As cities seek stable or improved credit ratings, they should pay attention to the environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors…

For cities, a key step is to develop equity-focused tools that tie incentive strategies to specific outcomes and strengthen fiscal health

The What Works Cities (WWC) Certification Standard Committee comprises leading experts from a dozen organizations that support cities. The Standard Committee has endorsed and lent its knowledge and experience to the development of What Works Cities Certification and the What Works Cities Standard. …

A Letter From WWC Managing Director Rochelle Haynes — Dear City Leaders, Happy New Year! I hope that your 2023 is off to a positive start. I’m energized and looking forward to supporting your efforts to improve residents’ lives. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in government, nonprofit and philanthropy to spearhead anti-poverty and economic mobility programs that expand access…

Getting started building a data culture is no small task. But city staff across the country know how important data-informed decision-making is to make progress on strategic priorities and drive equitable outcomes. At What Works Cities, we equip and empower city leaders to develop a data culture that delivers for…

By Rochelle Haynes and Molly Daniell When data practitioners in cities across the country are telling you they want the same thing, deciding to build it becomes a no-brainer. In her seven years working closely with local city officials, Molly heard that data advocates in cities felt alone, both within…

By Rochelle Haynes and Lauren Su A decade ago, local government leaders had a data problem: there wasn’t clarity on what it meant to be a ‘local government leader who led with data’. There was no common language around how to best use data and evidence in government decision-making. …

2022 Certification Level: Silver

2021 Certification Level: Silver