Data Science for Sustainable Development

What Data Science for Sustainable Development does

Data Science for Sustainable Development (DSSD) is a US-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID 86-1585409) that delivers data science, GIS, and custom software engineering services to nonprofits, NGOs, government agencies, and academic institutions working on sustainable development challenges. Its core service offerings are organized into four areas: Visualizations (ready-to-use maps and graphics for reports and applications), Analysis (data-driven insight generation), Software (custom-built web applications and dashboards), and Workshops (virtual training in GIS and Python-based data visualization). Technology foundations include Python-based data science, ArcGIS via the Esri Humanitarian Assistance partnership, satellite imagery processing, and bespoke web front-ends, with deliverables spanning interactive maps, story maps, dashboards, and database platforms. The organization also operates a University Hubs program at William & Mary, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and George Washington University, channeling student volunteer teams into project delivery.

DSSD's business model is donation-funded and non-commercial: services are provided at no cost to qualifying mission-aligned organizations, with revenue sourced entirely from charitable contributions. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on a portfolio website, organic social media presence (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X), direct outreach, and university hub networks rather than a sales organization. Customer segmentation is vertical, focusing on nonprofits/NGOs, government agencies, and academic institutions whose technology capacity gaps DSSD addresses through volunteer-driven project execution. Leadership consists of co-founders Laura Mills (Director of Data Science) and Jason Lin (Director of Engineering), supported by directors for Business Development and University Hubs and technical program/project managers.

Strategic positioning is anchored by partnerships with international organizations such as the Alliance for Peacebuilding (181-country network), Esri Humanitarian Assistance (ArcGIS platform), Greenpeace-Philippines, Rare, and RENEW Wisconsin, alongside university partnerships and a multi-SDG portfolio spanning climate action, peacebuilding, clean energy, and conservation. The organization does not have disclosed funding rounds, institutional investors, or revenue figures, and operates at small scale with a small core full-time staff augmented by student volunteers.

Name

Data Science for Sustainable Development

Legal name

Data Science for Sustainable Development

Website

https://dssdglobal.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DSSD is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides data science, GIS, custom web applications, and visualization services at no cost to nonprofits, NGOs, government agencies, and academic institutions working on sustainable development, delivered through a small core staff and a network of university hubs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Data Science and GIS Services for Sustainable Development

NAICS

Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Data science services
• GIS mapping solutions
• Sustainable development consulting
• Nonprofit technology solutions
• Interactive data visualizations

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: DSSD operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on donations from the community. All contributions further their mission of providing data science services to nonprofits, companies, governments, and academic institutions working on sustainable development projects. Tax identification number: 86-1585409.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DSSD provides four core services to nonprofits, NGOs, governments, and academic institutions working on UN Sustainable Development Goals: (1) Visualizations (high-quality, ready-to-use data visualizations for reports, websites, and applications), (2) Analysis (data-driven insights from organizational data), (3) Custom Software (web apps and dashboards built by engineers and volunteers), and (4) Workshops (virtual training on GIS, Python, and data visualization). Services are delivered pro bono by a small full-time staff and a network of student volunteers organized through university hubs.

Product overview

Data Science for Sustainable Development (DSSD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides technical services to nonprofits, governments, and NGOs working in sustainable development. The organization offers four core services: Visualizations (high-quality data visualizations for reports, websites, and applications), Analysis (data-driven insights for decision-making), Custom Software (web apps and dashboards built by engineers and volunteers), and Workshops (virtual training on GIS, Python, and data visualization). DSSD also operates a network of University Hubs (currently at William & Mary and University of Wisconsin-Madison) where student teams build projects that contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goals. Student projects include sustainability dashboards, scholarly search engines with AI-generated metadata, interactive maps, energy calculators, and web applications. The portfolio demonstrates expertise in GIS/mapping technologies, data analytics, web development, and satellite imagery analysis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DSSD Madison: Student chapter of Data Science for Sustainable Development operating out of The University of Wisconsin-Madison
• GIS for Peace
• QuaRCs Bolivia SDG Platform
• Campus Solar Dashboard
• Annual Plastics Brand Audit
• MBBI Impact Maps Collection
• Electric Bus Cost Savings Calculator

