Creating Synergies and Capacity through Public Partnerships

Creating Synergies and Capacity through Public Partnerships

Daniel X. O’NeilCouncil on Foundations Fall Conference

October 21, 2014

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@danxoneil @smartchicago

April 10, 2023 2

Our PrinciplesTechnology

OpenEveryoneChicago

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We’re all about technology

• Everything we do relates to technology

• We are of and about the Internet• We believe in the transformative

power of the Internet to change lives and build the economy for all

@danxoneil @smartchicago

April 10, 2023 4

We are open

• Open source code• More importantly: open processes,

open minds, open methods• Allowing others “in”, wherever that

may be

@danxoneil @smartchicago

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Target market: everyone

• We believe in the power of the network

• The network needs everyone in it in order for it to be powerful

• We work on solutions that cover the entire city

@danxoneil @smartchicago

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Chicago is our middle name

• All of our work is done here• Unique and thriving ecosystem • We serve as a model for others

@danxoneil @smartchicago

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Access, Skills, and Data

Smart Chicago is a civic organization devoted to improving lives in Chicago through technology. We work on increasing access to the Internet, improving skills for using Internet, and developing meaningful products from data that measurably contribute to the quality of life of residents in our region and beyond.

@danxoneil @smartchicago

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The Founders: 2 Philanthropies, 1 Municipality

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The Chicago Community Trust

• Provides housing for the organization and is fiscal agent

• At the center of funding and knowledge for the region

• Critical financial, human resources, and other support

@danxoneil @smartchicago

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The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

• A center for ideation and conception

• Julia Stasch: 2007 report, “The City that NETWorks”

• Our primary source of funding

@danxoneil @smartchicago

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The City of Chicago

• The most important policy lever in the region

• Departmental relationships

• A critical partner for having impact and getting things done

@danxoneil @smartchicago

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The Funding

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Sources of Capital

• MacArthur: primary; essential• CCT: critical back-office support as well as grants• Knight: an essential, growing partner focused on civic

engagement • Other foundations: programs centered on subject

areas• Government: We do open data work for Cook County

@danxoneil @smartchicago

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We function as a tech development outfit.

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We were kickstarted by BTOP

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Two projects

We administered two grants received by the City of Chicago from the U.S. Department of Commerce – National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) for Sustainable Broadband Adoption and the support of Public Computer Centers

@danxoneil @smartchicago

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Public Computer Centers

• $8,974,283• Building new computer centers,

including Smart Health Centers• Adding capacity at others• Creating a community of shared

learning through Connect Chicago• We learned that there were tons

of places of learning but none of them were connected to each other

@danxoneil @smartchicago

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Sustainable Broadband Adoption

• $7,074,369• Run by LISC Chicago• Working to increase digital access

and use by families, businesses and other institutions in five moderate- and low-income Chicago neighborhoods

• Building a culture of digital excellence that supports neighborhood goals—from education to economic development, from safety to youth programs

@danxoneil @smartchicago

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But what do we do now?

• BTOP is over

@danxoneil @smartchicago

April 10, 2023 20

But what do we do now?

• Keep working!• None of the assets

disappear• There are budgets

embedded in all of the institutions

• People value technology, so our work has value

• Meetups, building community and awareness

@danxoneil @smartchicago

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We have a chance to make Chicago the most dynamic digital city in the world.

@danxoneil @smartchicago

April 10, 2023 22

Call me!

@danxoneil(773) 960-6045doneil@cct.org

@danxoneil @smartchicago