Ways to work with Civic Studio

We partner with civic organizations, nonprofits, and small businesses on technology that serves people.

Relationships over transactions

We prefer long-term partnerships where we understand your mission, your constraints, and your community. Technology decisions are better when they're informed by context, not just requirements documents.

Right-sized engagement

Not every organization needs a full-time technology team. We offer several engagement models so you can access the expertise you need without overcommitting resources.

Engagement models

Project-based

fixed

A defined scope of work with clear deliverables, timeline, and fixed price. We scope the work together, agree on outcomes, and deliver.

  • Discovery phase to define scope
  • Milestone-based payments
  • Handoff documentation and training

Time and materials

flexible

Pay for the hours worked. Best when scope is uncertain or evolving, or when you want maximum flexibility.

  • Hourly or daily rate
  • Detailed time tracking
  • Flexibility to pause, pivot, or stop

Fractional CTO

monthly

Ongoing strategic technology leadership without a full-time hire. We embed as your part-time technology executive, attending leadership meetings, guiding technical decisions, and mentoring your team.

  • 8–20 hours per month
  • Fixed monthly fee
  • Minimum 3-month commitment

Retainer

ongoing

Reserved capacity for ongoing support, maintenance, and advisory. We stay familiar with your systems and available when you need us.

  • Monthly block of hours (10, 20, or 40)
  • Priority response times
  • Regular check-ins and proactive recommendations

How we work

  • We communicate clearly and often, without jargon.
  • We document decisions so institutional knowledge stays with you.
  • We prioritize your autonomy—our goal is to make you less dependent on us over time, not more.
  • We say no to work outside our competence, and we're transparent about tradeoffs.

Good fit

We work well with organizations that:

  • Have a clear mission and serve their community
  • Value long-term relationships over quick fixes
  • Are willing to invest in understanding their own needs
  • Communicate openly about constraints and priorities

We're probably not the right fit if:

  • You need the cheapest possible option
  • You want to "build it and forget it"
  • Decisions are made without input from stakeholders
  • Technology is an afterthought rather than a strategic consideration

Ready to start a conversation?

Tell us about your organization and what you're hoping to accomplish. We'll schedule a call to see if we're a good fit.

Get in touch

Working on a civic innovation project?

Whether you're exploring an early idea or deep into planning and need the right technical partner to build and deliver — we can help

Contact us