Community Oath

U.S. Digital Response Community Oath

What this is: The U.S. Digital Response Community Oath outlines who we are as an organization and how we expect all community members, from volunteers to staff, to show up in this work.

Why it matters: Regardless of your role at USDR, the attitude and emotional intelligence you bring to the work in this high-intensity environment are just as, if not more, important than your hard skills. The guidelines and examples provided in this community oath are designed to outline our commitment to each other, to the government partners we work with, and to our civic tech and government-supporting ecosystem partners. It embodies the values we’ll uphold, the approach we’ll bring with us every day, and the promises we’ll hold ourselves accountable to throughout our work.

What we need from you: Embrace and uphold the values and commitments outlined in the USDR Community Oath in all aspects of your involvement with our organization.

I. About Us

U.S. Digital Response is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works alongside governments at all levels to ensure they have the capacity to support the critical needs of the public. Founded in 2020, USDR connects governments with technology, talent, and support, leaving them better equipped to deliver services to millions of people nationwide.

Please read more about U.S. Digital Response (USDR) efforts and our impact here: www.usdigitalresponse.org.

II. About Skills Needed

USDR works alongside governments of all levels to ensure they have the capacity to meet the public's needs. We recognize the skills possessed by our community of technical experts and public servants can help government serve the public good, bringing expertise in user research, engineering, design, content strategy, product management, and hiring, among others. Through this collective talent, USDR is able to quickly diagnose our government partners’ challenges and spin up impactful technology-driven solutions for pinpointed needs and sustainable solutions.

III. The U.S. Digital Response Community Oath

As a USDR Community Member, I promise to:

• Understand and uphold USDR’s mission and vision. Our mission is to build capacity to deliver good government. We envision a government that keeps up with the needs of its people, now and for the future.

• Listen to the direction of the partner and do what is needed most. I will have the humility and confidence to do whatever is needed to support the project as directed by the partner, at all levels of a project or organization. I know when to step up with grace if there’s a gap, and defer when there is not. I recognize that the right solution for our partners is often not the shiniest or trendiest and I will work within our partners’ technical, legal, and capacity constraints to help make change happen.

• Use empathy and curiosity to understand the needs of our government partners and the communities they serve. I will meet them where they are and provide specialized support as they deliver services to their communities. Our government partners are the heroes, doing the hard work in and for their communities day in and day out.

• Be curious. I will start by asking how I can help before offering new ways of doing things. I am willing to push for change where I can, but I will recognize that our role in creating change is to empower others and build capacity. I will stay open to understanding what other projects, people, or organizations might be working in a related space to consider how we all might work together, if feasible and possible.

• Assume positive intent. Public servants operate under constraints but are almost always doing their best, and I will honor that. I will ask “why” when I don’t understand, recognizing that everyone’s ideas, skills, and contributions have value. I will work with governments of all types, even when their political agenda is not the same as my personal one, because ultimately we want to support the critical needs of all people.

• Be a great communicator. There will be a lot of moving pieces and email threads. I will keep USDR and the partner updated on my work, share my learnings proactively, identify ways we can work more effectively or have more impact, and ask for help when I need it. Asking for help when I need it is especially important — USDR is here to support every participant in this work.

• Listen more than I speak. In conversation, I’ll operate from a "listen first" mentality and recognize that we as technologists and professionals are in a role of providing support in whatever ways are needed. As a skilled professional in my field, I recognize that our partners often have limited capacity, and I will lean-in on proactive communication, reflective listening, and driving the project forward.

• Uphold high ethical standards. I will contribute to and uphold an environment free of harassment and discrimination on the basis of race, color, veteran status, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical disability, medical condition, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, or any other characteristics protected under federal or state law or local ordinance.

• Recognize the confidentiality of our work. I will not speak publicly about any projects that haven’t explicitly been highlighted by USDR in published materials or the press. Rather, when speaking about any projects or work I’ve seen or participated in, I will anonymize the government or organization’s name and project information (Ex: City of XXX becomes “a government”). I will follow project specific guidelines from USDR when communicating publicly or professionally about my project work.

• Ensure the work itself comes first. I will not offer my time and energy for credit, self-promotion, or solely for individual advancement. I recognize that contributing to USDR offers opportunities to engage in work that affects the quality of real people’s lives, to learn from experts in the field, to experience the challenge of applying what I know to a new problem, and to be a part of a team and community that is building something bigger to create lasting change.

• Respect the privacy of any personal information that I encounter in my role as a USDR volunteer. I will use reasonable security practices to protect data I have access to. I will comply with USDR’s Privacy Policy and Security Protocol.

• Comply with applicable law and the operating procedures of our partners. I will deliver on my assigned project based on a project-specific scope of work. I also recognize that USDR’s government partners are members of the broader USDR community and they have agreed to ourPartner Participation Terms & Conditions that shape the work we do together.

• Update USDR of any changes to my availability, project status and progress. I will report any issues or updates to USDR staff as soon as possible.