What Works Cities - a Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative, Results for America

Organization Overview:

Results for America (RFA) is the leading, national nonprofit organization helping policymakers at all levels of government harness the power of evidence and data to solve the world’s greatest challenges. Our mission is to make investing in what works the “new normal,” so that, one day, all government leaders use rigorous evidence and quality data to inform important policy and funding decisions. We believe that data-driven and evidence-based policy decisions could significantly increase the impact of the over $1 trillion that governments spend annually to address the needs of the most vulnerable Americans.

Founded in 2012, RFA spent its first three years partnering with policy innovators to build the credibility of evidence-based policymaking, securing early and important wins in education, expanding its work to multiple levels of government and driving awareness and demand through carefully orchestrated education and communication campaigns. During its second phase (2015-2018), RFA worked to demonstrate the power of evidence-based policymaking in ways that resonate with an even broader universe of elected officials and policymakers. Now beginning its third phase of work, RFA intends to demonstrate that governments at all levels can make faster, more lasting progress in accelerating economic mobility for residents when they use evidence and data in decision-making. By creating specific issue-area wins, RFA will further cement support for evidence-based policymaking among all policymakers as the “new normal.”

Initiative Overview:

What Works Cities (WWC) is a Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative striving to improve lives by helping local governments use data and evidence effectively to tackle pressing challenges. WWC helps US cities improve how they track and use information to make decisions about everything from economic development to public safety. WWC is also building national momentum and developing resources to assist cities around the country in doing this work. Additionally, learning networks will provide ongoing support to cities on best practices and lessons learned across cities.

In November 2018, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Ballmer Group announced a $12 million project that will help communities analyze economic mobility in American cities and develop interventions that can increase residents’ economic progress. Results for America is proud to be part of this exciting initiative. Through its involvement, Results for America and WWWC partners will work with ten American cities to identify barriers to economic mobility and test and share promising approaches to help residents overcome them.