Hack for Nonprofits at 121 Tech Hub

Join us on December 2 aka GivingTuesday at 121 Tech Hub to build innovative technology solutions for nonprofits in the Knoxville area.

Hackers

If you're a hacker – e.g. coder, designer, project manager, data scientist, devops specialist, system administrator, AI prompter, IT leader, storyteller, problem solver – this event is for you!

Nonprofits

A hackathon is a creative problem-solving event where people with different skills come together for a short, focused period to build practical solutions for challenges that a nonprofit might be experiencing.

Imagine you had a room full of problem solvers — people who love building tools, streamlining workflows, and making technology work for people — all focused on helping your organization for one day. You bring the challenge — maybe “our volunteer tracking is too manual” or “we can’t easily show our outcomes to funders.” They bring creativity, technical skills, and fresh perspective.

Together, you brainstorm, prototype, and often leave with a clearer process, a data dashboard mock-up, or a working demo that your team can use or continue developing.

If you represent a nonprofit organization, please register via Eventbrite and also submit this form to describe your nonprofit, your current workflow, and the specific problem you want volunteer hackers to help solve. We can't wait to build with you!

Some examples:

If your organization struggles with --> the hackathon might help you:

Time-consuming manual tasks (like spreadsheets or double data entry) --> Identify way to automate or simplify workflows

Difficulty visualizing or sharing impact data --> Create a dashboard or storytelling tool

Fragmented communication tools --> Build or integrate a simple internal system

Limited budget for consultants or tech upgrades --> Get pro-bono expertise and ideas from skilled volunteers

Need for fresh thinking --> Engage creative partners who can see your challenge differently

Additional examples: Hackathon Project Ideas

What to expect:

• You or your representatives do not need to be a technology expert
• You provide the challenge, knowledge of your mission, and a staff member (or members) that understand the day-to-day process related to the challenge you have identified.
• The hackathon team brings technical and creative energy.
• By the end of the day, you'll have a clearer roadmap, a prototype, or new ideas you can continue using.
• What happens if my project isn't selected? The number of projects selected is dependent on the number of skilled volunteers that register. Any projects not selected for the hackathon can be shared on an ongoing basis via the VolEastTN platform and 121 Tech Hub. More details to come.

Info: Coffee, bagels, and orientation. Event overview, ground rules, prize criteria, and Definition of Done (demo, Readme, owners, next steps).

Info: Assign roles: Problem Owner, Team Lead, Builders, Data/Process, Storyteller.

Info: Map current process, users, data; define success metrics. Output: Problem Framing Canvas.

Info: Brainstorm and select a Minimum Lovable Prototype (MLP); define one-page build plan.

Info: Catered lunch in the 121 Tech Hub kitchen

Info: Develop the core workflow; use sample/sanitized data; ident

Info: Reset and refresh

Info: Develop features tied to success metrics; stabilize basics.

Info: Nonprofit lead tests prototype; capture top 3 changes.

Info: Polish. Apply feedback, finalize workflow, and prepare Readme.

Info: Catered dinner in the 121 Tech Hub kitchen

Info: Refine presentation: problem, approach, demo, impact, next steps (1–2 slides).

Info: Finalize Handoff Packet with links, instructions, and owners.

Info: 5-min demo + 2-min Q&A per team. Judged on usability, impact, feasibility, clarity. Celebrate!

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher 121 Tech Hub