About the Data Foundation

The Data Foundation champions the use of open data and evidence-informed public policy to make democratic society better for everyone. 4-star Charity Navigator non-profit and received the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid Guidestar in 2023 and 2024.

The Data Foundation is a Washington, DC-based, non-profit, non-partisan organization. We are a trusted authority on the use of open, accessible data to fuel a more efficient, effective, and accountable government; spark innovation; and provide insights to the country’s most pressing challenges. We conduct research, facilitate collaborative thought leadership, and promote advocacy programs that advance practical policies for the creation and use of accessible, trustworthy data and evidence.

For more than a decade, the Data Foundation has been bringing attention to key issues facing the data community. We bring together non-traditional partners and stakeholders to devise practical solutions, which culminate in new policies and approaches for innovating and using data and evidence. The impacts from our work have been tremendous, culminating in enactment of milestone legislation, stronger communities for implementing transparency and data initiatives, and demonstrations of new strategies for innovating with government data.

Policy Research

We conduct ground-breaking policy research that addresses emerging data- and evidence- related needs with the goal of devising realistic solutions, accelerating policy coordination, and advancing necessary innovation.

Community Collaboration

We bring together diverse organizations and individuals to learn how to effectively implement government data and evidence policy, to champion policymaking based on evidence, and to share knowledge.

Data and Evidence Advocacy

We are a trusted intermediary in the identification of opportunities, problems, and solutions for data and evidence. We work with national policymakers for effective data and evidence policy.

Our Impact

With the attention and focus on solving real problems, the Data Foundation’s policy research, collaboration, and advocacy efforts over the past decade helped identify, formulate, refine, and enable passage then implementation of milestone data and transparency legislation now signed into law with bipartisan support. Major data laws the Data Foundation research and advocacy contributed to include:

Digital Accountability and Transparency (DATA) Act
Grant Reporting Efficiency and Agreements Transparency (GREAT) Act
Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act (Evidence Act)
Open, Public, Electronic, and Necessary (OPEN) Government Data Act
AI in Government Act
Taxpayers Right to Know Act
Congressional Budget Justification Transparency Act
National Secure Data Service Act
Financial Data Transparency Act

Taken together, these data laws present substantial reforms for responsibly using government data and promoting transparency to benefit the American people. Each also bolsters the capacity for partnerships between the private and public sectors to continue making progress in using open data and evidence-informed policymaking in the years ahead — the Data Foundation is here to facilitate, enable, and promote this capability.

Data Foundation's Generative AI Policy Overview

The Data Foundation's greatest asset is its reputation for objective, independent work that reflects the highest ethical standards. These standards include the responsible use of emerging technologies—like generative artificial intelligence (AI)—that offer considerable benefits while requiring careful risk management.

The Data Foundation views generative AI as a tool to support our work, enhance productivity, and improve efficiency. We recognize the inherent risks of generative AI, including potential bias, privacy concerns, and intellectual property issues. We are committed to maintaining human expertise in our core work and managing these risks across all Data Foundation activities and products. We understand that data shared with AI tools may be used beyond our control, and we take appropriate precautions to protect sensitive information.

The Data Foundation’s AI policy establishes clear guidelines for responsible use through a risk-based framework that:

Identifies appropriate and valuable uses of AI tools
Ensures privacy and confidentiality protections
Maintains human expertise in core analytical work
Provides appropriate oversight for AI-assisted content
Requires transparency in our public-facing work
Upholds our high research and analysis standards

The Data Foundation has implemented specific controls for different types of content creation and analysis. All published content created with AI assistance undergoes expert review for accuracy, bias, and quality to comply with our established standards.

Our commitment to responsible AI use reflects our broader organizational values of transparency and ethical conduct. The Data Foundation’s AI Policy undergoes continuous review and updates to reflect evolving best practices and emerging standards in AI governance.

Updated March 17, 2025