Portland Digital Corps
Volunteer effort bringing together 50+ practitioners to rebuild six nonprofit websites.
The catalyst
Following the closure of 18F, I wanted to establish a community-focused alternative for digital service work. I launched Portland Digital Corps expecting modest participation—but over 100 people signed up, with 50+ volunteers actively contributing.
What we did
We assembled designers, developers, data visualization specialists, strategists, and product managers to rebuild websites for nonprofit organizations across Portland.
The team successfully rebuilt six nonprofit websites while partnering with local organizations including:
- Built Oregon
- OSU Uplift Lab
- Families for Safe Streets Oregon
- Cape Perpetua Collaborative
In-person events achieved strong attendance, indicating genuine community interest in collaborative digital service work.
Community impact
Participants consistently reported valuing the opportunity to connect with professionals they might not otherwise meet. This relationship-building extended beyond the initial cohort, with volunteers expressing interest in future iterations.
Groups nationwide contacted us seeking to replicate the model in their respective cities. I plan to publish a “building a digital service” guide by end of 2025 to support similar initiatives elsewhere.
What this demonstrates
I can organize cross-functional teams around public service work. I don’t just design systems for institutions—I build the community infrastructure that makes collaborative delivery possible.
More at digitalcorpspdx.org