Tiffani Ashley Bell

Tiffani Ashley Bell is a programmer, entrepreneur, and social activist recognized as the founding executive director of The Human Utility, a nonprofit platform leveraging technology to assist people across the United States in paying their water bills. Bell's involvement in water advocacy began during her tenure as a Code for America fellow consulting for the City of Atlanta, where she encountered a news story about Detroit's water crisis, which saw thousands of residents facing shutoffs due to unpaid bills. In response, Bell co-founded the Detroit Water Project, a platform enabling donors worldwide to pay outstanding water bills for families in need. The organization, later renamed The Human Utility, expanded to cities in Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida, providing assistance to more than 5,000 people with over $1 million in crowdfunded support.

Prior to The Human Utility, Bell earned a Bachelor of Science in systems and computer science from Howard University and founded "Pencil You In," a platform that allowed over 2,000 local businesses to accept online appointments. Her experience with Code for America provided insight into municipal operations, informing her approach to civic technology and problem-solving. The Human Utility was accepted into Y Combinator as a nonprofit, a distinction that contributed to the organization's development and reach.

Bell served as a Technology and Democracy Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where she researched water affordability and designed a subsidy program. She also completed a Master of Science in management as a Sloan Fellow at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Bell has delivered keynote addresses at major technology conferences, including the O'Reilly Open Source Conference and GitHub Universe, and was recognized among The Root's 100 Most Influential African Americans for her work in water rights advocacy.

Bell's work was featured globally through her TED talk, "How one small idea led to $1 million of paid water bills," which appeared on NPR's TED Radio Hour. In addition to her nonprofit leadership, Bell is a startup investor with investments in companies such as Finix, Goodr, Varuna, and Charityvest, reflecting her commitment to technology-driven social impact. Bell's career demonstrates the potential of software engineering, civic technology, and entrepreneurship to address systemic challenges and promote access to essential resources.