DataKind
DataKind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that applies data science and AI to social challenges by pairing 30,000+ volunteer data scientists with nonprofits, governments, universities, and humanitarian organizations across four continents, delivering products like Beacon, Edvise, and the Humanitarian AI Assistant.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What DataKind does
DataKind is a global nonprofit founded in 2011 that applies data science and AI to social challenges by pairing a community of more than 30,000 data scientist volunteers with mission-driven organizations including nonprofits, government agencies, higher education institutions, and humanitarian response bodies. The organization operates across four stated domains (frontline health, humanitarian action, climate and environment, and economic opportunity) and maintains at least eleven proprietary products, including Beacon (a community data platform launched June 2026), Edvise (an AI-powered student advising platform serving institutions like University of Central Florida and Lee College), the Humanitarian AI Assistant (HDIP, co-developed with Save the Children and Microsoft), the Data Observation Toolkit (recognized as a Digital Public Good), Climate Finance Navigator, Fenceline Data, Colandr, DIFIT, the Economic Opportunity Datascape, Ladder, and a Foreclosure and Eviction Analysis Tool. AI capabilities span predictive analytics, natural language processing, computer vision, anomaly detection, generative AI, recommendation engines, and optimization, with applied deployments validated through outcomes such as a reported 17× increase in AI usage during Sri Lanka's Cyclone Ditwah.
DataKind is registered as a 501(c)(3) in the United States with a wholly-owned subsidiary DataKind UK (a charity and company limited by guarantee in England and Wales), and operates additional chapter presences in Bangalore, Singapore, San Francisco, Washington DC, and Nairobi, with staff on four continents. The organization holds SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, and CCPA/CPRA compliance certifications, and is a member of the Partnership on Artificial Intelligence. Strategic partnerships span frontier-tech and philanthropy: OpenAI (flagship AI Jam on disaster management in 2026 with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and ADPC), Microsoft, Google.org, The Rockefeller Foundation, the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, Teradata (a decade-long Teradata Cares relationship), data.org, the IMF, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
DataKind does not sell products in a commercial sense; revenue is derived primarily from foundation and corporate grants, with disclosed programmatic inflows of $20 million from The Rockefeller Foundation (January 2019), $2 million from Omidyar Network (2016), and $1.1 million from Google.org (December 2021). Services reach partners through three channels: long-form DataCorps partnerships, short-form DataDive volunteer events (in-person, virtual, and hybrid), and self-serve volunteer onboarding via Rosterfy, supplemented by capacity-building programs (Learning Circles) and an open knowledge base (DataKind Playbook).
DataKind firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DataKind
- Legal name
- DataKind
- Website
- https://datakind.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DataKind is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that applies data science and AI to social challenges by pairing 30,000+ volunteer data scientists with nonprofits, governments, universities, and humanitarian organizations across four continents, delivering products like Beacon, Edvise, and the Humanitarian AI Assistant.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DataKind industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social impact data science and AI
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Data Platforms & Modern Data Stack Services (Lakehouse, DW, MDM) (BPAEAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Data Strategy & Governance Services (BPAEAHAA), Data Monetization & Data Products Services (BPAEAHAL), Data Sharing, Data Exchange & Data Marketplace Platforms (HDAEABAH), Data Governance Platforms (Policies, Stewardship, Workflows) (HDAEADAB)
Keywords
Where DataKind is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
DataKind business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Foundations and Corporate Grants: DataKind receives support from foundations and corporate partners including The Rockefeller Foundation, Google.org, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, Gates Foundation, and others. In 2019, DataKind raised $20M from The Rockefeller Foundation and others for Data Science for Social Impact collaborative.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
DataKind product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DataKind is a global nonprofit that delivers data science and AI solutions to mission-driven organizations by mobilizing a 30,000+ volunteer data scientist community alongside in-house staff. It builds and provides a portfolio of open and freely available AI/data platforms (Beacon, Edvise, Climate Finance Navigator, Humanitarian AI Assistant, and others) and runs service programs such as DataDive events, DataCorps project engagements, and Learning Circles for capacity building across frontline health, humanitarian action, climate and environment, and economic opportunity domains.
