LevelUp Gov: A Marketing Contest

Welcome to LevelUp Gov, a national contest collecting fresh, bold messages to get people with technology skills to pursue government jobs.

The submission window closed on February 6, 2023. Check back soon for an announcement on winners!

Contest Information Packet

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Thank you to our contest judges!

The LevelUp Gov Marketing Contest has now closed! We have creative submissions from talented Gen Zers all around the country, and we are evaluating them now. We want to recognize the hard work of our fantastic judges, who bring diverse perspectives from government, marketing, and tech.

LevelUp Gov is a groundbreaking competition to generate ideas for attracting a new generation of technology professionals into federal public service jobs, supported by Schmidt Futures. 

Technological innovation and the welfare of our country are tightly linked. If we want to shape and protect our future—avert the climate crisis, accelerate the transition to green energy, modernize America’s crumbling transit system and infrastructure—we must creatively deploy technology and use it in an equitable way. How can we use tech as a force for good? One way is to equip the government with the fiercest, sharpest tech talent.

Unfortunately, not enough people with cutting-edge tech skills are interested in working in the government. Here’s a troubling fact: only three percent of information technology workers in the federal government are under the age of 30, while over half are approaching retirement.

That’s where you come in.

LevelUp Gov is a national contest to collect fresh, bold messages to get people with technology skills to pursue careers in government.

If you're a member of Gen Z with a passion for public service and a flair for marketing, social media, or design and you are eighteen (18) years of age or older, we’re asking you to inspire people with technology skills to pursue career opportunities in federal government.

The top two winners will each receive a $10,000 cash prize. Two runners-up will each receive $2,500. Up to six honorable mentions will each receive $500.

We need your vision and ideas—help us level up government and set the course of our future.

What might a submission look like? Two examples:

LevelUp Sample Submissions

 

Contest FAQ

Where does the federal government need people with tech skills?

The federal government needs tech talent all over. There’s especially strong need in the key agencies tasked with tackling the climate crisis and upgrading our nation’s infrastructure. Two agencies with immediate hiring needs for tech talent are the Clean Energy Corps and Department of Transportation. You will be preparing content for one or both of these agencies.

Why does the Clean Energy Corps need people with tech skills?

The Department of Energy recently launched the Clean Energy Corps, an innovative effort to turbocharge the fight against climate change by hiring 1,000 government workers who can implement the historic $62 billion in clean energy investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. They need people with tech skills.

Why does the Department of Transportation need people with tech skills?

The Department of Transportation, one of the lead agencies implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is dedicated to upgrading the nation’s transit systems, including aviation, highways, rail, ports, and more. They need people with tech skills.

When does the contest close?

LevelUp Gov closed on February 6, 2023, at 11:59pm PST. You can submit your proposal at any time and make changes up until the deadline.

What are the prizes?

The top two winners will each receive a $10,000 cash prize. Two runners-up will each receive $2,500. Up to six honorable mentions will each receive $500. To maximize the strength of your submission, read the judging criteria included in the contest information packet.

Where else can I find answers?

Click here to access the full contest information packet. If you represent a college course or student group, you are welcome to email LevelUpGov@volckeralliance.org to request a short virtual presentation on participating in LevelUp Gov. We will accommodate if possible.
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The LevelUp Gov Marketing Challenge is an initiative of the Volcker Alliance, supported by Schmidt Futures. The Volcker Alliance is a nonprofit founded by former Federal Reserve Board chairman Paul A. Volcker dedicated to advancing his vision of an empowered public sector workforce. Schmidt Futures is a philanthropic initiative founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt that bets early on exceptional people making the world better.

 

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