During a recent conversation with a client, I realized that non-profit organizations have constant opportunities to capture a lot of data. Maybe folks will disagree with me, but “data” are as we define them – qualitative or quantitative.

Quantifying data can give you a much better sense of, for example, how many individuals or families were served by your organization’s food distribution program in 2024 compared to 2023. These numbers can be graphed to showcase impact. But what we may not think about is the ripple  impact of the program – children who got a nutritious meal, parents who were a little less worried about where their family’s next meal would come from, better long-term health for communities, and more. DATA ARE AS WE SEE THEM.

How Do You Collect Data?

There are several ways of data collection, the simplest being documenting the number of people that your programs serve. However, does that number truly give us insight into the program’s impact? If a smaller organization, with limited budget and limited staff, serves 50 people monthly through its family services program, does it have a lesser impact than a large organization that is able to serve 200? NO!

What really matters is the consequence of those family support services:

·      Was the father able to find a stable job after he was referred to a certification program?

·      Did the children in the family have fewer absences in school after receiving counseling services?

·      Was the family able to take advantage of the medical services at the local community health center?

This is the information that documents the true impact of anon-profit’s programs.

Consider another scenario: food assistance programs. While you can create an Excel sheet and graph the number of individuals that were served a hot meal at lunch in the month of May, the program’s impact is much broader. By providing that hot meal, your program has helped:

·      Improve your client’s health and wellbeing

·      Reduce food insecurity

·      Provide an opportunity to connect with your client and refer them to other support services:

-Workforce development

-Housing

-Healthcare

Simple surveys (preferably digital, such as SurveyMonkey) are an ideal tool to collect this information. Every time a staff member connects with a client, make sure they document key changes – improvements or otherwise– in the client’s life. Programs like SurveyMonkey (which do need a subscription) provide tools to analyze data, including surveys conducted overtime, to show trends, which can then be plopped into your funder reports, annual reports, and new grant applications.

What About the Stories?

While graphs and trend plots are fantastic visualization gizmos, anecdotes and  testimonials humanize the value of your programs by simply not being a number. Never disregard those testimonials: audio or video recordings, written or email, they all count. And they can be easily shared with your audience: in reports, grants, and via social channels.

How does your organization craft its data story? Do you need assistance with what data to collect? Please reach out here or email us at surabhiyd@gmail.com.

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