Product overview
DataKind is a nonprofit organization that operates as both a product innovator and movement catalyst in the Data for Good space, leveraging data science and AI to address social challenges. The company offers a portfolio of data-driven products including Beacon (community data platform), Edvise (higher education student success tool), Climate Finance Navigator, Colandr, Data Insights for Financial Inclusion Toolkit, Data Observation Toolkit (DOT), Economic Opportunity Datascape, Fenceline Data, and the Humanitarian AI Assistant. These products are complemented by the DataKind Playbook (knowledge base) and services like DataDive Events and Learning Circles. The portfolio spans multiple domains including frontline health, humanitarian action, climate and environment, and economic opportunity, with a global community of over 30,000 data scientist volunteers contributing to projects worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Beacon: Community data platform for coordinated action
- Climate Finance Navigator
- Colandr
- Edvise
- Data Observation Toolkit
- Fenceline Data
- Humanitarian AI Assistant
- Ladder
- DataKind Playbook
- DataDive
- DataCorps
Products and services
- Beacon Community data platform for coordinated local action and data-driven decision making at the community level, co-developed alongside practitioners over years of engagement.
- Edvise Freely available AI-powered advising support platform that helps higher education advisors identify students who may need extra support, enabling proactive and data-driven student success efforts.
- Climate Finance Navigator Platform providing tools and insights for targeting savings programs and financial services to underserved communities, particularly women, to enhance inclusive climate finance.
- Colandr Data extraction and analysis platform designed for systematic literature review and evidence synthesis, helping researchers process and analyze large volumes of academic literature and documents.
- Data Insights for Financial Inclusion Toolkit (DIFIT) Toolkit providing data-driven insights and tools to enhance financial inclusion for underserved populations, developed with support from the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth.
- Data Observation Toolkit (DOT) Open-source toolkit for assessing and improving data quality in frontline health systems, recognized as a Digital Public Good by the Digital Public Goods Alliance.
- Economic Opportunity Datascape Comprehensive data platform providing insights into economic opportunity indicators, helping organizations understand and address economic disparities in communities.
- Fenceline Data Data platform focused on providing environmental and community data, particularly for fenceline communities affected by environmental hazards and pollution.
- Humanitarian AI Assistant (HDIP) Generative AI-powered platform that streamlines data access and use for humanitarian action, developed in partnership with Save the Children and Microsoft as part of the broader Humanitarian Insights initiative.
- Ladder Platform designed to make community data accessible, actionable, and equitable, co-developed with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida to address food insecurity through AI.
- Foreclosure and Eviction Analysis Tool Open-source tool for analyzing foreclosure and eviction data, published on GitHub under DataKind's repository in collaboration with New America, supporting housing-loss research and policy work.
- DataDive Events High-energy, marathon-style events where data scientists, social impact professionals, and DataKind staff collaborate to find innovative data-driven solutions for social challenges, offered in-person, virtually, or in hybrid formats.
- Learning Circles AI-driven capacity building program equipping social impact leaders with practical tools and knowledge to leverage data science and AI in their organizations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 17× increase in AI usage during crises - cyclone-related messages on ChatGPT during Sri Lanka's Cyclone Ditwah
Companies that use DataKind
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
DataKind technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability10 records
Feature9 records
DataKind partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- OpenAIflagshipOpenAI partnered with DataKind for its first AI Jam focused on disaster management, held in Bangkok. The initiative brought together 50 disaster management leaders from 13 Asian countries to explore practical AI applications for crisis response, moving beyond experimentation to embed AI tools into operational workflows.
- Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC)coreADPC partnered with OpenAI, Gates Foundation, and DataKind for the AI Jam on disaster management in Bangkok, contributing expertise in disaster preparedness for the Asia region.
- MicrosoftcoreMicrosoft partnered with DataKind and Save the Children on the Humanitarian Data Insights Project (HDIP), using generative AI to streamline data access for humanitarian action. Microsoft also hosted DataKind's first in-person Nairobi DataDive at their office.
- Save the ChildrencoreSave the Children partnered with DataKind and Microsoft on the Humanitarian Data Insights Project (HDIP), leveraging generative AI to transform how data is used for humanitarian action.
- Gavi, the Vaccine AlliancecoreDataKind and Gavi released a joint report on leveraging AI and data science to enhance vaccine coverage and address access disparities. DataKind CEO Lauren Woodman attended Davos side event with Gavi.
- data.orgcoreDataKind partnered with data.org on the $10 Million Inclusive Growth and Recovery Challenge, launched in partnership with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth.
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)coreDataKind partnered with IMF on a virtual DataDive event focused on climate risk and gender questions, with hundreds of volunteer data scientists analyzing climate-related data.
- Ed AdvancementcoreDataKind and Ed Advancement partnered to expand equitable access to responsible AI in higher education, starting with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
- National Student ClearinghousecorePartnership focused on transforming complex higher education data into actionable insights for advisors through DataKind's Edvise platform.
