Solving Civilization’s Greatest
Challenges, Together
We Value Collaboration as the Driver for Social Innovation
:About Us
Place-based innovation for more resilient communities
Launched in 2017, CIV:LAB is a 501(c)(3) non-profit who has been a pioneer in place-based innovation, bringing together the people, ideas, and capital needed to strengthen civic and social infrastructure in our cities and communities. The biggest challenges facing civilization: climate change, housing instability, economic dislocation, and public health, are, at their core, problems of disconnection. We focus on strengthening community resilience through programs that increase the capacity of cities and neighborhoods to positively adapt and thrive in the face of climate change, systemic inequality, and an uncertain future.
Learn More About CIV:LAB
MI Grantee Breakfast
Theory of Change
At the heart of most innovation ecosystems there is an inherent gap. Institutions often have the bulk of the resources while communities have the ability to build and deploy solutions, and there is very little that exists to connect them. CIV:LAB aims to bridge that divide by taking a middle-out rather than a top down or bottoms up approach. Through place-based programming and participatory giving. We build the connective infrastructure that links institutional capital and capacity to community knowledge and leadership, turning promising local solutions into scalable impact. The result is stronger, more equitable ecosystems that drive economic development, equitable action, and lasting community resilience from the ground up.
:Timeline
CIV:LAB was born out of a need for more coordination and collaboration between the various stakeholders that work to make cities more sustainable.
Since the time of its founding, CIV:LAB has facilitated projects that bring diverse groups of people and organizations together in service of scaling timely and impactful urban solutions.
2018
CIV:LAB is founded
2019
The Grid is launched in partnership with NYCEDC
Detroit Urban Solutions Founded with TechTown Detroit and Wayne State University
2020
The NYC Response Lab launched with Cornell Tech and NYCEDC addressing COVID-19 related issues across the 5 boroughs
2021
Inaugural Urban Tech Summit hosted in partnership with Cornell Tech
2022
The Climate Fund is launched in NYC and MI
The inaugural HealthNext Summit hosted in partnership with Cornell Tech
2024
The Climate Fund is expanded to LA County
2025
Expanding place based innovation support to Europe.
2026
Launch of the inaugural Purpose Summit on community resilience and AI
Expanding place based innovation research to India