Glendale Earns Top International Honor For Exceptional Use Of Data
Published on January 14, 2026
Glendale is proud to announce that Results for America has awarded it Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities platinum certification for establishing exceptional data capabilities to inform policy, allocate funding, improve services, evaluate programs and engage residents. The What Works Cities Certification standard reflects the practices, policies and infrastructure municipalities must have in place to effectively harness data for better decision-making.
Glendale joined What Works Cities in 2017 to help the city become a more data-informed organization. The city has since integrated data into daily practices and uses it as a tool to accomplish its mission. The city received silver certification in 2021, gold certification in 2022 and now the platinum certification.
“We are incredibly proud to be awarded the highest honor of a platinum level certification by Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities,” Glendale Mayor Jerry P. Weiers said. “Simply put, the more data-informed the Council and staff are, the better we can serve our community. We have put a major emphasis on using data to make smart decisions that positively impact city services and accomplish our goals to drive Glendale forward.”
A notable example of Glendale's use of data is the focus on performance management and continuous improvement. Each department is required to conduct an annual evaluation tied to the city’s data-driven budgeting process, ensuring a citywide culture of continuous improvement. Additionally, Glendale’s robust performance management helps it make progress on community priorities, and every department contributes to the city’s strategic plan. For example, in fiscal year 2024, Glendale code inspectors reached their goal of evaluating all properties, driving 98% voluntary compliance, and helping with the city's goal of reducing blight across the city.
The What Works Cities Certification program, launched in 2017 by Bloomberg Philanthropies and led by Results for America, is the international standard of data excellence in city governance. The standard measures a city’s use of data based on 43 criteria. A city that achieves 51–67% of the 43 criteria is recognized at the silver level of certification, 68–84% is required to achieve gold, and 85% or more is required to reach platinum. The program is open to any city in North, Central, or South America with a population of 30,000 or more.
“The cities recognized by Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification exemplify what is possible when city leaders commit to data-driven governance: real results for residents,” said Rochelle Haynes, Managing Director of Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities. “By pursuing Certification or advancing to a higher level of recognition, cities are demonstrating and strengthening their dedication to using data to drive progress and deliver better outcomes. While Certified cities are investing in their data capacity to solve today’s issues, they are also building sustainable practices that set the stage for a more resilient and innovative future.”
“The Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification is one of the largest-ever philanthropic efforts to improve how local governments use data to improve people’s lives,” said James Anderson, who leads the Government Innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “This work is helping reform-minded mayors across the Americas bring their organizations into the 21st century. Whether to stem housing shortages, reduce traffic fatalities, or improve resident service and responsiveness, city halls are tapping data, digital, and artificial intelligence to rise to the challenge – and we are thrilled to support their progress.”
To learn more about the What Works Cities Certification visit whatworkscities.bloomberg.org.