Data for a Cause is an initiative that connects information design professionals from around the globe with non-profit organizations through regular data visualization challenges. Each challenge is focused on a specific theme — such as global hunger, public education, or environmental conservation — in collaboration with a particular non-profit organization. A not-for-profit organization or its representative submits a request through the website's form that includes a clearly defined goal. If no dataset is provided, open-source data from reliable sources are used. Two weeks are given for participants to submit their data visualizations through Twitter. Participants use hashtag #dataforacause on Twitter and include an image of their designs. Individual and group submissions are accepted. Once the deadline for submission is over, the non-profit organization selects 3 winners and uses the winning visualizations in their social media and other marketing channels.