More than 100 cities have achieved What Works Cities Certification distinction since the program’s launch in 2017. Dallas moves up to Gold Certification level
Dallas is proud to announce that Results for America has awarded it Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification for establishing exceptional data capabilities to inform policy, allocate funding, improve services, evaluate programs, and engage residents. The What Works Cities Certification standard reflects the practices, policies, and infrastructure municipalities must have in place to effectively harness data for better decision-making.
“Dallas is honored to be recognized with the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Gold Certification for our exceptional use of data,” said Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson. “Throughout my Administration, I have prioritized data-driven decision-making, and that commitment is yielding tangible results. By investing in strong data foundations, Dallas is building a smarter city government and delivering more efficient services to our residents,” said Johnson.
“The City of Dallas is committed to being a data-driven city, and this recognition affirms our progress in that mission,” said Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert. “We continue to leverage data as a strategic asset to improve city services, enhance transparency, and deliver better outcomes for our residents. Artificial intelligence and advanced analytics are key components of our strategy — enabling us to make smarter business decisions, address public safety needs, and ensure that residents benefit from a more responsive, innovative city government,” said Tolbert.
Dallas is expanding its use of AI to improve city services and public safety. Current projects include AI-assisted fire risk modeling, human trafficking detection, and code compliance automation. Next, the City plans to deploy AI-powered cameras and drones to monitor parks and trails to identify flooding, debris, and disruptive behavior in real time. These efforts reflect Dallas’ commitment to using data and innovation to make neighborhoods safer, services smarter, and operations more responsive.
The What Works Cities Certification program, launched in 2017 by Bloomberg Philanthropies and led by Results for America, is the international standard of data excellence in city governance. The Standard measures a city’s use of data based on 43 criteria. A city that achieves 51–67% of the 43 criteria is recognized at the Silver level of Certification, 68–84% is required to achieve Gold, and 85% or more is required to reach Platinum. The program is open to any city in North, Central, or South America with a population of 30,000 or more.
“The cities recognized by Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification exemplify what is possible when city leaders commit to data-driven governance: real results for residents,” said Rochelle Haynes, Managing Director of Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities. “By pursuing Certification or advancing to a higher level of recognition, cities are demonstrating and strengthening their dedication to using data to drive progress and deliver better outcomes. While Certified cities are investing in their data capacity to solve today’s issues, they are also building sustainable practices that set the stage for a more resilient and innovative future.”
“The Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification is one of the largest-ever philanthropic efforts to improve how local governments use data to improve people’s lives,” said James Anderson, who leads the Government Innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “This work is helping reform-minded mayors across the Americas bring their organizations into the 21st century. Whether to stem housing shortages, reduce traffic fatalities, or improve resident service and responsiveness, city halls are tapping data, digital, and artificial intelligence to rise to the challenge – and we are thrilled to support their progress.”
To learn more about the What Works Cities Certification visit whatworkscities.bloomberg.org.
About the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification:
The What Works Cities Certification program, launched in 2017 by Bloomberg Philanthropies and led by Results for America, is the first-of-its-kind standard of excellence for data-informed, well-managed local government. What Works Cities Certification recognizes and celebrates local governments for their exceptional use of data to inform policy decisions, allocate funding, improve services, evaluate the effectiveness of programs, and engage residents.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies:
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3.7 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, and X.
About Results for America:
Results for America is helping decision-makers at all levels of government harness evidence and data to make progress on our greatest challenges. Our mission is to make investing in what works the “new normal,” so that when policymakers make decisions, they start by seeking the best evidence and data available, then use what they find to get better results. For more information, visit results4america.org.