2025 Annual Report

Our 2025 Annual Report showcases the incredible work our Fellows accomplished in serving our public servants and communities.

In an age where trust in large-scale institutions is often tested, state and local governments remain the front lines of civic innovation by serving as the primary venues for implementing artificial intelligence policy, building broadband infrastructure, and increasing access to digital services.

The Paragon Policy Fellowship launched in 2024 with the core objective of tackling emerging technology infrastructure and governance challenges faced by resource-constrained governments. In the last two years, over 350 Fellows completed 44 digital government projects serving 28 state and local governments across 19 states and U.S. territories.

We believe that emerging leaders are essential catalysts for fostering public trust. By cultivating pathways in public interest technology for the next generation, we ensure that digital government remains adaptive, equitable, and representative of the communities we serve.

As we approach our third year, we remain committed to evolving from an applied research provider into a durable partner in digital governance. We look forward to building on our work as we shape a more effective, just, and human-centered government.

In 2026, we are excited to focus on deepening our partnerships, strengthening our community of practice, and ensuring institutional stability.

Our Fellows’ commitment to excellence and service drives our investment in their experience to deepen mentorship, expand program access, and amplify youth voices. We are looking forward to providing the Paragon community with new opportunities to participate in public discourse through publication, showcasing the power of storytelling and community perspectives.

Our Government Partners also revealed that continued engagement drives effective governance. Therefore, we are committed to deepening relationships by supporting robust and sustainable civic technology infrastructure through project cross-sector knowledge and information exchange that strengthen the public interest technology ecosystem.

Finally, our community serves as a constant reminder that collaboration amplifies impact far beyond what we can achieve alone. By building capacity and elevating voices, we continue to learn from the community of practice to create a foundation for digital government that truly serves the public good.

We are especially grateful to our partners who continue to contribute to this work, and invite you to explore our 2025 Annual Report.