Become a Public Interest Lab Fellow!
hackNY isn't just about building coding skills. We help create tech leaders who think about the bigger picture and shape a more responsible tech industry.
The hackNY Public Interest Lab is a competitive summer fellowship for early-career technologists committed to using their skills for the public good.
The hackNY Public Interest Lab (PIL) is a summer fellowship for students and early-career technologists who want to use their skills for the public good — and do it alongside a community. Over 10 weeks, fellows work in small teams on real technical projects for nonprofits and civic organizations in New York City: the kinds of organizations that have meaningful problems but lack resources to solve them. The work is pro bono, but the experience is more than that — mentorship, events, and a cohort of builders who care about the same things you do. Pro bono in law took a hundred years to become part of what it means to be a lawyer. We think tech deserves the same. Learn more at https://hackny.org/blog/hackny-and-tech-bono
Build Community
We believe that a committed group of technologists can change the tech industry for the better, from the inside out. And, there is no better place to form a lasting community and find opportunity than in the heart of NYC.
Be Inclusive
We believe in helping underrepresented technologists to break into tech, get their first jobs, and advance in their careers – all while feeling like they belong.
Empower Responsible Leaders
We believe in giving technologists the confidence and experience to use tech for good in their careers and build a more just tech industry. We achieve this by partnering with local nonprofits in the NYC area.
Am I eligible?
Your acceptance into the hackNY Public Interest Lab is contingent on the following requirements:
You are a current undergraduate or graduate student, or an early-career technologist
We are also open to career changers who are passionate about public interest work and looking to build experience in this space.
You are available in New York City for the full duration of the program 5/26/26 - 8/7/26
You are able to commit to the full 10 weeks at roughly 5 hours per week, including occasional weekend intensives.
The PIL is designed to be done alongside other summer commitments — a job or internship is fine.
You have hands-on experience building a project end to end — you've taken something from idea to working software.
You submit this application by April 10st at 11:59 PM EST for priority consideration.
Nice to haves — not required, but worth mentioning in your application:
Prior volunteer, civic, or community experience
Some exposure to how nonprofits or public interest organizations operate
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
Part 1: Technical Experience
We're looking for fellows who can own a project end to end — from identifying a problem to shipping a solution.
Share 1–3 links to work you've built. GitHub repos, live projects, a portfolio site, a writeup — anything that shows what you can do. At least one link required.
We are looking for fellows who have experience owning a project end-to-end. For your strongest example: what was the problem, what did you build, and what was your specific contribution? If it was a team project, be precise about what you owned. (300 words)
What broke, got stuck, or didn't go as planned — and what did you do about it? (100 words)
What happened after you shipped it? Did anyone use it, did it solve the problem, did it sit in a repo — any answer is valid, we're curious how you think about your work beyond the moment of completion. (100 words)
How have you worked with AI tools or APIs in your projects, if at all? How did you think about security — data handling, access controls, or anything else? (200 words)
Did you use AI tools to help complete this application? If so, which ones and how? There's no wrong answer — we're genuinely curious. (50 words)
Part 2: Public Interest Fit
What draws you to this kind of work, and why this summer? We're not looking for a polished answer — we're curious what actually brought you here. (150 words)
A nonprofit partner gives you a vague brief: "we need a better way to track our clients." What are your first three questions? (150 words)
Have you ever given time or energy to something you weren't paid for — a community, a cause, a project, anything? What was it, and what kept you going? If not, that's okay — tell us what you'd want that to look like. (150 words)
The PIL is a cohort, not just a project. How do you work best with other people, and what would you want to get out of that beyond the technical work? (150 words)
What do you want to be able to say you learned or did by the end of August? Think about this broadly — technically, professionally, personally. (100 words)
Part 3: Logistics
Will you be in NYC this summer? (yes / no)
What does your summer look like? The PIL runs roughly 5 hours per week with occasional weekend intensives — it's designed to be done alongside a job or internship, but that's not a requirement. Tell us what you'll be up to and flag any known conflicts or travel. (75 words)