Data science, made practical — for students & mission-driven partners
The Data Exchange connects student teams with nonprofits and small businesses to deliver fast, focused analytics projects. Learn real skills. Create real impact. All in two short weeks.
Our mission is to make data science more accessible and more impactful—creating hands-on learning opportunities for students while helping communities grow stronger through the power of data.
We envision a world where every nonprofit, business, and government harnesses the power of data to drive smarter decisions, and where every student graduates having made a meaningful impact in their community, all on their own time.
About Us
High‑impact, student‑led analytics sprints for community partners.
At The Data Exchange, we believe in the power of data to drive meaningful change in our communities. We connect college students with local nonprofits and small businesses to work on short-term, data science–focused projects that typically run for two to three weeks.
These projects are designed to be flexible: students can participate and lead them on their own schedules, fitting the work around their classes, jobs, and other commitments. Whether it’s over a break, on weekends, or during pockets of free time, students get to make a real impact without a long-term commitment.
By partnering with mission-driven organizations, we give students the opportunity to apply their data skills to real-world challenges, whether by analyzing trends, visualizing insights, streamlining operations, or supporting data-informed decision making. In turn, our partners benefit from actionable insights and fresh perspectives.
Our mission is to make data science more accessible and more impactful—creating hands-on learning opportunities for students while helping communities grow stronger through the power of data.
How it works
Start a projectChapters
Select a chapter to see its leaders.


Coordinates projects with community partners.

Manages active projects.

Raising club awareness and coordinating events.

Oversees club expansion and operations.
Impact at a glance
Ready to kick off a sprint?
Tell us your question and timeline. We’ll scope a sprint and match a student pod.
FAQ
Short answers to common questions — customize these for your chapter.
How long is a typical project?
Most sprints run 2–3 weeks. We keep scopes tight so you get value quickly.
Who are the students?
Applied math, data science, CS, public policy and related majors — organized into small pods with a project lead.
What does a deliverable look like?
A succinct slide summary and, when useful, a lightweight dashboard or script — plus a handoff so you can reuse it.
What’s the cost?
We focus on community impact. Many projects are free for nonprofits; some partner engagements may include small grants or cost-sharing.
Students — get involved
Add your email and we’ll share upcoming sprints, onboarding, and events.
Contact us
Tell us a bit about your organization and the question you want to answer. We’ll follow up quickly.
- Typical response within 2–3 business days
- 2–3 week sprint scoping with a student pod
- Nonprofits prioritized