Code for America, a non-profit which tries to bring the people and the power of the internet into government, has received a $1.5 million grant from Google.

Code for America, which was founded by Jennifer Pahlka, launched this year to help governments become more transparent, connected, and efficient by connecting web developers with people who deliver city services. Earlier this year, Code for America debuted its inaugural fellowship program, which pairs technologists with leading cities to help them innovate.

In 2011, 19 fellows worked with 3 cities to develop over 21 applications, which are now being reused across the country and around the world. And the non-profit has also brought on Greylock Partner and former Mozilla CEO John Lilly and Tumblr VP and former White House and Google staffer Andrew McLaughlin to its Board of Directors. Other backers include the John S and James L Knight Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the Open Society Foundation.

With the new funding, the organization is also launching two new programs (a Civic Startup Incubator and a Volunteer Engagement Platform). The seed accelerator, which has raised initial funding from Kauffman Foundation, will launch in the Spring of 2012 to help foster sustainable businesses that can become the next generation of government vendors.

In 2012, Code for America will also roll out an online platform to connect civic hackers and others with each other locally, and to reuse and remix civic apps in their cities.

Crunchbase

• CODE FOR AMERICA

Company: Code for America

Funding: $1.5M

Code for America is a non-partisan, non-political 501(c)3 organization founded in 2009 to bring web-industry professionals to work with city governments in the United States in order to promote openness, participation, and efficiency in municipal governments. The first year of the fellowship program began in January 2011. 20 fellows were selected from 360 applicants, resulting in a 5.6% acceptance rate. Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Seattle were the four cities were selected to participate in the 2011 program. The inaugural 2011...

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