Resources to Help Nonprofits Use Data

May 5, 2013 | Read Time: 1 minute

Crittenton Women’s Union Outcomes Measurement Workgroup

This network of nonprofits in the greater Boston area meets quarterly to discuss the use of data to improve programs. The topic of the June discussion is how to communicate data findings to people outside the organization. Coordinated by Crittenton Women’s Union, an anti-poverty charity. Go to: liveworkthrive.org/research_and_tools/outcomes_workgroup

Getting Started With Data-Driven Decision Making: a Workbook

This manual helps nonprofits think through what to measure and how to use the information they collect. Written by Idealware, a nonprofit-technology group, for the Nonprofit Technology Network. Go to: nten.org/research/2013-data-workbook-download

PerformWell

The site provides a detailed introduction to performance management and offers performance indicators, questionnaires, and other tools. PerformWell also organizes free Webinars; past presentations are available on the site. A project of Child Trends, a nonprofit research organization; Social Solutions, a company that provides assessment software; and the Urban Institute’s Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy. Go to: performwell.org

Success Measures

This consulting service, which is part of NeighborWorks America, helps community and economic-development organizations demonstrate the results of their work. Go to: successmeasures.org

Working Hard & Working Well

Available free online, this book helps social-service groups measure their performance and use what they learn to improve programs. Written by David Hunter, former director of assessment and knowledge development at the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation. Go to: vppartners.org/leapofreason/workingwellbook

About the Author

NICOLE WALLACE

Features Editor

Nicole Wallace is features editor of the Chronicle of Philanthropy. She has written about innovation in the nonprofit world, charities’ use of data to improve their work and to boost fundraising, advanced technologies for social good, and hybrid efforts at the intersection of the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, such as social enterprise and impact investing.Nicole spearheaded the Chronicle’s coverage of Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts on the Gulf Coast and reported from India on the role of philanthropy in rebuilding after the South Asian tsunami. She started at the Chronicle in 1996 as an editorial assistant compiling The Nonprofit Handbook.Before joining the Chronicle, Nicole worked at the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs and served in the inaugural class of the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps.A native of Columbia, Pa., she holds a bachelor’s degree in foreign service from Georgetown University.