As the lead partner among the four organizations that comprise What Works Cities, Results for America supports cities to continuously improve the way their local government operates. We do this by benchmarking cities’ current practices, matching cities to the support they need to advance, and coaching cities to ensure that they achieve their goals.

Results for America created What Works Cities Certification, the first-ever national standard of excellence for data-driven, well-managed local government. The program evaluates whether cities have the right people, processes, and policies in place to put data and evidence at the center of decision-making. As of 2022, 55 cities have achieved this distinction. By aspiring toward Certification and implementing the best practices outlined in the program’s 43 criteria, cities across the country are more effectively delivering results for residents. 

Any city in Canada, Latin America or the United States with a population of 30,000 or more can participate in the program by completing a What Works Cities Assessment. Doing so makes your city eligible for a wide range of support from What Works Cities, from access to the initiative’s learning network to the receipt of targeted technical assistance from What Works Cities partners. Get started here.