Perspectives
Articles written by the Social Impact team and guest contributors. Click on a topic to sort.
Diversity, inclusion, and belonging at GitHub in 2024
Justin Thenutai
@jt-githubhrGitHub for Nonprofits: Drive social impact one commit at a time
Sidney Espinosa
@sidespinosaSoftware as a public good
Felix Reda
@felixredaThe 10 best tools to green your software
Paull Young
@paullyoungHow to build an open source metrics dashboard
Ian Candy, Liliana Torres, Andrew Henry
Automating open source - How Ersilia distributes AI models to advance global health equity
Nicole Choi
@nicchoi29Leveraging technology on the frontlines of emergency - How communities of developers are taking action
Camaley Jennings
@camaleyjennings1Just launched - Second cohort of the DPG Open Source Community Manager Program!
Cynthia Lo
@csmloUsing open source to help the earth
Paull Young
@paullyoungAll In Africa - New cohort now open!
Sarah Oyetubo
@soyetuboEmpowering women through open source
Jiyon Yun
@jiyonyunMeet Kayla - A college student and open source ambassador
Sarah Oyetubo
@soyetuboThe architecture of SAST tools: An explainer for developers
Nicole Choi
@nicchoi29A guide to open source for the social sector
Cynthia Lo
@csmloNew data and visualizations highlight the resilience of international developer collaboration
Mike Linksvayer
@mlinksvaEmpowering Uruguay’s future workforce with AI
Karen Bella
@karenbellaUpdate on the All In CHAOSS DEI Badging Initiative
Sarah Oyetubo, Elizabeth Barron
For Good First Issue: Introducing a new way to contribute
Sidney Espinosa
@sidespinosaCelebrating the GitHub Awards 2023 recipients
Lee Reilly
@leereillyLeveraging AI to empower all developers at GitHub Universe 2023
Ed Summers
@edsummersncDiversity, inclusion, and belonging at GitHub in 2023
Marie Carasco
@MCarascoIntroducing the GitHub transparency center
Margaret Tucker
@margaret-tuckerEnsuring the next generation of open source leaders are truly all in
Sarah Oyetubo
@soyetuboSkilling African developers through All In Africa
Sarah Oyetubo
@soyetuboAnnouncing the GitHub Innovation Graph
Mike Linksvayer
@mlinksvaApply now for GitHub Universe 2023 micro-mentoring
Camaley Jennings
@camaleyjennings1GitHub will be at Rails World! Register for our workshop.
Cynthia Lo, Sean Marcia
AI-powered impact: GitHub Social Impact’s year ahead
Sidney Espinosa
@sidespinosaHow to get AI regulation right for open source
Peter Cihon
@pcihonNo cyber resilience without open source sustainability
Mike Linksvayer
@mlinksvaDevelopers need the right to challenge junk patents
Mike Linksvayer
@mlinksvaAnnouncing the All In CHAOSS DEI Badging pilot initiative
Demetris Cheatham
@demetris11Skills-Based Volunteering case study - How GitHub Actions help Ersilia to open source endemic disease research in low-and-middle-income countries
Cynthia Lo
@csmloGitHub celebrates developers with disabilities on Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Ed Summers
@edsummersncAll In for Students 2023 cohort: our biggest group of open source leaders yet!
Demetris Cheatham
@demetris11Moving The MERL Center to its New Home
Sidney Espinosa, Bonnie Wolfe
GitHub joins industry commitment to curb cyber mercenaries
Mike Linksvayer
@mlinksvaSkills-Based Volunteering case study - Open Source in the Social Sector for the United Nations Workshop
Cynthia Lo
@csmloCommission on the Status of Women, 2023 GitHub event recaps
Mala Kumar, Cynthia Lo
Partnering with EU policymakers to ensure the Cyber Resilience Act works for developers
Mike Linksvayer
@mlinksvaGitHub celebrates the ingenuity of developers with disabilities in new video series
Ed Summers
@edsummersncApply now to our Open Source Community Manager Program to support DPGs!
