refreshing its design and optimizing it for mobile devices. https://www.ijag.org/

  • A housing organization working to provide safe, quality, and affordable housing to low-income individuals with intellectual and mental disabilities. They additionally provide educational material that can be utilized by supporters of individuals with disabilities to acquire the necessary services that will lead them to live fulfilling lives in their community.

    The team successfully converted a large 80-page PDF of resources, programs, and partner organizations into an interactive website, providing a user-friendly platform for individuals and families of individuals with disabilities to access valuable information. This solution allows Nancy's Place staff to easily update and maintain the website, ensuring that supporters and beneficiaries can acquire the necessary services to lead fulfilling lives within their community. https://www.nancysplace.org/search

  • Engages and inspires Iowans along their journey of lifelong science learning. Their goal is to be a quality community resource for informal science learning where children, families, school groups and individuals come to explore science and technology.

    The team developed an interactive web application that empowers caregivers to enhance their child's experience at the center. With thoughtful questions, additional learning resources, and the use of QR codes to connect exhibits with digital content, the app creates an immersive and educational journey for visitors, offering a digitized scavenger hunt experience. https://2023-science-center-of-iowa-web.vercel.app/

2022 Nonprofit Participants

  • A grassroots organization founded by refugees from Burma with the mission to help refugees expand their world of possibilities through advocacy, education & community development. EMBARC’s vision is that refugee families and communities thrive in Iowa.

    Their hackathon team created Community Storytellers, a web-based application that EMBARC will use to show and tell the stories of those they’ve impacted through an engaging interactive map. The stories and content presented can be easily managed by the EMBARC team through a content management system.

  • When people face life’s most difficult moments, we are with them, at EveryStep. Amanda the Panda-Grief and Loss Services program offers free support to individuals following the death of a loved one. Activities include camps, peer support groups, social gatherings, school support groups and community events.

    Their hackathon team built a series of automation tools to allow EveryStep staff to manage and control the Cheer Box production process. The automation handles stakeholder communications automatically, performs distributed status updates from delivery volunteers, and stream lines data ingestion into their master task list, for easy consolidation of information. The tools also provide various views of their data, showing relevant and interesting states of Cheer Boxes. They can quickly see where any given Cheer Box is in the process, see which ones are stuck, and also which ones have fallen outside of delivery guidelines, so those volunteers can be followed up with.

  • Building a community one seed at a time. Forest Ave Community Orchard runs a community orchard and two community gardens. They also provide paid internships to teens. They focus on workforce development, food insecurity in an underserved community, and building strong communities in Des Moines.

    Their hackathon team revitalized the organization’s website, moving them to Squarespace and integrating with social media accounts, mailing systems, and other services being used by Forest Avenue Outreach. The site makes the org visible again, to volunteers, funders, and the community.

  • Their mission is to educate and provide opportunities for every woman to develop strength. We do this by teaching girls and women how to develop physical strength through weightlifting, which helps create greater mental and emotional strength.

    Their hackathon team took on the challenge of making participant and volunteer tracking more effective at showing the impact that Raise The Bar was really having on the community. The team picked Wordpress to align with the organization's future tech plan, and developed a data storage approach that can scale. They went on to implement user profiles so volunteers and participants can view their own involvement, and developed database queries that empower Raise The Bar to analyze and report on their impact.

  • Celebrates the people, cultures, and cuisines of Historic Valley Junction. Vision is to celebrate, honor, and preserve the culture and cuisines of the people that immigrated and migrated to the Valley Junction West Des Moines community through several venues and desires to do more.

    Their hackathon team translated their physical pop up museum exhibit into a virtual museum for visitors to enjoy and explore year round. They also provided a full website rebuild and implemented the ability to share family stories, publish digital commemorative booklets, and highlight events to continue celebrating the people, cultures, and cuisines of Historic Valley Junction at a global scale. The updated website at tasteofthejunction.org is coming soon!

  • A coalition of Black CEOs and Executive Directors dedicated to improving the conditions of the individuals in the communities they serve. We pool our collective expertise to develop programs and launch unique initiatives that meet unaddressed needs.

    Their team helped create Black Homeownership DSM (going live in July), a new resource guide that will provide prospective Black homeowners an ethical, trusted resource to navigate support and assistance to realize their dream of owning a home. The site will be managed by The Directors Council and will be managed with support by a team of housing experts convened as part of the One Economy project.

