How it works

Innovating for nonprofits.

Opportunity Hack brings together nonprofits, developers, designers, and tech professionals to build solutions for social good. Here's how a project moves from idea to lasting impact.

The journey

Application to long-term impact

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Step by step

Six stages, start to finish

Nonprofit application

Nonprofits submit their ideas and challenges through our online form.

—Share your organization's mission and vision
—Describe the specific technical challenges you face
—Explain how solving them will amplify your impact
—No tech expertise required — we're here to help

Apply now

Application review

Our team carefully evaluates each application to ensure a good fit.

—Weekly review of new nonprofit applications
—Follow-up questions via email or Slack for clarity
—Assessment of feasibility and potential impact
—Consideration of available volunteer skills

Nonprofit selection

We choose diverse projects that benefit most from our hackathon model.

—Notification sent to selected nonprofits
—A warm welcome to the Opportunity Hack community
—Access to our collaborative Slack workspace
—Initial briefing on the process and expectations

Problem refinement

We work closely with nonprofits to define clear, impactful goals.

—One-on-one sessions with experienced mentors
—Clarifying scope, goals, and success criteria
—Guidance on a 3-minute pitch video
—Preliminary matching with skills and tech

Hackathon event

The main event — volunteers collaborate intensively on nonprofit projects.

—Kickoff with inspiring nonprofit pitches
—Team formation based on skills and interests
—48 hours of focused development and prototyping
—Final presentations and judging by industry experts

Project continuation

We ensure projects have a path forward after the hackathon ends.

—Winning teams invited to continue development
—~3 months of additional refinement and implementation
—Regular check-ins and progress updates
—Documentation and open-sourcing for wider benefit

Annual timeline

A year at Opportunity Hack


                gantt
                  title Opportunity Hack Timeline
                  dateFormat  YYYY-MM-DD
                  section Application
                  Nonprofit Applications    :a1, 2026-05-01, 2026-08-31
                  Weekly Application Review :a2, 2026-05-01, 2026-08-31
                  section Pre-Event
                  Nonprofit Notification    :2026-09-01, 7d
                  Problem Refinement        :2026-09-15, 14d
                  section Hackathon
                  Hackathon Event           :milestone, m1, 2026-10-11, 2d
                  section Post-Event
                  Project Continuation      :2026-10-12, 90d

FAQ

Common questions

How can sponsors support Opportunity Hack?+

Sponsors make Opportunity Hack possible — through funding, mentorship, technology resources, or hosting events. Your support directly enables nonprofits to leverage cutting-edge technology for social good. Learn about sponsorship.

What skills are needed to participate as a hacker?+

We welcome a diverse range of skills — software developers, UX/UI designers, data scientists, project managers, and anyone passionate about using technology for social impact. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, there's a place for you.

How can nonprofits prepare for the hackathon?+

Clearly define your challenges and goals. We'll guide you through the process, but it helps to think about your technical pain points, data you can share, and the impact a solution would have. Don't worry about the technical details — that's where our volunteers come in.

Is the code developed during Opportunity Hack open source?+

Yes — all code is open-source under the MIT License. This allows maximum collaboration, transparency, and the potential for solutions to benefit multiple organizations facing similar challenges.

What happens if our project isn't completed during the hackathon?+

The hackathon is just the beginning. While we aim for working prototypes during the event, winning teams are invited to continue development for ~3 months — for further refinement, testing, and implementation.

Ready to make a difference?

Bring us your nonprofit's challenge — we'll match it with a team of builders.

Apply now