You Have Data, But Are You
Data-Driven?
The philanthropic world has been discussing digital transformation for a while now, and the truth is, the idea is not going away any time soon. Like any transformation, it grows and evolves with its environment. And our environment has changed.

Data is widely available to organizations and the general public alike. Whether it is information collected firsthand from a survey tool, anecdotes shared through social media platforms, or public census data, we have access to an abundance of quantitative and qualitative that can help us to form our opinions and make decisions.

The problem.
​We're not all wired to think critically. We don't all have the same access to training to build this skill, and don't always know the questions to ask of data to get the information we need to make a decision.

The result.
Organizations surveyed acknowledged using only 50% of available information for decision-making.  
Let's work towards reducing the barrier to being data-driven - starting with education.

Use the three questions below to get started, chosen after hundreds of conversations with partners in the social sector.

​Once you have the question you want to answer, explore the resources provided to get to a solution, supported by your data.

Ask yourself:

  1. Are you impacting the audience you intended with your program(s)?
  2. Are you finding ways to accelerate progress towards goals and maximize resources?
  3. Are you identifying and responding to unplanned areas of need in my community, reacting in real-time with support?

"In a world where data is widely available, the effectiveness of philanthropy hinges on how well and how quickly nonprofits, foundations, and donors can act upon data that everyone has (or shortly will have)."

Data Comes of Age in Philanthropy,
11 Trends in Philanthropy for 2021
Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy

Use data to ensure you're on track to achieve the change you identified in your mission. This is the most important place to start.

Unlock 7 ways your impact organization can be increasing their ability to use data to measure impact.
Use public data to baseline the change your program was able to drive in the community, and pivot before it is too late if your target audience isn't seeing the benefits you intended.
Free Resource to Get Started: Key Questions to Ask Your Data

Your organization has data, but you don't know where to start when it comes to using it to drive decision-making. Start with these questions and you'll find the answers.

Asking key questions of your data and using the answers to inform your decisions is the first step to accelerating progress toward positive change.

When your organization makes the shift away from burdensome reporting requirements, working with grantees to formulate questions and create effective plans with the answers, you open the door to greater impact.

Join UpMetrics and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation on February 24th to learn more about how you can prepare your organization for this necessary shift towards an environment that encourages and facilitates learning.
The key to driving change today is a transparent funder-grantee relationship that encourages a sharing of knowledge that can inform the optimal path to achieving your goals. 

We share 5 steps to take to improve your reporting process - starting with the creation and distribution of short surveys to track critical data.

Take this learning mentality and use it to pivot, responding to key areas of need as required.

When you've built relationships rooted in learning and a commitment to aiding your community where they need it most, you already have the baseline to respond effectively when the unexpected occurs.

This guide will offer further details on how you can respond to crisis with impact data. 

Ready to learn more about how the UpMetrics platform can support your organization as our digital transformation continues?

Sign up for the UpMetrics newsletter and unlock the latest information and insights to inform your data strategy.
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