Mala Kumar
@malakumar85Don’t leave developers behind in the Section 230 debate
Shelley McKinley
@shellsmckMeasuring government policy on open source with a new dataset
Mike Linksvayer
@mlinksvaSocial Impact, Tech for Social Good at CSW 2023
Mala Kumar, Cynthia Lo
2022 Transparency Report
Kevin Xu
@khxuAnnouncing the launch of the All In for Maintainers DEI Resource Hub
Sarah Oyetubo
@soyetuboSkilling for the future: How GitHub is advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within open source communities
Demetris Cheatham
@demetris11Unpacking the value of open source and code collaboration
Mike Linksvayer
@mlinksvaHow Tech for Social Good supported the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2022
Mala Kumar, Cynthia Lo
GitHub Gives 2022: Creating positive, lasting contributions in our communities
Toya East
@toyaeTech for Social Good 2022 Recap
Mala Kumar, Cynthia Lo, Sean Marcia, Bonnie Wolfe
Social Impact at GitHub Universe 2022
Camaley Jennings
@camaleyjennings1Skills-Based Volunteering case study - Digital Development Compass with the United Nations Development Programme
Cynthia Lo
@csmloThe changing nature of governmental policies around open source
Mike Linksvayer
@mlinksvaAdvocating for developers to the US Copyright Office
Margaret Tucker
@margaret-tuckerAll In for Students: expanding the next generation of open source leaders
Demetris Cheatham
@demetris11Now available! Spanish and Arabic versions of our OSS report.
Mala Kumar
@malakumar85GitHub at the 77th United Nations General Assembly
Mala Kumar
@malakumar85Volunteer on digital public goods for Hacktoberfest 2022!
Mala Kumar, Cynthia Lo, Sean Marcia, Admas Kanyagia
Apply now for GitHub Universe 2022 micro-mentoring
Toya East
@toyaeRead our new research report on Open Source Software in India, Kenya, Egypt and Mexico
Mala Kumar
@malakumar85Social Impact, Tech for Social Good at UNGA77
Mala Kumar, Cynthia Lo
Skills-Based Volunteering case study - Security rapid risk assessments with the Norwegian Refugee Council
Cynthia Lo
@csmloEmployee Community Engagement through Volunteer Month 2022
Toya East
@toyaeGitHub All In: Our first student cohort and what’s next
Demetris Cheatham
@demetris11External: Tech industry is uniquely placed to make the world a better place
Mala Kumar
@malakumar85External: Exclusion begets Exclusion!
Mala Kumar
@malakumar85Skills-Based Volunteering case study - Accessibility and technical documentation with Greenpeace
Cynthia Lo
@csmloTech for Social Good is hiring two contractors
Mala Kumar
@malakumar85The second MERL Center stipend application is now open
Mala Kumar
@malakumar85The World Health Organization is launching its Open Source Programme Office
Mala Kumar, Bassem Dghaidi, Dusan Milovanovìc
GitHub Social Impact at MozFest 2022
Mala Kumar, Cynthia Lo, Camaley Jennings
Participate in our new research project on standardized GitHub metrics
Mala Kumar, Cynthia Lo, Peter Cihon, Tarunima Prabhakar
How Tech for Social Good supported the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2021
Mala Kumar, Cynthia Lo, Camaley Jennings
Tech for Social Good, 2021 Recap
Mala Kumar, Cynthia Lo, Camaley Jennings
Employee Champions inspire colleagues to give back
Camaley Jennings, Toya East
Volunteering with Brazil’s Social Opportunity Institute
Camaley Jennings, Pedro Lacerda
Guide to initiating a Skills-Based Volunteering Program
Cynthia Lo
@csmloSocial Impact at GitHub Universe 2021
Mala Kumar, Toya East, Cynthia Lo, Camaley Jennings
Apply now for GitHub Universe 2021 micro-mentoring
Toya East
@toyaeSkills-Based Volunteering case study - Data visualization with Mobile Pathways
Cynthia Lo
@csmloDive into Skills-Based Volunteering’s Pilot Project with DHIS2
Cynthia Lo
@csmloThe MERL Center website is now live!
Mala Kumar, Stephanie Coker
The Epidemiologist R Handbook, a new open source public health resource
Neale Batra, Mala Kumar
Removing Barriers with Code Tenderloin
Toya East, Camaley Jennings
Standing up for developers: the GitHub Developer Rights Fellowship at Stanford Law School
Mike Linksvayer
@mlinksvaParticipate in our research project on OSS in the social sector in low- and middle-income countries
Mala Kumar, Gina Assaf
GitHub Social Impact: How We're Driving Change with Social Sector Organizations
Admas Kanyagia
@admaskanWhat are digital public goods and the DPGA?
Lucy Harris, Mala Kumar
How Tech for Social Good Supported the SDGs in 2020
Mala Kumar
@malakumar85Skills-Based Volunteering Program Design
Cynthia Lo
@csmloThe Collaboration Power of the MERL Center
Mala Kumar
@malakumar85External: Virtual Panel - How Open-Source is Helping to Change the World
Mala Kumar
@malakumar85Engaging employees through GitHub Gives 2020
Toya East
@toyaeThe Social Sector is Contributing to the Broader OSS Ecosystem
Mala Kumar
@malakumar85Media
Videos, podcasts, and other external Social Impact team appearances.
