Cambridge Awarded What Works Cities Gold Certification for Exceptional Use of Data

The City of Cambridge is proud to announce that it has once again been awarded the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Gold Certification. What Works Cities Certification represents the international standard of data excellence in city governance. It is focused on establishing exceptional data capabilities to inform policy, allocate funding, improve services, evaluate programs, and engage residents. 

Cambridge was the only New England city Certified at the Gold level in 2024, and one of two cities across the nation to achieve Gold level Certification three times (joining Washington, D.C.). Cambridge achieved Silver level Certification in 2020 and Gold level Certifications in 2021 and 2023.

The What Works Cities Certification standard measures a city’s use of data based on 43 criteria. A city that achieves 68–84% of the 43 criteria is recognized at the Gold level of Certification. More rigorous criteria was introduced in 2022 making it more challenging to become re-certified.  

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. 

Over the past year, Cambridge has demonstrated measurable progress on foundational data practices. Some notable examples of the city's use of data include:

“We are incredibly proud to share that Cambridge has once again achieved What Works Cities Gold Level Certification, which recognizes our steadfast commitment to data-driven local government,” said Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang. “We have the distinct honor of being one of only two cities in the country to achieve Gold Level Certification three times. This is an incredibly prestigious honor and reflects a sound data governance strategy that City leaders and staff have created and sustained in order to improve the overall quality of services and programs we offer our community.” 

“The City of Cambridge has long been committed to using data as a driving force behind effective governance, and this Gold Level Certification from What Works Cities is a testament to that commitment,” said Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons. “This recognition underscores the tireless efforts of our City leadership and staff to ensure that data informs our work.”

With today’s announcement, 104 cities in North, Central, and South America have now achieved What Works Cities Certification distinction since its inception in 2017. Approximately 700 cities have submitted assessments since 2017 in hopes of achieving certification. The program is open to any city in North, Central, or South America with a population of 30,000 or more.

“At a time when people are questioning the role of government, and what good government looks like, governments must be better at using data to know what is and isn’t working – and that is what the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification stands for,” said Rochelle Haynes, Managing Director of the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification. “Over one hundred cities are now showing what is possible by investing the time, energy, and political capital to shift the culture of how local government works.” 

“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 City leaders across the Americas bring their organizations into the 21st century. Whether to stem housing shortages, reduce traffic fatalities, or improve resident service and responsiveness, these 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 and the other Certified cities, visit https://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.