Technology for Engagement

Browse Projects

Featured

FCC & Knight Foundation

Apps for Communities announces winners

Apps for Communities Challenge

Yakb.us keeps riders on the bus

Apps for Communities Challenge

Homeless-SCC, a link to services

Apps for Communities Challenge

Help for job seekers via mobile phone

Featured Projects (3 of 17)

Browse Projects Browse Projects

SoChange

To create a software platform that aggregates consumer buying power and lets them direct it toward businesses that behave in socially responsible ways

Do Something

To support the development of an SMS-based mobile platform designed to increase the number of teenagers engaged in community service and to keep them active and engaged

Code for America

To build an online catalog of applications that local governments and community leaders can use to locate, understand and deploy the best available tools for community engagement

News & Updates

Get Updates On Technology for Engagement

News Releases

Knight Blog

- 1/26/2012
- Blog Entry
Four ideas on how tech can increase civic engagement
- 1/17/2012
- Blog Entry
Behind the scenes of @communityapps
- 12/15/2011
- Blog Entry
Apps for Communities: making local information actionable
- 11/21/2011
- Blog Entry
Why Change By Us is perfect for Philadelphia
- 9/30/2011
- Blog Entry
Behind the scenes with Apps for Communities
- 9/9/2011
- Blog Entry
Change By Us launches in Seattle
- 9/7/2011
- Blog Entry
Code for America's Jen Pahlka on the selection of Detroit, Macon and Philadelphia as partners for 2012 program
- 8/17/2011
- Blog Entry
Jumo, Good Magazine join forces
- 8/12/2011
- Blog Entry
Announcing judging panel for Apps for Communities
- 4/12/2011
- Blog Entry
- - National Program
Have a good idea for local change? Share it at Likeminded.org
- 3/10/2011
- Blog Entry
- - National Program
CTOs from leading nonprofits gather to discuss technology and engagement
- 3/3/2011
- Blog Entry
- - National Program
At TED, panel looks at ways to use technology to engage communities
- 2/28/2011
- Blog Entry
Chris Hughes: For nonprofits, experimentation with technology goes a long way
- 2/28/2011
- Blog Entry
Chris Hughes: Something meaningful together
- 1/12/2011
- Blog Entry
- - National Program
Knight Technology for Engagement grantee, Chris Hughes, talks online communities, Jumo with Stephen Colbert
- 12/3/2010
- Blog Entry
- - National Program
Launch of 'Jumo' Is Only the Beginning for Knight Technology for Engagement Initiative
- 8/24/2010
- Blog Entry
- - National Program
New Knight Initiative Funds Ideas That Use Technology to Inspire Community Action
- 1/26/2010
- Blog Entry
'Oscars of Twitter' honor short, real-time content producers
- 9/10/2009
- Blog Entry
Knight is seeking a social media superstar
- 7/10/2009
- Blog Entry
A Serious Look at Serious Games

