Awards
The Code for America Innovator Awards honor teams or individuals who are shaping the path forward in the civic and government tech community. They are working on or delivering products and services that speak to Code for America’s core value that government can and should work well for everyone.
Recipients of each Innovator Award will be honored on the Summit mainstage.
Nominations will be open November 13-24, 2025.
2026 Award Categories
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Government Changemaker Award
(Individual)
The award recognizes a public servant who has applied a digital solution to a government system to improve community access or improve effective delivery and thus deliver meaningful change. The recipient demonstrates vision, courage, and a commitment to reimagining how government can work better for everyone. Whether through bold policy, innovative use of technology and systems design, or inclusive community partnerships, this individual embodies what it means to be a changemaker: pushing boundaries, challenging the status quo, and inspiring others to take action.
Eligibility criteria
- An individual employed by a US government agency at any level (city, county, tribal, territory, state, or federal) during the eligibility time frame
- The individual must have demonstrated a measurable impact between June 2023 and June 2025.
- The impact or result must include the use of, or enable the use of, a technology solution (e.g., digital tools, platforms, data systems, or innovative applications) to improve government operations or public service delivery.
Example of a good nomination
Jordan Lee has played a pivotal role in transforming how the City of Atlanta delivers housing assistance to residents. Recognizing delays and inefficiencies in the city’s housing voucher application process, Jordan led the implementation of a new digital application and case management platform that streamlined workflows, reduced processing times, and improved transparency for applicants.
Impact
- Reduced processing time for housing assistance applications from an average of 60 days to just 15 days.
- Enabled residents to track application status online in real time, increasing trust and reducing call center volume by 40%.
- Improved accessibility by adding multilingual digital forms and mobile-friendly access, resulting in a 25% increase in applications from historically underserved communities.
- Collaborated with multiple departments, community partners, and local nonprofits to ensure the technology was user-centered and responsive to resident needs.
Use of technology
Jordan leveraged a secure, cloud-based case management platform, integrated it with the city’s existing CRM system, and ensured compliance with state and federal data standards. Beyond the technology, Jordan emphasized change management and staff training to ensure long-term adoption and success.
Why this nominee stands out
Jordan exemplifies what it means to be a government changemaker, combining vision, technical expertise, and collaboration to deliver solutions that make government more effective and accessible. The measurable results of this project demonstrate not only innovation but also a deep commitment to fairness and service.
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Digital Transformation Award
(Team)
This award recognizes a government product team that has simplified and streamlined a complex process or product experience to meaningfully improve efficiency, ease administrative burden, and enhance the experience for staff or the public. This award highlights the impact of user-centered design and thoughtful product management practices in delivering clear, accessible, and effective government services.
Eligibility criteria
- The nominee must be a product, service, or project team employed within a US government agency at any level (city, county, tribal, territory, state, or federal).
- Work must have demonstrated measurable impact between June 2023 and June 2025.
- The nominated product, service, or project must have improved, simplified, or streamlined a process or product experience.
- The work should demonstrate improvements in at least one of the following areas:
- Efficiency of government operations
- Reduction of administrative burden for staff
- Improved accessibility, usability, or experience for the public
- The team must show evidence of applying user-centered design and/or modern product management practices in their approach.
Example of a good nomination
Impact
The CivicTech Product Team redesigned the city’s building permit process, reducing approval times from an average of 28 days to just seven days. By centralizing information, automating manual steps, and creating a user-friendly online portal, the team dramatically improved both staff workflow and the experience for residents and contractors.
Challenge addressed
Previously, the permit process involved multiple paper forms, redundant approvals, and frequent delays due to miscommunication between departments. This caused frustration for residents and increased administrative burden for staff.
Solution Implemented
The team applied user-centered design principles, conducted extensive stakeholder interviews, and tested multiple prototypes of the online portal. Key innovations included:
- Automated routing for departmental approval
- Real-time status updates for applicants
- Integration with existing city systems to eliminate duplicate data entry
Results and measurable outcomes
- Reduced average approval time from 28 days to seven days
- Increased on-time submission rates by 45%
- Improved staff satisfaction scores by 30% due to decreased administrative burden
- Positive feedback from residents and contractors citing clarity and ease of use
Why this team deserves recognition
The CivicTech Product Team not only modernized a high-volume, complex process but also prioritized the needs of both government staff and the public. Their innovative, collaborative approach exemplifies the power of user-centered design and demonstrates measurable improvements in efficiency, transparency, and customer experience.
Past winners
2025
Government Changemaker Award
Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program
Community Leadership Award
Tech-Moms
2024
Legacy Achievement Award
Kara Swisher
Government Changemaker Award
CODE PA
Community Leadership Award
City of Memphis Office of Community Affairs
2023
Legacy Achievement Award
Jennifer Pahlka
Government Changemaker Award
Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services
Community Leadership Award
Adams County Community Safety and Wellbeing Department