For Organizations
Pro bono technology for mission-driven organizations
DSSD selectively partners with nonprofits, NGOs, and community organizations on scoped technology projects. Our student teams deliver dashboards, GIS maps, web applications, and data tools, at no cost to your organization.
Fit Criteria
Is DSSD right for your organization?
We work best with organizations that have a clear problem, a defined stakeholder, and the capacity to collaborate throughout the project. Our teams are talented and motivated, but they are students, not a consulting firm. Projects succeed when both sides invest in the partnership.
Good fit
- Nonprofits and NGOs with a specific, scoped problem
- Organizations that can provide context, data, and regular feedback
- Projects that map to one or more UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Needs with a clear scope and defined deliverable
Not a fit
- For-profit companies seeking free development labor
- Projects without committed ownership or stakeholder engagement
- Urgent, time-critical requests
- Ongoing maintenance contracts or open-ended engagements
What we can build
- Interactive dashboards and data visualizations
- GIS maps and spatial analysis tools
- Custom web applications and portals
- Storymaps and data-driven narratives
- Database design and data infrastructure
- Statistical analysis and reporting
What we expect from you
- A designated point of contact for the project
- Access to relevant data, systems, or context
- Consistent communication with the student team at a cadence you set together
- Feedback during design and development milestones
- Patience and openness to working with student teams
The Process
How a DSSD engagement works
From inquiry to delivery, here's what a DSSD engagement looks like and how partnerships grow over time.
Submit an Inquiry
Tell us about your organization, the problem you face, and what kind of solution you envision. We review every submission.
Scoping & Matching
If there is a fit, we schedule a call to clarify requirements, define deliverables, and match you with a student hub.
Semester Build
The student team works with you over 3-4 months. Expect regular check-ins, design reviews, and iterative development.
Delivery & Handoff
You receive the finished product with documentation and training. Multi-semester extensions are possible for complex projects.
Our Work
See what DSSD teams have built
Browse real projects delivered by student teams for nonprofit partners.
FAQ
Common questions from partners
Is there a cost?
Our student teams work pro bono, so there is no cost for the work itself. Some projects do incur incidental costs (hosting, data subscriptions, software licenses, etc.), and depending on the project, DSSD may be able to help cover or front these expenses. We discuss this during scoping.
How long do projects take?
Projects typically begin with a 3-4 month semester engagement, and many partnerships continue across semesters as the relationship deepens.
What data do I need to provide?
It depends on the project. We work with whatever you have: spreadsheets, databases, APIs, or even unstructured data. We can also help define what needs to be collected.
Are the students qualified?
Our teams include students studying computer science, data science, GIS, statistics, and related fields. Hub leaders provide oversight and quality assurance. Every project is reviewed before delivery.
What if my project needs more than one semester?
We scope initial work into a concrete first phase, then continue building in subsequent semesters. Long-term partnerships are encouraged.
How selective is the process?
We accept projects based on mission alignment, scope clarity, and partner readiness. Not every inquiry results in a project; we prioritize quality over volume.
Project Inquiry
Tell us about your project
Fill out the form below and we'll review it for fit. If there's alignment, we'll schedule a scoping call.