GFOA Explores Creation of Public Finance Innovation Lab, Seeks Visionary Leader to Guide Effort

(Chicago, Illinois – August 25, 2025) The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) announced that it is exploring the creation of a Public Finance Innovation Lab, a new initiative designed to accelerate how local governments adopt innovative practices and technologies. To help lead this exploration, GFOA is launching a search for an Innovator-in-Residence, a visionary leader who will shape the Lab’s initial strategy, partnerships, and business model.

The Innovator-in-Residence will serve in a unique, time-limited contractual role, guiding the exploration of the Lab’s potential scope and structure. Responsibilities will include developing a business plan, identifying and building partnerships, evaluating early-stage concepts, and helping determine whether the Lab could ultimately evolve into a stand-alone entity. This role offers an experienced, mission-driven entrepreneur the chance to work at the ground floor of a national effort to rethink how innovation happens in public finance.

Why It Matters

Local governments are under increasing pressure to adapt to new challenges, including rapid advances in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies—yet often lack the resources to innovate on their own. By exploring the Innovation Lab, GFOA aims to fill a critical gap by convening finance officers, technologists, funders, and civic innovators to create a rising tide of better solutions for governments and the communities they serve.

About the Innovation Lab (Working Title)

The Public Finance Innovation Lab is envisioned as a national platform to identify, develop, and scale solutions to pressing challenges in local government finance. The Lab could explore possibilities such as:

• Creating and testing new solutions developed in-house or with partners.
• Providing broad access to innovations that benefit governments of all sizes.
• Accelerating adoption of GFOA best practices through practical, tech-enabled tools.
• Evaluating innovations rigorously to ensure alignment with public priorities and measurable value to communities.

Click here to view the full job description. 

• Publication date: August 2025