Products and services

• Data Visualizations Service High-quality, ready-to-use data visualizations prepared and curated by DSSD for easy integration within reports, websites, and applications. Targeted at nonprofit, NGO, government, and academic partners needing ready-to-publish visual content.
• Data Analysis Service Data analysis services that derive actionable insights from organizational data to support data-driven decisions, increased productivity, and effective communication. Targeted at partners needing analytical support without in-house data science capacity.
• Custom Software (Web Apps and Dashboards) Service Custom-built software solutions including web applications and dashboards created by DSSD engineers and volunteers to further partner organizations' missions. Targeted at partners needing bespoke digital tools without in-house development capacity.
• Workshops and Training Service Virtual webinars and training sessions covering GIS, data visualization in Python, and other technical skills, led by DSSD engineers and data scientists. Targeted at university students, partner organizations, and capacity-building audiences.
• GIS for Peace Platform Interactive, searchable, and filterable web platform that hosts knowledge and inspiration about GIS applications for peacebuilding. Targeted at peacebuilders and humanitarian GIS practitioners globally.
• GMU Better Evidence Search Engine Scholarly search engine built for George Mason University that links researchers to research resources, features advanced filters, an admin view for uploads and edits, and uses LLM-generated metadata for automated content tagging. Targeted at academic researchers and administrators.
• QuaRCs Bolivia SDG Platform Interactive database providing access to approximately 139 variables (population, nighttime lights, electricity coverage, CO2 emissions, and others) across 17 Sustainable Development Goals in Bolivia. Targeted at development researchers, policymakers, and the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Interactive maps for organizations across multiple global regions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alliance for PeacebuildingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance for Peacebuilding (AfP) is a nonpartisan network of over 140+ organizations in 181 countries. DSSD constructed an interactive map on the AfP website that visualizes members' operating countries. Currently, DSSD is developing an online platform to visualize AfP's Eirene Peacebuilding Database.
• One RenewablecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne Renewable Energy Enterprise is a renewable energy integrator based in Manila, Philippines. DSSD constructed a story map illustrating the importance of renewable small-medium enterprises in addressing the ongoing energy crisis in the Philippines.
• The Global Registry of Violent Deaths (GReVD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGReVD is an extremely granular database of violent deaths across the world coded by time and location. DSSD created static map visualizations showing uncertainty in violent death reporting that were presented at the July 2021 United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
• Colorado Food and Farm AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado Food and Farm Alliance (COFFA) is an organization based out of Colorado dedicated to building sustainable food systems and combat climate change. DSSD collaborated on a large scale project analyzing the climate emergency in the Gunnison River Basin, providing GIS visualizations and analyses.
• RareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRare is an international organization dedicated to combating climate change and promoting conservation. DSSD provided database advisory services and helped modernize their existing infrastructure as well as migrate to a platform provided by another partner.
• Ayiti AnalyticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAyiti Analytics is a research center dedicated to providing education in data science based in Haiti. DSSD assisted in acquiring data science and computer science speakers for their data science bootcamp to introduce students on potential data science careers.
• Greenpeace-Philippines, Break Free From PlasticcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreenpeace-Philippines and Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) are working on a project reducing plastic waste. DSSD constructed an interactive map on the plastic collection locations across the Philippines.
• Integrative Institute for ConservationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Integrative Institute for Conservation is a research institute based out of Williamsburg, Virginia USA. DSSD collaborated with the IIC to conduct research on modeling plastic detection and deforestation using satellite imagery.
• The Junior Philippine Geographical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Junior Philippine Geographical Society - University of the Philippines Diliman is a student ran club based out of Manila, Philippines. DSSD provided Python trainings for their junior members.
• Joint Learning Initiative (JLI), Berkley Center, World Faiths Development Dialogue (WFDD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnder the International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development, the Berkley Center, JLI, and WFDD have created a database relating to religious responses to the COVID-19 epidemic. DSSD provided database advisory services and helped coordinate the construction of the platform.
• The Project on International Peace and Security (PIPS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIPS is an undergraduate think tank at William & Mary that identifies and provides original policy recommendations for emerging international security issues. DSSD created static map visualizations for the policy white papers of 2020-2021 PIPS research fellows.
• James City CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJames City County is one of the local governments in Virginia USA. DSSD assisted in data cleaning and the construction of data visualization in a dashboard format.
• William & MarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWilliam & Mary is a university in Virginia. DSSD is actively engaged with students from William & Mary through their university hubs program. The Integrative Institute for Conservation and PIPS are also based at William & Mary.
• University of Wisconsin-MadisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison is a key university partner. DSSD Madison chapter operates out of this university since 2021, providing students with real-world project opportunities while DSSD delivers projects for partners.
• George Washington UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeorge Washington University is a university partner since 2022. DSSD has worked with GWU on the Better Evidence project, a scholarly search engine for George Mason University.
• Esri Humanitarian AssistancecoreTechnology or IntegrationEsri provides the ArcGIS platform used by DSSD to build the GIS for Peace community engagement platform - a hub hosting knowledge and inspiration about GIS applications for peacebuilding.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DataKind: DataKind is a nonprofit that harnesses data science and AI in the service of humanitarian and social impact organizations. It is the most direct comparable to DSSD in mission, model, and target audience, though with significantly larger scale and donor base.
• Development Gateway: Development Gateway builds data tools and platforms (e.g., IATI, AidData) to support international development decision-making. It overlaps with DSSD's data-for-development focus and serves comparable donors and partner organizations across multiple SDGs.
• NetHope: NetHope is a consortium of ~60 global NGOs that collaborates on technology solutions for humanitarian work, including data and analytics capacity building. It serves a similar nonprofit/humanitarian partner base as DSSD and often delivers data visualization and dashboard work for member organizations.
• DrivenData: DrivenData organizes data science competitions for social impact, focusing on humanitarian and development challenges. It overlaps with DSSD on applied data science for development and shares a similar community-of-data-scientists ethos.
• Code for America: Code for America is a nonprofit that builds digital tools for government and civic services, leveraging a volunteer and brigade model similar to DSSD's university hubs. Both organizations bridge technical talent with public-good delivery, though Code for America focuses more on government digital services.
• Bayes Impact: Bayes Impact is a nonprofit that builds data science products for social good, working across criminal justice, healthcare, and education. It is comparable in mission and nonprofit data-science delivery model, though with a stronger product-engineering orientation.

Broad incumbents

• Esri Nonprofit Program: Esri's nonprofit program provides discounted ArcGIS access and capacity building to humanitarian and environmental organizations. As DSSD's core technology partner and platform of choice, Esri operates upstream in the same value chain and addresses similar end-customer needs at scale.
• Digital Impact Alliance: Digital Impact Alliance is a global nonprofit (founded by USAID, the Gates Foundation, and the Swedish government) that promotes digital transformation across the international development sector. It is broader in scope than DSSD but operates in the same digital-for-development space and engages similar partner ecosystems.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dssdglobal
• Facebookfacebook.com/dssdglobal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dssdglobal
• Instagraminstagram.com/dssdglobal

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Data Science for Sustainable Development