dsmHack: Charity Hackathon Volunteer Position
Event: dsmHack 48-Hour Charity Hackathon
Location: West48, 1601 48th St #100, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Time Commitment: 48 hours (Thursday 6 PM – Saturday 8 PM) (flexibility for breaks as
needed)
Position Overview
dsmHack volunteers are hands-on collaborators who use their professional skills to help local
nonprofit organizations solve real-world challenges. Volunteers engage directly with nonprofit
leaders, identify needs, and work in cross-functional teams to design and build practical, usable solutions within a 48-hour timeframe. This is an immersive, fast-paced experience that combines innovation, community impact, and
teamwork.
Key Responsibilities
- Engage with nonprofit representatives to understand their mission, challenges, and
operational needs
- Select a nonprofit project and join a multidisciplinary team
- Collaborate intensively over 48 hours to design, build, and deliver a functional solution
- Contribute your professional expertise to ensure the final product is practical,
sustainable, and user-ready
- Participate in team discussions, problem-solving, and iterative development
- Help present or transition the completed solution to the nonprofit at event close
Volunteer Roles & Skill Areas
dsmHack welcomes a wide range of professional backgrounds, including:
- Agility Experts (Scrum Masters): Facilitate team workflows, remove blockers, and
guide agile practices
- Business Analysts: Translate nonprofit needs into actionable requirements and
strategic solutions
- Developers/Coders: Build web, mobile, or software solutions
- Database Administrators: Ensure data integrity, structure, and security
- Designers (UX/UI/Graphic): Create intuitive, user-centered experiences
- DevOps Engineers: Support deployment, infrastructure, and system scalability
- IT Professionals: Contribute across technical domains including security, networks, and
systems
- Nonprofit Consultants: Provide subject-matter expertise in nonprofit operations and
strategy
- Project Managers: Coordinate timelines, team efforts, and deliverables
- SEO Experts: Optimize solutions for visibility and digital reach
- Testers/QA Specialists: Ensure functionality, performance, and usability
Qualifications
- Interest in using your skills for community impact
- Ability to collaborate in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
- Strong problem-solving and communication skills
- Willingness to commit to the full 48-hour event (flexibility for breaks as needed)
- Relevant experience in one or more of the roles listed above or a desire and willingness
to learn
What Volunteers Gain
- Direct, meaningful impact on local nonprofit organizations
- Hands-on experience solving real-challenges
- Opportunities to collaborate with diverse, talented professionals
- Skill development in a high-energy, agile environment
- Expanded professional network
- Event perks including meals, snacks, and a dsmHack participant t-shirt
Impact
dsmHack projects have delivered tangible results for nonprofits, including:
- Tools that connect donors with foster children in need
- Software that improves wildlife rescue response times
- Platforms that help individuals access housing and legal resources
Volunteers leave the event having created solutions that nonprofits can begin using immediately.
To Register
Please sign up on our eventbrite page at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dsmhack-des-moines-charity-hackathon-2025-tickets-1247617530619
