Launched July 22, the center’s Digital Benefits Ecosystem Directory + Map is now available on the Digital Government Hub. It’s designed for state and local agencies, nonprofits, academic institutions and funders looking to collaborate — or learn from each other — as they work to improve access to public services, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid and others. The hub, which arrived in 2022, is a "resource library" of best practices and tools for public benefits and digital government work, connecting users to resources and teams across all levels of government.
Originally conceived as a traditional report, the digital ecosystem project pivoted when the Beeck Center team recognized a need for something more actionable. The current format allows users to search by sector (public, nonprofit, private, academic), type of work, or benefit program. It now houses information on more than 700 organizations and is updated regularly.
“We basically are working at all levels of government — state, local, federal, territorial, tribal — really to think about how to use modern digital tools to help people obtain and access public benefits that they’re entitled to,” Jennifer Phillips, program lead for network collaboration with the Beeck Center’s Digital Benefits Network, said.
Their goal, Phillips said, was to create something dynamic and alive — not just a list.
“If we do that, then it kind of runs counter to what the theory of change of networking is because networks are alive, they're evolving, they change all the time,” she said. “What if we actually made this a living tool and it's dynamic in that any existing organization can change their profile at any time, add information, and new organizations can submit.”
Phillips provided a short demo of the Digital Benefits Ecosystem Directory + Map:
The tool is built to support both quick discovery and long-term planning. For users who contribute to the Digital Government Hub, Phillips said a new feature is already in the works that links organizations in the directory to any related resources they’ve published on the hub — making it easier for users to access reports or tools connected to that group.
This kind of integrated access isn’t just about building awareness, according to one user of the tool — it’s also about saving time and helping organizations strengthen their strategy.
“At a time when state and local governments are asked to do more with less, the Digital Benefits Ecosystem Directory + Map fills a critical gap,” Amy Meng, director of the Benefits Response Team at U.S. Digital Response, said. “Rather than spending hours searching for the right partners or duplicating efforts, my team can now quickly identify and connect with vetted experts and organizations already doing this work.”
Michele B. Thomas, food and nutrition services manager at Virginia’s Department of Social Services and another user of the tool, said the directory is a powerful way to strengthen professional partnerships.
“Its ability to connect us with colleagues across the ecosystem fosters meaningful collaboration that drives innovation and leads to stronger, more effective service delivery for the people we serve,” she said.
In addition to creating a means for collaboration, Phillips said the Beeck Center team hopes the directory will help funders visualize gaps and potential opportunities to support innovation. Its members will, she said, keep a close eye on how people are using the tool, to learn from early adopters and keep improving it.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include a Beeck Center demonstration of the Digital Benefits Ecosystem Directory + Map.
