Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We provide objective, transparent, and open-source data through easy-to-use tools that illustrate how government decisions affect our communities so everyone – including policymakers and journalists – can track the results of complex changes. Over time, we will provide research and insights derived from this data and expand our scope beyond federal decisions.
We pull information from government sources where available (see Data Transparency for a complete list), as well as local and national news reports, and crowdsourced testimonials from individuals directly affected. These testimonials reflect the views of the submitter, not the Impact Project.
We make updates as frequently as possible subject to the availability of new and reliable data and team capacity.
The Impact Map uses best practices for qualitative and quantitative research and data. The Impact Map relies on direct sources, primarily U.S. government datasets that adhere to established statutory and regulatory standards, as well as news articles.
We welcome notification of any errors and other feedback via [email protected]. We are actively seeking a third-party auditor to review and further improve our data collection processes. Please reach out via [email protected] if you are interested in supporting this work.
The Impact Map and other resources are available on our website at TheImpactProject.Org. You can download the data by clicking here.
Directions for GitHub Download: Click the file you want to download (Impact Map Data XX). On the file view page, right-click the Raw button in the upper right-hand corner and select Save link as.
Yes, you can contribute to the Impact Map by clicking here to access brief surveys, and a form for adding local news articles to the Map.
The Impact Project will continuously expand its scope to provide transparent, data-driven insights to inform public policy at every level of government. For example, over time, we intend to analyze economic trends, national security risks, and the link between government policy and Americans’ quality of life.
We get it—these days, anything that tracks government decisions can seem partisan. Our goal is to present data as clearly and transparently as possible, with full visibility into our sources, so people can draw their own conclusions. We believe that objective, widely accessible, and well-sourced information is essential for understanding how government decisions impact our communities.
The Impact Project is an initiative of Americans for Public Service, a fiscally sponsored project of the 501(c)(4) nonprofit Global Impact Social Welfare Fund (EIN: 92-0652730). Our leadership is comprised of experts at the intersection of academia, law, government, and policy.