Resources
Cities Transforming How Government Works
March 30, 2026
Local Leading Examples Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities has two main goals: to recognize city halls using data to improve their communities and to help cities better understand and strengthen their data practices. At the core of these goals is the What Works Cities Standard of Excellence, which outlines what it means to be a [...]
Local Leading Examples: Cities Transforming How Government Works
March 24, 2026
More than 100 cities in North, Central and South America have achieved Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification for their exceptional use of data to inform policy decisions, allocate funding, improve services, evaluate the effectiveness of programs and engage residents. The What Works Cities Standard of Excellence includes 43 criteria that fall under eight foundational [...]
Quiz: How Well Do You Know What Works Cities Certified Cities?
August 19, 2025
Take this quiz to see how well you know the 102 Certified cities.
Five Ways to Prepare Your City For Extreme Heat
May 29, 2025
Extreme heat is the new normal. 2024 was the hottest year on record, and 2025 is on track to be Earth’s second-warmest year. Brazil and Argentina experienced soaring temperatures in February, which closed schools and saw Rio de Janeiro’s hottest day in at least a decade. Meanwhile, millions of people were under extreme heat warnings [...]
Instagram Reel: 4 Trends to Watch From Certified Cities
August 18, 2023
Get the quick take from Bloomberg Philanthropies in this reel about how newly Certified cities are using data differently! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bloomberg Philanthropies (@bloombergdotorg)
Finding “the best” at using data is just the beginning for What Works Cities
March 29, 2023
There’s a lot more to What Works Cities Certification than recognition of the most data-driven cities. There’s also a suite of top-notch supports available to cities at any stage of their data journey. What Works Cities Managing Director Rochelle Haynes explains.
Roots and Wings: How local governments are investing in people and neighborhoods
February 22, 2023
The neighborhood a child grows up in profoundly impacts their economic outcomes in adulthood. Zip code level data underscores this point, as does the lived experience of residents, who often feel they must leave their neighborhood to find better opportunities.
How small cities can make big leaps with data
April 13, 2022
You don’t have to be a big city to do big things with data.