2026 Social Impact Hackathon

Design for Belonging

In moments of uncertainty, belonging matters more than ever.Belonging means feeling safe, seen, and heard — in our neighborhoods, our systems, and our communities.

The 2026 ACF Social Impact Hackathon centers nonprofits doing the everyday work of building belonging for marginalized communities. Together, we bring designers, storytellers, and strategists into close collaboration with local organizations to create tools, stories, and experiences that strengthen connection, access, and care — supported by thoughtful use of technology, including AI.

This is not about designing for communities, but designing with them, using creativity (and the right tools) to turn ideas into real, local impact.

Our hackathon is more than a weekend challenge. It is a mission to:

• Turn technology into compassion

• Turn creativity into community impact

• Turn ideas into real tools nonprofits can us