In 2021, the dsmHack for Nonprofits did not occur, but dsmHack did win a National Philanthropy Day Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Central Iowa Chapter.

2020 Nonprofit Participants

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2019 Nonprofit Participants

  • Brings fun, excitement and exercise to enhance the quality of life of amazing athletes with physical disabilities in Iowa.

  • Helps children realize their potential and build their futures through a mentoring network.

  • Provides support services to almost 1,100 individuals. The individuals supported experience a wide range of disabilities, including intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities, brain injury, mental illness and substance abuse.

  • Dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes.

  • Works to eliminate homelessness among children, youth and families in Central Iowa.

  • Recruits volunteers to read print publications aloud for Iowans who cannot comfortably hold print material or access the words on the page.

  • A philanthropic organization of women leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality.

  • Making wishes come true for children diagnosed with critical illnesses. A wish is granted every other day in the state of Iowa.

  • Supports immigrant and refugee communities in the state.

  • Developed to address environmental and flooding concerns seen throughout the watershed and in the creek.

2018 Nonprofit Participants

  • Provides essential livelihood and childcare services to individuals and families in Des Moines. Their distribution center provides families with food, clothing, and household items. The Child Development Center provides a comprehensive education and care program at an affordable price for children aged 24 months to 5 years.

  • Seeks to inspire joy through the beauty and knowledge of the natural world of trees. The arboretum’s 143 acres are nestled in the rural farmland of Dallas County about 20 minutes west of the Des Moines metro. The land is a sweeping landscape of restored tallgrass prairies, streams, ponds and more than 2,500 trees representing 500 unique species and varieties.

  • Improves quality of life for all by promoting charitable giving, connecting donors with causes they care about and providing leadership on important community issues.

  • An interfaith organization that manages a food pantry network throughout the metro consisting of 13 separate partnering food pantry sites, a mobile food pantry, and two food warehouses. The DMARC Food Pantry Network is health-based and is the largest food pantry network in Iowa. Food pantry sites are located in Des Moines, Ankeny, Clive, Johnston, Urbandale and West Des Moines.

  • A children’s literacy and mentoring nonprofit dedicated to ensuring children K-5’s success in school and life through one to one read aloud experiences with caring adults. Their mission primarily is to help children identified by schools and community partners as reading below grade level or needing personal attention from an adult mentor.

  • A nonprofit dedicated to the promotion and education of adoption in the Des Moines metro. Their services include education about the adoption process, financial assistance for families hoping to adopt and creating a supportive community of families who have experience the adoption process.

  • An organization that provides a safe haven of respect and love for recovering men to transform and reconstruct their lives. Our program seeks to teach men how to access vital resources and contribute back to the community. The Harbor of Hope is working effectively by establishing relationships with service providers in the community and providing fundamental life-skill programming to addicts.

  • Their mission is to reduce the harms associated with drug use and promote health equity through nonjudgmental community services, education, and advocacy. They provide weekly outreach services in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and surrounding communities and distribute safer injection kits, condoms, and reproductive health supplies to reduce the risk of HIV and hepatitis C in Eastern Iowa. They are also the state's largest free naloxone distribution program and provide opioid overdose prevention education.

  • Founded in June 2015 with the mission of educating and empowering Iowa’s next generation of elected officials. They lead free trainings in every corner of Iowa to inspire and educate new Latino elected officials. They also lead the Building Better Board initiative that has so far trained more than 50 people from communities of color, the disability community, and refugees to serve on nonprofit boards.

2017 Nonprofit Participants

  • An organization that provides the opportunity for young people to find their spark, lift their voice, and discover who they are. We provide several programs to youth (K-12) and families throughout central Iowa including before- and after-school care, community clubs, school day off programs, family events and weekend programs, day and overnight camps during the summer, retreats and conference services at our Boone property, and a variety of partner programs with other local nonprofits.

  • Created in December 2011. They serve as the energy and radon champion for rural schools (those with enrollment under 3,000 students). They help schools identify priority energy conservation projects and radon management projects that improve school buildings, reduce energy usage, and save General Fund dollars.

  • The only nonprofit in Iowa dedicated to promoting the awareness and appreciation of architecture and design, educating adults and students about its ability to transform lives and improve the places we live, work and play. Our programming is grouped into 3 principal areas: architecture in the community, architecture in schools, and our community design program.