GitHub All in Africa Graduation: Empowering diverse tech talent
All In Africa
DEI in Focus: Understanding, Defending, and Advancing Together
NationSwell
Open Source Friday - Helping 3M+ children receive diapers with Ruby
GitHub Twitch
Open Source Friday with Chayn - helping survivors get the support they need!
GitHub Twitch
Earth Day Special with Ricardo Miron and Katie Wetstone
GitHub Twitch
Sustainable Open Source Development
FOSDEM 2024
AI x Climate: Our Make or Break Moment
NationSwell
Demo Day Impact
Social Impact World
Digital Public Goods and the Challenges with Discoverability
Internet Governance Forum
Connecting Open Code with Policymakers to Development
Internet Governance Forum
Harnessing Collective Knowledge: Open Source Strategies for an Inclusive Tech Industry
The Great Retention Podcast
Open Sourcing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
GitHub Maintainers Month 2023
GitHub & the Inter-American Development Bank: Open sourcing where to build schools in Brazil
GitHub Brazil 2023
How GitHub and Ersilia open sourced endemic disease research in low-and-middle-income countries
MozFest 2023
2023 Cohort Graduation
All In for Students
Centering Women's Equity in Digital Technology
67th Commission on the Status of Women Parallel Event
Social Sector GitHub Guidance
GitHub Social Impact
OSPOs in the UN System - a Spotlight on WHO
GitHub and WHO, UNGA77 side-event
GitHub & UNDP: Accelerating National Digital Transformation with the Digital Development Compass
GitHub and UNDP, UNGA77 side-event
Championing Open-Source in International Public Health: WHO and GitHub
Linux Foundation Public Health
Keynote: How to Combat Global Systems of Oppression in the Tech Industry
DrupalCon Portland 2022
OSS in India, Kenya, Egypt, and Mexico
MozFest 2022
How GitHub is Working Towards Making the World a Better Place
The Business of Vulnerability
Impact Evaluation: Centering Equity in Data Design
Corporate Impact Leaders Forum 2021: Lead with Equity
Building tech in the Humanitarian Sector
GitHub Universe 2021
OSS Research in India, Kenya, Egypt, and Mexico
GitHub Universe 2021
Technology as a Tool for Social Good
Agri-D Convention 2021
Preparing for the next generation of developer communities
2021 Microsoft Research Summit
From Open Software to Open Culture - Opportunities and challenges of open source to support the United Nation mandate
United Nations General Assembly 2021
How has covid-19 advanced stakeholder capitalism?
Technical.ly
The Case for OSPOs in Government and Academia
OpenForum Europe
How the WHO uses technology for early detection, verification and risk assessment of pandemics
GitHub Universe 2020
Open Source for Good: COVID-19 Responses
GitHub Satellite 2020
Opportunities and Barriers in Open Source in the Social Sector
ICT4D Podcast
Why Open Source is More Important Than Ever
Accelerate Good Global 2019
Social Sector and Open Source
GitHub Universe 2019
Open Source for Good: The People and Projects Driving Change
GitHub Universe 2018
Research & Reports
Comprehensive research, key findings, and supporting documentation.
India
Kenya
Egypt
Mexico
September 2022
Open source software in India, Kenya, Egypt, and Mexico
In each of the four countries we explored how OSS is used and produced across sectors: private, government/public, and social.
- Read the report in English
- Read the report Arabicعربى
- Leer en español
April 2020
Open source software in the Social Sector
Examining Barriers, successes, and opportunities of open source software in the social sector.
Research report
Open Source Software in the Social Sector
Examining Barriers, Successes, and Opportunities
Download reportFAQs
Where can I access GitHub’s nonprofit discount?
Nonprofits can request exclusive discounts here.
Who is eligible to receive discounted GitHub products?
Eligible nonprofits must be a 501(c)(3) recognized nonprofit in the USA and its equivalent outside of the USA.
How can I get pro-bono volunteering support from GitHub employees?
GitHub employees are encouraged to volunteer and are provided opportunities to do so. If you would like to partner on a skills-based volunteering project, please Contact us here.
Do GitHub employees volunteer in person, or also virtually?
As GitHub is a remote-first company, we prioritize virtual volunteering and giving opportunities. If you would like to partner with us for a virtual volunteer opportunity, please Contact us here.
Contact us
If you would like to learn more about our programming, partner with us, or get in touch, contact our team today.
Email GitHub Social Impact