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Dear Reader

What are the observations and trends you’re seeing within nonprofits' impact data practices?

I was on a call earlier this month with a Director of a Colorado state agency, and later with the Senior Director of Evaluation and Learning for a large health foundation. They were asking what we’ve observed through the data work we do with nonprofits, and through the various conversations I’ve had with data practitioners and organizational leaders.

It was a timely question.  We’ve been reflecting on this question and preparing a deeper study to understand more about the landscape to better shape our support and to share that information with others so they can do the same.

Here are a few themes that emerged, though this is not exhaustive:

• Less extractive + balanced data practices: Nonprofit leadership are interested in, and orientating toward how to better conduct their data practices in ways that are beneficial and less harmful.

• Insufficient funding: Organizations lack the funds to support impact data work, which is partially brought on by misalignment between nonprofit and funder data needs.

• Strategic data practices: Organizations struggle to align their data practice with their organization’s impact intent.

• Right-sized data practices: Organizations need help understanding what evaluation approaches are right for their stage of organizational development and need.

• Meaning making: Organizations are seeking guidance on how to turn all the data they have into information and meaning.

• Technology: Organizations are facing challenges with technology, such as data system distractions, misfit software, and implementation challenges.

Check out the resources below for a more in-depth piece on nonprofit leaderships' interest in less extractive and more balanced data practices.

We’ll dive a little deeper into a few more of these themes in coming issues of Lab Notes.  

Founder & CEO

February Resources

READING

• More Meaningful and Balanced Nonprofit Data Practices - a more in-depth piece on nonprofit leaderships' interest in less extractive and more balanced data practices.

• When Research About a Community Is Led by the Community – Community members response to the importance of investing in shifting research power to communities.

• Ten Reasons Not to Measure Impact—and What to Do Instead – “a framework for right-fit monitoring and evaluation systems that help organizations stay consistently and appropriately attuned to the data needed for accountability, learning, and improvement.” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Live Webinar: The Science of Story for Nonprofits - Join us in this webinar where storytelling experts, Jason Ellinger and Matt Carpenter, share their expertise in using storytelling to demonstrate your nonprofit's impact. No cost to attend. 

• Impact Accelerator Live Discovery Session. For nonprofits who want to build a solid foundation for their organization’s data practices, and equip their team with the skills, tools and processes to carry it forward, join us in this live session. If you’re asking… ‘What’s an Impact Accelerator? And is it right for my organization?’ This session is for you.

LET'S CONNECT

If you would like to contribute to content or would like us to include your resources in the future, please reach out to info@resultslab.com and we will connect with you!

For more resources and updates, follow ResultsLab on LinkedIn and Facebook.

ResultsLab is a woman-owned social enterprise that propels organizations, communities, and networks to the next level of impact through quality design and effective use of data. We are reinventing impact management by providing strategic design and capacity building for data informed decision-making to organizations and networks that exist to drive change for our communities.