BetaNYC has spent over a decade training the next generation of civic technologists through the Civic Innovation Fellowship program. Since 2015, we have worked with CUNY students to improve access to open data and develop public interest technology opportunities. In 2020, we formally launched the Apprenticeship Program, retaining Civic Innovation Fellowship graduates as part-time staff to mentor new fellows and contribute to ongoing projects. In 2022, we launched the Civic Innovation Lab Associates program, which brought in graduate students already grounded in urban planning, policy, or community work to contribute directly to the Civic Innovation Lab.
We are currently in a research phase, gathering input from employers, educators, and students to build a stronger civic tech pipeline in New York City. Your feedback shapes how we develop the next stage of our workforce programs.
Building on the Fellowship’s foundation, our next chapter is focused on creating a full career pathway. The goal is to bridge the gap between students and the employers who need them, ensuring that the skills we teach align with the roles New York City’s civic sector is ready to fill.
Our work is supported by the NYC Council, Siegel Family Endowment, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Share Your Perspective
We want to hear from employers, educators, and students about how well our curriculum prepares people for careers in civic tech and AI. Your responses are important — they help us align our programs with real workforce needs and inform partners across higher education, government, and industry.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey that matches your role:
You can also view all surveys on our Workforce Development surveys page.
Our History
The Civic Innovation Fellowship trained university students — primarily from the City University of New York (CUNY) — to become civic leaders with data, design, and public interest technology skills. Fellows worked on real projects for New York City communities, building competencies in GIS, open data, service design, and civic engagement.
The fellowship curriculum covered five areas:
- Professional Skills
- Civic Engagement and NYC Governance
- Open Data and Storytelling
- Community Leadership
- Public Interest Data and AI
Partners included the Manhattan Borough President’s Office, CUNY, and the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation, with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
Stay connected
Follow our progress or reach out directly at cif@beta.nyc.
We Want to Hear From You
Are you an employer, educator, student, or civic technologist with perspectives on public interest tech careers in New York City? We’d love to interview you. Your experience helps us understand workforce needs and strengthen the civic tech pipeline.