Data Solutions
“We have an unprecedented opportunity – and responsibility – to center our shared humanity in the creation of new technological tools. To ensure a just and equitable tomorrow, we must commit to ethical design, development, and deployment of tools today.”
-VILAS DHAR, PRESIDENT
In an increasingly digitally-enabled world, we believe that data science and artificial intelligence (AI) can be tremendous forces for public good. To realize this potential, we need novel AI solutions that address specific data and technological challenges among civil society organizations and initiatives. Our goal is to develop open-source, public good data and AI products to foster a collaborative and sustainable community of practice around these solutions.
The Critical Need for Data Solutions in Civil Society
New solutions for global challenges: Those at the frontline of vulnerability need new capacity to address global challenges.
Technology & data capacity: Organizations need new forms of access to the personnel, infrastructure, or strategic capacity to build AI-driven products.
People-centered products: Technology built for purpose prioritizes the needs of those whose livelihoods are most affected by technology.
Amplified impact: Existing community-driven solutions leverage localized knowledge–AI and data solutions can help generalize and expand the reach of these interventions.
Safety & responsibility: Transparent practices can guide the safe and ethical development and deployment of emerging technology.
The Data Solutions charter is to identify, develop, and deploy strategic data and AI products to unlock opportunity and address broad challenges within the social good sector.
We accomplish this by engaging in two areas:
1. Data and AI Product Development
2. Product Management and Technical Consultations
Our Products
JournaPilot
JournaPilot is an AI-powered, open-source platform designed to assist journalists and communicators by quickly generating story-driven, ready-to-share copy for social media, allowing you to focus more on reporting and less on social media content creation. Learn more here.
Safety & Ethics in Our Products
Our commitment to safety and ethics is reinforced by an ongoing and iterative process of planning, development, testing, and deployment. Our approach relies upon transparent, intentional, and deliberate engagement with stakeholders, asking difficult questions of ourselves and other diverse voices. In doing so, we adhere to responsible and transparent data practices and ensure safe and appropriate use of our products.

For more information, contact: datasolutions@mcgovern.org.
Meet the Data Solutions Team

Hazem Mahmoud
Hazem provides direct technical assistance around Data Analytics, Engineering and Operations to Foundation grantees and partner organizations.

Vanessa Studnick
Vanessa supports the Data Solutions team partnering with engineers, data scientists, partners and local communities to drive the vision and execution of AI-based product development and deployment for the social good.

Valmik Patel
Valmik focuses on supporting the Data Solutions team by using artificial intelligence and machine learning to create technology products that make a positive impact.

Dan Bernstein
Dan develops software using a variety of languages and frameworks to develop web applications and databases to help the Data Solutions team build new digital tools for civil society.