  • Works to end fatal bike crashes in Iowa. We work with traffic safety issues, education, bike policy, planning, bike infrastructure, and more. One of the factors important to reducing bike crashes is more people on bicycles. We host several encouragement events such as Pigtails Ride, Bacoon Ride, granGABLE Fondo, Gran Fondo Cedar Valley, Iowa Bike Expo, the RAGBRAI Route Announcement, and more.

  • Their mission is to raise awareness, develop appreciation, increase opportunities and support dance as a performing art within our community. IDT holds a wide range of performances in ballet, modern, and jazz, and holds the annual Tap Des Moines in downtown Des Moines, with the cooperation of many central Iowa dance studios and the Des Moines Adult Education department. IDT also hosts summer workshops and master classes, and offers choreographic opportunities and in-school residencies.

  • Their mission is to provide professional wildlife medical treatment and rehabilitation of native wildlife in Iowa; teach about wildlife and habitat stewardship; and provide wildlife assistance skills training. In 2015 and 2016, IWC worked with over 170 animals of 30 different species, including 12 species of mammals, 16 bird species, and 2 reptile species. We are also stewards of 75 acres in Boone County where we are constructing a rehabilitation center.

  • A not-for-profit organization and a Midwest leader in brain injury rehabilitation. We began as the dream of a dedicated, passionate group of survivors and their families, faced with the challenge of rebuilding lives shattered by brain injury. They envisioned a program that would provide rehabilitation services to persons living with brain injury. Since opening in 1991, we have served more than 3,000 individuals and their families from all 99 counties in Iowa, 24 other states and 15 other countries.

  • A voluntary membership network of service providers, government agencies, religious groups, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions that work together to better serve the needs of the growing refugee population in central Iowa. We provide targeted assistance in the areas of health, housing, translation and interpretation, transportation, education, legal, along with advocacy at the federal, state, and local government level.

  • A non-profit organization dedicated to giving children in Des Moines, Iowa a chance to experience a Christmas that otherwise would not have been possible. During the Christmas season, students of a local elementary school that has a high number of students receiving free lunch are rewarded for their good behavior and hard work by being asked to be part of Christmas For Kids With A Wish. Once they have permission to participate, these kids are treated to a day full of miracles!

  • Founded in 1978 on the belief that every girl deserves a life of possibility, and understanding that every girl is vulnerable at different times during her development. It is the mission of the YWRC to embrace and inspire girls and young women to become strong, self-confident and successful. To achieve that mission, the YWRC serves on average over 1,600 young women, ages 10-21, in the greater Des Moines area through both the Empowerment Program and Young Mom’s Program.

 2016 Nonprofit Participants

  • Help to keep animals in homes

    Dogs or cats

    Behavior of pets evaluated

    Recommended classes or other help

    A couple people will help finish this project up

  • Events Section

    Keyword

    Exposure for bike month

  • system for students to track in their volunteer hours

    Website that students can sign up w/ student ID + email address (from school)

    Student tracks activity and admin can verify that activity

    admins can download excel sheet w/ info

    filter by year, etc.

    This is part of silver cord program

    Calendar in this app that community can submit events/volunteer opps to

  • http://www.dmwwpf.org/

    Group wanted to present maps to

    UI Considerations

    Responsive

    Awesome Map

    Site is Live!

    Newsletter for people to sign up for

    Live Twitter feed

    New Twitter!

  • Website project: not mobile friendly

    Custom wordpress theme (new)

    mobile friendly

    minimal and modern design

    streamlined user flow

    clinic locator tool

    simplified source code

    post quizzes w/ automatic reporting

    improved chat features

    technology, editorial & style guides

  • Maintain their own information

    Provide users with education

    Don’t need developers to update their info/content!

    new website

    SO MANY FEATURES

    Plan steps for education

    consolidated paperwork

  • Making storefront look like website

    shopify store

    Used hack volunteers for photos

    Newsletter + social links

    Swag

  • New site

    Business Director

    About

    All editable by NP

    Optimized for SEO

    Custom photography

  • Inherited and updated WordPress

    Store/donation aspect

    Teacher finder

    On demand stress relief videos for situations that officers need asap

  • build an app to engage and involve students

    gamify process

    Youth Tribe Tracker

    Kids earn medals at the end of the process

    leaderboard to increase gamification

2015 Nonprofit Participants

  • A no kill animal shelter seeking to reduce the number of special needs dogs and cats that are euthanized by providing care, temporary shelter, and by promoting positive long-term pet guardianship. Animal Lifeline is a special needs shelter that accepts special needs dogs and cats that have serious medical conditions, are handicapped, seriously injured, pregnant or nursing moms and orphans that need to be bottle-fed. Animal Lifeline cares for each animal in our no-kill facility until a forever home can be found.

