From mental health to privacy, from kids to seniors, people have built solutions that make life safer, healthier, fairer, and more connected. Here are some of them.
Every one of them is mission and not-for-profit driven. Some are household names, some quietly save lives, and all of them started as someone's idea.
A free, peer-run hotline people can call while using drugs. If they stop responding, help is sent to their location.
Visit ↗ TransparencyTracks money in U.S. politics, from campaign contributions to lobbying.
Visit ↗ EducationA Rice University initiative offering free, peer-reviewed, openly licensed college textbooks.
Visit ↗ SeniorsA free helpline where trained volunteers help people spot, avoid, and recover from scams.
Visit ↗ PrivacyA free browser extension from the Electronic Frontier Foundation that automatically blocks hidden trackers.
Visit ↗ FinanceZero-interest lending circles that help families, including immigrants, build credit and savings.
Visit ↗ RelationshipsSupport for young people about dating and healthy relationships, by call, text, or chat, from the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Visit ↗ PrivacyFree software that lets people browse privately and get around censorship and surveillance.
Visit ↗ EducationLets anyone fund specific classroom requests from public school teachers.
Visit ↗ RelationshipsA free, private safety-planning app for people in unhealthy or abusive relationships, developed by Johns Hopkins researchers.
Visit ↗ SeniorsPairs young volunteers with older adults to build digital skills and bridge the generational gap.
Visit ↗ HealthAlerts CPR-trained people when someone nearby is in cardiac arrest, and shows where the closest AED is.
Visit ↗ CareerTuition-free tech training that helps adults from underrepresented communities launch IT careers.
Visit ↗ Kids & TeensA free coding language where kids snap blocks together to create games, stories, and animations.
Visit ↗ AccessibilityA free, open-source screen reader that lets blind and low-vision people use Windows computers.
Visit ↗ CareerA free, self-paced coding curriculum that has helped many people switch into tech careers.
Visit ↗ Mental HealthA three-digit number connecting anyone in crisis to a nationwide network of local crisis centers by call, text, or chat.
Visit ↗ PrivacyFree, open-source messaging with end-to-end encryption, run by the nonprofit Signal Foundation.
Visit ↗ Mental HealthFree, anonymous online mental health screenings from Mental Health America, with next steps and resources.
Visit ↗ HealthRuns the national registry (formerly Be The Match) that matches blood cancer patients with stem cell donors.
Visit ↗ VolunteeringConnects people with volunteer opportunities, nonprofit jobs, and ways to take action.
Visit ↗ EducationA free encyclopedia written and maintained by volunteers, in more than 300 languages.
Visit ↗ TransparencyHelps anyone file, track, and share public records requests to hold governments accountable.
Visit ↗ Mental Health24/7 crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people by phone, text, and chat.
Visit ↗ GovernmentThe official site showing where federal money goes: contracts, grants, and loans.
Visit ↗ EducationFree lessons and practice in math, science, and more, for learners of any age.
Visit ↗ CivicFree tools to register, check your registration, and find polling information in minutes.
Visit ↗ CareerFree coding programs working to close the gender gap in tech.
Visit ↗ Kids & TeensIndependent ratings and advice that help families choose media and tech for kids.
Visit ↗ HousingFree tools that help New York City tenants document problems, request repairs, and know their rights.
Visit ↗ SafetyA government system that pushes AMBER Alerts and emergency warnings straight to phones in the affected area.
Visit ↗ EducationA free digital library of books, websites, music, and video, including the Wayback Machine.
Visit ↗ Kids & TeensBuilds technology to defend children from sexual abuse and exploitation online.
Visit ↗ FinanceRewards working families for building a savings habit and offers free financial guidance.
Visit ↗ PrivacyAn open-source system that lets whistleblowers share documents with journalists safely and anonymously.
Visit ↗ Mental HealthConnects people who can't afford standard rates with licensed therapists at reduced, sliding-scale prices.
Visit ↗ HealthThe national online registry where anyone can sign up to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor in minutes.
Visit ↗ SecurityIssues free HTTPS certificates, helping encrypt a huge share of the web.
Visit ↗ Kids & TeensA free NCMEC service that helps teens get explicit images of themselves removed from participating platforms.
Visit ↗ CareerFree job search help for military members, veterans, and their spouses.
Visit ↗ FinanceCrowdfunded, zero-interest loans that help small business owners get started, including in the U.S.
Visit ↗ SeniorsFree tech classes and online programs from AARP that help older adults learn, connect, and thrive.
Visit ↗ AccessibilityAn accessible ebook library for people with dyslexia, blindness, and other reading barriers, free for U.S. students.
Visit ↗ FinanceHelps low-income families file for bankruptcy online, for free.
Visit ↗ TransparencyA searchable database from the Panama and Pandora Papers investigations that exposes hidden offshore wealth.
Visit ↗ HealthA free database of programs that help people afford medications and health care.
Visit ↗ Kids & TeensExpands access to computer science in schools, and is home of the Hour of Code.
Visit ↗ JusticeWorks with governments to seal eligible criminal records automatically, removing barriers to jobs and housing.
Visit ↗ CareerJob training and corporate internships that connect young adults to good careers.
Visit ↗ Mental HealthFree, 24/7 support by text from trained volunteer crisis counselors. Text HOME to 741741.
Visit ↗Bring an idea, your skills, or your network, and let's build something that matters.
Get Involved Contact Us