Published March 20 2026
More than 100 cities have achieved What Works Cities Certification distinction since the program’s launch in 2017
Bellevue is proud to announce that Results for America has awarded it Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification for establishing exceptional data capabilities to inform policy, allocate funding, improve services, evaluate programs and engage residents. The What Works Cities Certification standard reflects the practices, policies and infrastructure municipalities must have in place to effectively harness data for better decision-making.
“Using data and technology to deliver exceptional services is foundational to the way our city serves the Bellevue community,” said City Manager Diane Carlson. “The What Works Cities Silver Certification acknowledges our commitment to being a leader in using data for decision-making.”
A notable example of Bellevue’s use of data is in its budgeting process, where performance metrics help evaluate service effectiveness and a budget equity toolkit shows how services align with the city’s equity goals. Other examples include leveraging data and technology to enhance community engagement, share public data dashboards on topics such as law enforcement and environmental sustainability, and complete a racial disparity analysis as part of the city's Comprehensive Plan.
The What Works Cities Certification program, launched in 2017 by Bloomberg Philanthropies and led by Results for America, is the international standard of data excellence in city governance. The Standard measures a city’s use of data based on 43 criteria. A city that achieves 51–67% of the 43 criteria is recognized at the Silver level of Certification, 68–84% is required to achieve Gold, and 85% or more is required to reach Platinum. The program is open to any city in North, Central or South America with a population of 30,000 or more.
“The cities recognized by Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification exemplify what is possible when city leaders commit to data-driven governance: real results for residents,” said Rochelle Haynes, Managing Director of Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities. “By pursuing Certification or advancing to a higher level of recognition, cities are demonstrating and strengthening their dedication to using data to drive progress and deliver better outcomes. While Certified cities are investing in their data capacity to solve today’s issues, they are also building sustainable practices that set the stage for a more resilient and innovative future.”
“The Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification is one of the largest-ever philanthropic efforts to improve how local governments use data to improve people’s lives,” said James Anderson, who leads the Government Innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “This work is helping reform-minded mayors across the Americas bring their organizations into the 21st century. Whether to stem housing shortages, reduce traffic fatalities, or improve resident service and responsiveness, city halls are tapping data, digital, and artificial intelligence to rise to the challenge – and we are thrilled to support their progress.”
To learn more about the What Works Cities Certification visit whatworkscities.bloomberg.org.
About the City of Bellevue
Known as a “City in a Park” with nearly 100 parks and a vast network of trails and greenbelts, Bellevue is the fifth largest city in Washington. The Eastside city spans 33.5 square miles from Lake Washington to Lake Sammamish. As part of the Innovation Triangle, Bellevue is a high-tech and retail center with a downtown skyline of gleaming high-rises, a diverse population of more than 145,000 and schools that are consistently rated among the best in the country.
About the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification
The What Works Cities Certification program, launched in 2017 by Bloomberg Philanthropies and led by Results for America, is the first-of-its-kind standard of excellence for data-informed, well-managed local government. What Works Cities Certification recognizes and celebrates local governments for their exceptional use of data to inform policy decisions, allocate funding, improve services, evaluate the effectiveness of programs and engage residents.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3.7 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, and X.