  • An organization that is restoring hope, building futures and changing lives as a private, nonprofit human service organization formed 126 years ago to find secure homes for children who were abandoned, abused and/or neglected. In fiscal year 2014, CFI served more than 25,600 individuals; almost half of our clients were children. Still today, CFI's comprehensive programs meet one core objective: to keep Iowa's children safe.

  • An organization that authentically engages students in the community through youth development programming and to provide coaching, training and technical assistance in best practices for youth-serving non-profits. CYC provides volunteer service opportunities and career-based mentoring to Iowa youth in order to improve their future success as students, professionals, and active community members.

  • A Christian faith based, volunteer only, organization serving the communities of the King-Irving, Riverbend, and surrounding neighborhoods of Des Moines, IA. We aim to unite individuals within communities through the use of agriculture, horticulture, permaculture, conservation, and sustainability. We offer a variety of classes and hands on training as well as providing the neighborhood residents opportunity to grow their own fresh, healthy foods. We strive to create unity and peace, in love, with all individuals despite their religion, sex, creed, or race.

  • A nonprofit that was founded in 2006 by two mothers of children born with congenital defects resulting in only half of a heart. These two moms bonded over their sons and shared a passion for helping other families facing similar situations. The organization provides financial assistance and emotional support to Iowa families of children born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) during their child’s extended hospitalizations.

  • An organization that helps Iowans with disabilities, their families and older Iowans achieve and maintain independence through microlending and financial coaching programs. The majority of our clients are low- to moderate-income, and many are unbanked and have never applied for a loan before. We walk them through the whole process, and our financial coach can help them get and read their credit reports, set up a monthly budget, and learn how to save money and build assets.

  • An organization that supports the provision of legal services to low-income Iowans through contributions to Iowa Legal Aid, its primary charity. Iowa Legal Aid provides free legal help with civil law matters to low-income Iowans. Cases involve domestic abuse, housing law, consumer law, assistance to seniors and persons with disabilities and assistance with health care access.

  • A youth led organization addressing the lack awareness and education in the teen population about human sex trafficking in central Iowa. Human trafficking is the world’s fastest growing industry today and second largest criminal enterprise behind narcotics. Fifty percent of the victims are minors. Central Iowa is a player because of our geographic location and interstates 80/35. Unfortunately, traffickers are effectively harnessing and exploiting technology and cyberspace to scale up trafficking. We want to turn the tables on them and use that same powerful technology to fight back.

  • An organization that enriches the community through sustainable food and civility initiatives. WCI serves about 10,000 visitors annually from both urban and rural communities with locations at the 40-acre Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center in rural Orient and the historic Wallace House in Des Moines.

  • A 5,000 acre land trust with a three part mission: to protect and restore its natural lands; to provide outdoor recreation and education experiences; and to demonstrate and promote sustainable agricultural practices. Located in the Middle Raccoon River valley 60 miles upstream from Des Moines, Whiterock is open to visitors year-round and offers a wide range of amenities and attractions.

2014 Nonprofit Participants

  • Volunteers implemented necessary updates using Heroku and Node.js.

  • Volunteers fixed the organization’s PayPal integration and patched their website using AngularJS. https://www.chrysalisfdn.org/

  • Volunteers implemented necessary improvements to the organization’s Wordpress site and Neon CRM using Excel and Microsoft Security Essentials.

  • Volunteers updated the organization’s web presence using HTML, JavaScript, REST services, JSON, AJAX, JQuery, GItHub, and Django.

  • Volunteers made improvements to the organization’s MailChimp, performed an e-mail scrubbing service (10% were bad), and implemented necessary Google integrations. https://namiiowa.org/

  • Volunteers created a new WordPress website with Twitter and PayPal integration. https://www.techjourney.org/

  • https://www.urbanambassadors.org/

  • Volunteers created an iOS and Android game.

  • Volunteers updated an existing site with Ninja Forms and other WordPress plugins.