The operators behind
the operating model
We're a cross-ideological effort to strengthen the ability of American government to deliver. The people, the values, and the structure that make the work credible.
It began with a question
that kept getting bigger
Jennifer Pahlka spent two decades in civic tech, the White House, and the trenches of government service delivery — each experience pushing her further upstream toward a deeper diagnosis: America's government isn't failing because of bad policies or bad people, but because its operating model hasn't been updated for the world we live in. Her path from Code for America, to her book Recoding America, to launching this organization is the story of how that diagnosis took shape — and how a cross-ideological coalition formed to act on it.
The defaults we run on
Meet the moment
Government failure is a crisis, and the window for reform is open but narrow. We move with urgency to meet this moment
Go upstream
Our bias is structural and ambitious. We go after the systems that produce bad outcomes, not the symptoms.
Field first
We look to enable others before we act ourselves. We work in coalition, elevate partners, and build shared infrastructure. Our success is the field's success.
Cross-ideological by design
Reforms that depend on one party's support are brittle. We seek to work across common boundaries to build enduring state capacity.
Candor over comfort
We name tradeoffs honestly, claim impact only when we earned it, and give each other candid feedback. Hype and vagueness disrespect the mission.
Walk the talk
We hold our own operations to the standard we ask of government: lean, evidence-driven, willing to change course. Credibility is earned.
Two organizations, one mission
“Recoding America” is the shared name for two sister organizations with a common mission and vision, dedicated to strengthening the ability of American government to deliver better outcomes.
Recoding America
Our tax-exempt organization and primary operational platform for the work.
Recoding America Action
The organization through which we engage in lobbying at the federal and state levels.