Twitter

- 1/28/2012
- Twitter
RT @matthaggman: Day 1 of One Laptop Per Child at Holmes Elementary in Miami. First OLPC directed project in US. http://t.co/tqdJJP2i
- 1/28/2012
- Twitter
Via@OLPC: #OLPC and #Knight Foundation launch digital literacy program in Miami's #LibertyCity: http://t.co/LIoRPhIQ
- 1/27/2012
- Twitter
@Idit @amystarlight @ICFJknight @simonaroberts @lrainie @lbotello @gdetorres @craignewman Thanks the #FF!
- 1/27/2012
- Twitter
RT @ushahidi: In the San Francisco area? Join us for a community meet-up on Wednesday, February 1st. http://t.co/oZAXgLCX
- 1/27/2012
- Twitter
How #journalists are using @FrontlineSMS to innovate around the world http://t.co/OEKWEBya via @jczamora #journalism #mobile
- 1/27/2012
- Twitter
New #Detroit initiative offers fundraising help to budding philanthropists http://t.co/X5li9Pyf @CitizenEffect @Detroit4Detroit
- 1/27/2012
- Twitter
Erasing the #digitaldivide is "the moral imperative of our generation" says @MiamiSup http://t.co/1KSjncna #education
- 1/27/2012
- Twitter
RT @ibarguen: Great moment. Kids @ Miami's Holmes grammar school minutes after they each it a laptop http://t.co/KBQC6doJ
- 1/27/2012
- Twitter
@socialcap Hands-on training for students, teachers & parents are all part of the @knightfdn-funded program http://t.co/2WeOAmoy
- 1/27/2012
- Twitter
RT @ibarguen: First recess w/laptops at Holmes elementary in Miami. Pure intuition. Kids are ok digital @olpt http://t.co/xbB616R5
- 1/27/2012
- Twitter
.@Living_Cities CEO @benhecht on the promise of #CivicTech & why it has potential to be a game-changer for #cities http://t.co/Mtuh2OgB
- 1/27/2012
- Twitter
“How can you pretend you’re educating people to live in the 21st century if you’re not making them smart digitally?” http://t.co/1KSjncna
- 1/27/2012
- Twitter
Mobile donors are young, diverse & digital http://t.co/pWerrtU3 #infographic #philanthropy via @kate4good
- 1/27/2012
- Twitter
MT @MiamiSup: Distributing 600 laptops to students at Holmes Elementary. Thanks Knight Foundation/One Laptop Per Child! http://t.co/qNYF64mY
- 1/27/2012
- Twitter
.@OLPC just distributed 500+ laptops to #Miami elementary students in Liberty City, launching digital literacy efforts http://t.co/pIQewjVT
- 1/27/2012
- Twitter
This morning @knightfdn is at Holmes Elementary in Miami for an exciting event with @OLPC. Stay tuned for updates!
- 1/26/2012
- Twitter
RT @rsjaitly: Excited to be at @Detroit4Detroit launch! cc @CitizenEffect
- 1/26/2012
- Twitter
Innovators in civic tech @nickgrossman @pahlkadot @rachelsterne @nsjacob provide insight on increasing engagement http://t.co/dooMbLuB
- 1/26/2012
- Twitter
@traceylross Thanks for allowing us to share the post with our network.
- 1/26/2012
- Twitter
#Wichita groups receive @knightfdn support to develop region’s “quality of talent, place & opportunity" http://t.co/UWZfHPb6 #philanthropy
- 1/26/2012
- Twitter
RT @Admiral_Center: Congratulations to 20 winners of BME Leadership Award @bmechallenge, created to honor black male community leaders!
- 1/26/2012
- Twitter
Real time analysis of campaign ads will help inform voters before they head to polls http://t.co/EVZ3MZ1z
- 1/26/2012
- Twitter
Forum provides 4 ideas for how tech can increase civic engagement http://t.co/dooMbLuB via @Living_Cities @traceylross
- 1/26/2012
- Twitter
.@wesmediaproject to release 1st 2012 analysis of campaign ads http://t.co/EVZ3MZ1z , w/ support from @knightfdn @rockBrosfund
- 1/26/2012
- Twitter
How @Zeega & its partners will provide innovative local storytelling for public media http://t.co/MO5cAP16 #journalism
- 1/26/2012
- Twitter
RT @andysherry: Contents Magazine says Project Argo's free WordPress news tools are ready for prime time http://t.co/ALflE0tz #journalism
- 1/26/2012
- Twitter
Entrepreneurial Spirit Awaits Its Moment in the Middle East, @nytimes article feat @Joi http://t.co/cdvnlSkW via @ibarguen
- 1/26/2012
- Twitter
What’s your best idea for the #arts in South Florida? Next round of @knightarts Challenge launches Feb. 21 http://t.co/FbJXN66Q
- 1/26/2012
- Twitter
Engaging new audiences in the #arts: great reactions from first-time #opera goers http://t.co/Aw22Ck5N via @theobserver
- 1/26/2012
- Twitter
@nicolepennell We're so glad! What was your favorite thing about @OperaCarolina's performance?

Publications

- 9/1/2009
- Publication
Informing Communities: Sustaining Democracy in the Digital Age

In The News

- 1/20/2012
- In The News
Code For America Detroit fellows have big plans for 2012
- 4/21/2011
- In The News
- - National Program
  - Technology
Chris Hughes On What’s Next For Nonprofit Social Site Jumo

About our Technology for Engagement strategy

While the Web is often the place to express opinions on important issues, the clicks and comments don't always translate into a movement to better communities.

This initiative funds ways to take technology a step further, using it as a tool to inspire and facilitate on-the-ground action.

The first five projects help connect people to each other, and to their local institutions, as a way to foster informed and engaged communities.

• Submit a proposal for funding

• E-mail questions to engageinfo@knightfoundation.org

Technology for Engagement Project Categories

National Program

About our Engaged Communities Strategy

To help sustain healthy communities in a democracy, Knight aims to increase the ability of individuals to engage in change. Knight fosters initiatives that develop in people a strong sense of belonging and caring, timely access to relevant information, the ability to understand that information, and the motivation, opportunity and skills to take sustainable action on a range of issues throughout their lives.

Knight Foundation fosters innovative approaches to increasing engagement skills in the community development field. The foundation funds programs that use technology to foster engagement. It supports individuals as agents for engagement, with a focus on youth leadership, social entrepreneurs and local institutions. Knight supports naturalization campaigns to increase the number of citizens who are highly motivated to engage with their communities.

Part of Knight’s activities focuses on 26 communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers, with donor-advised programs in 18 and program director-led programs in the eight ”resident Knight communities” (Akron, Ohio, Charlotte, N.C., Detroit, Mich., Macon, Ga., Miami, Fla., and Philadelphia, Pa.).

Knight experiments with innovative approaches to community engagement such as engaging community foundations nationwide in addressing community information needs, using community-wide social games to bring residents together, and partnering with local and national agencies to get more black males engaged in their communities.

The foundation has invested more than $841 million in its communities program since 1950.