Welcome to the Hackathon for Social Good 2026!

The Cal Poly Humboldt Hackathon for Social Good 2026 is a student-led event dedicated to creating impactful, technology-driven solutions that benefit local organizations. Hosted by the Computer Science Club at Cal Poly Humboldt, this hackathon brings together students from Cal Poly Humboldt to innovate and develop real-world applications that address social and environmental challenges in our community.

This is more than just a coding competition—it's an opportunity to apply your technical skills to meaningful projects, gain hands-on experience, and connect with industry professionals and like-minded peers. Whether you're an experienced coder or just starting out, this hackathon provides an inclusive and supportive environment to learn, gain advice from experienced mentors, grow, and make a difference.

  • Dates: April 11/12th, 2026

  • Location: Cal Poly Humboldt Campus

  • Theme: Hackathon for Social Good—partnering with local nonprofits to solve real-world problems

Join us for a weekend of creativity, collaboration, and coding for a cause! 

About the challenge

Humboldt County is home to many grassroots organizations working tirelessly to support local causes. These organizations often lack the technical resources to make their own projects, and that’s where you come in! This hackathon challenges students to develop innovative tech solutions that address real challenges faced by these organizations—whether it's improving data management, enhancing outreach efforts, or developing digital tools that streamline operations.

By working closely with local organizations, you’ll gain insight into their challenges and apply your problem-solving skills to build practical, impactful solutions that have the potential for real-world implementation.

Event Schedule

Kickoff (Wednesday, April 11th, 5:00 PM) – Mandatory for all participants

Join us at this welcome night & event overview! This is when you will get an introduction to the projects from different organizations, ensure your teams are finalized and signed up, and to learn the Hackathon rules and judging criteria, and participate in Q&A.

Competition 

  • Saturday, April 11th [7:30 AM – 10 PM] →  Check-in, welcome & breakfast, begin working as a team, aided by industry mentors, to prototype and create powerful projects that help local nonprofits

  • Overnight break [10 PM - 8 AM] → Rest and recharge - no coding of projects may be worked on during this time (HOWEVER you are allowed to brainstorm ideas for your projects to bring in the next day).

  • Sunday, April 12th [8 AM – 7 PM] → Final coding sprint, project submission, and presentations!

Final Presentations & Awards Ceremony (Sunday, April 12th, 3:30 PM)

All coding stops and teams will present their projects to a panel of judges.

Requirements

What to Build

  • A functional prototype or proof-of-concept software that addresses a nonprofit challenge.

  • Solutions can include web apps, mobile apps, automation tools, or other digital solutions.

  • Must be developed during the hackathon timeframe.

What to Submit

  • A link to your GitHub repository with source code.

  • A presentation slideshow that your team will present in front of judges showcasing your project.

  • A short description of the problem addressed and how the solution benefits the nonprofit.

  • A README file documenting AI usage (if applicable), dependencies, and setup instructions.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

1 non-cash prize
Prices coming soon...
1 winner

To be anounced

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Judges coming soon...

Judges coming soon...

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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