- Partnership on Artificial IntelligencecoreDataKind joined the Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (PAI), a multi-stakeholder organization bringing together stakeholders to study and formulate best practices around AI technologies.
- Open Data InstituteminorDataKind joined the Climate Resilience Peer Learning Network (CR-PLN) with Open Data Institute, Microsoft, and other social impact organizations for climate resilience initiatives.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
DataKind competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- AI4ALL: AI4ALL is a nonprofit working to increase diversity and inclusion in AI. Comparable to DataKind in nonprofit AI focus, education vertical (Edvise intersects), and major tech-company partnerships (Google, Microsoft).
- GiveDirectly: GiveDirectly is a nonprofit that uses data and technology to deliver cash transfers efficiently to people in extreme poverty. Comparable to DataKind in tech-enabled social impact, data-driven decision making for the poor, and use of advanced analytics (predictive targeting) in development contexts.
- data.org: data.org is a nonprofit capacity-building initiative (founded by Mastercard and partners) that funds data-for-good projects, including DataKind's Inclusive Growth & Recovery Challenge. Overlapping mission and direct partnership make it an emerging peer with comparable social-sector data focus.
- Data for Black Lives: Data for Black Lives is a nonprofit movement of data scientists and organizers using data to challenge racial inequity. Comparable to DataKind in data-for-good mission, community-driven model, and policy/social impact orientation, though narrower in demographic focus.
Direct peers
- DrivenData: DrivenData is a nonprofit that runs data science competitions and builds machine learning solutions for social impact organizations. Closely comparable to DataKind in nonprofit model, data-for-good mission, volunteer/community engagement, and product-style delivery for NGOs and governments.
- Data-Pop Alliance: Data-Pop Alliance is a nonprofit focused on harnessing data for international development and humanitarian response. Directly comparable to DataKind's humanitarian, financial inclusion, and economic opportunity domains, with similar partner roster (UN agencies, developing-country governments) and data-science service delivery.
- Bayes Impact: Bayes Impact is a nonprofit that builds data products for social good (e.g., criminal justice, education). Comparable to DataKind in its nonprofit data-product-build orientation, focus on under-resourced public-sector partners, and product-first (rather than consulting) approach to social impact.
- Code for America: Code for America is a nonprofit that builds digital services for government and civic engagement with a volunteer-driven brigade model. Comparable to DataKind in volunteer community, civic-tech orientation, government partnerships, and event-driven delivery (similar to DataDive).
- IDInsight: IDInsight is a social-impact organization that uses data and evidence to help leaders in developing countries improve programs and policies. Comparable to DataKind in serving NGOs and governments in developing markets, deploying data scientists, and producing actionable analytical products.
Broad incumbents
- Microsoft AI for Good: Microsoft's AI for Good program funds and builds AI solutions for humanitarian, accessibility, and environmental challenges. A direct funder/partner of DataKind (HDIP with Save the Children) and a broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities in AI-for-social-impact at much larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DataKind social profiles
Digital presenceDataKind compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
DataKind financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DataKind leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
DataKind subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
DataKind funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DataKind M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DataKind
What does DataKind do?
DataKind is a global nonprofit that delivers data science and AI solutions to mission-driven organizations by mobilizing a 30,000+ volunteer data scientist community alongside in-house staff. It builds and provides a portfolio of open and freely available AI/data platforms (Beacon, Edvise, Climate Finance Navigator, Humanitarian AI Assistant, and others) and runs service programs such as DataDive events, DataCorps project engagements, and Learning Circles for capacity building across frontline health, humanitarian action, climate and environment, and economic opportunity domains.
Is DataKind a public or private company?
DataKind is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was DataKind founded?
DataKind was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DataKind based?
DataKind is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does DataKind make money?
One revenue line is on record: foundations and Corporate Grants.
Who are DataKind's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are AI4ALL, GiveDirectly, data.org and Data for Black Lives. Direct peers are DrivenData, Data-Pop Alliance, Bayes Impact, Code for America and IDInsight. Microsoft AI for Good is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does DataKind have an API?
No public API is recorded for DataKind.
What industry is DataKind in?
DataKind's product category is Social impact data science and AI. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEAHAC, Data Platforms & Modern Data Stack Services (Lakehouse, DW, MDM), with a secondary code of BPAEAHAA, Data Strategy & Governance Services. Its NAICS code is 518 and its SIC code is 7370.