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Counting Bubbles
A sometimes insightful, sometimes sassy blog about nonprofits, data management, and building a better future. Opinions expressed are our own...and they are based on indisputable facts.


Picking Nonprofits Outcomes for Storytelling
Nonprofit Outcomes Must Help Tell Your Story It 's hard to pick good outcomes for nonprofits to track. Some outcomes seem great. But,...
Ryan Brooks
7 days ago4 min read
0 views
Nonprofit Duplicated & Unduplicated Counts (2-Minute Guide)
Get your counts right to get funded Why You Care Duplicated and unduplicated counts offer valuable insights into an organization's reach...
Ryan Brooks
Feb 42 min read
7 views
How Nonprofits can Overcome Data Challenges
3 Common Nonprofit Data Challenges and How to Deal with Them Nonprofits face challenges when it comes to collecting and reporting data on...
Ryan Brooks
Nov 7, 20246 min read
9 views
How to Start Tracking Nonprofit Impact
3 Keys to Tracking Nonprofit Achievements for Beginners How will we show that our work matters? How can we demonstrate that we make our...
Ryan Brooks
Jun 17, 202410 min read
13 views
What Data Should My Nonprofit Collect
Collect the Right Data to Show Your Nonprofit's Impact Nonprofits of all sizes collect data to tell their story and show they are making...
Ryan Brooks
Apr 17, 20247 min read
30 views
Ten Tips for Using Duplicated and Unduplicated Counts
Duplicated and Unduplicated Counts: Best Practices for Nonprofit Grant Writing Grant proposals and grant reports are part of life for...
Ryan Brooks
Apr 3, 20245 min read
91 views
Duplicated, Unduplicated, and Simple Total Counts for Nonprofits
What you need to know about duplicated counts, unduplicated counts, and simple total counts for nonprofit data reporting We explained the...
Ryan Brooks
Mar 18, 20244 min read
281 views
Four Ways Nonprofits Can Collect Data without Surveys
Moving Beyond Surveys: Four Creative Data Collection Methods for Engaging Clients Working at a human services nonprofit, you are often...
Ryan Brooks
Feb 5, 20247 min read
43 views
Nonprofit Data Collection: Make Space for Human Connection
Balancing Data Collection and Human Connection in Human Services Tracking data at your nonprofit can be time consuming and frustrating....
Ryan Brooks
Jan 10, 20235 min read
40 views
Different Ways Nonprofits Can Think About Data
Identify Your Nonprofit's Data Point of View Most nonprofits collect data of some kind, either because you have to or because you want...
Ryan Brooks
Dec 6, 202211 min read
45 views
Nonprofit Data Strengths, Challenges, and Obstacles
Why Some Nonprofits Excel with Data and Others Don't Over the past couple of months, I've spoken with staff at numerous nonprofits across...
Ryan Brooks
Nov 18, 20225 min read
48 views
Measuring Nonprofit Success is Hard Part 2: How To Compare Pre- and Post-Program Data
How to Measure Nonprofit Success: Comparing Pre- and Post-Program Data It can be difficult for human service nonprofits to show that your...
Ryan Brooks
Nov 9, 20228 min read
88 views
Ten Tips for Creating Great Surveys
Surveys are an important data collection tool used that nonprofits and other organizations can use get a pulse on the satisfaction,...
Anne McDaniel
Oct 24, 20229 min read
37 views
3 Ways Nonprofits Can Use Demographics to Improve Outcomes
Analyzing Demographics for Better Nonprofit Outcomes If you run a social services nonprofit, then you probably already collect...
Ryan Brooks
Oct 18, 20229 min read
84 views
Picking the Right Number to Tell Your Nonprofit's Story: Go Big or Go Deep?
Choosing the Right Metrics to Impress Your Donors Generous Donor: Our donation could pay for daycare for 20 toddlers or it could pay for...
Ryan Brooks
Sep 20, 20225 min read
118 views
Measuring Nonprofit Success is Hard. Part 1
Success rates and cost per outcome are two simple measures to improve your understanding of your nonprofit's success.
Ryan Brooks
Sep 12, 20224 min read
69 views
Does My Nonprofit Need Case Management Software?
When Is Data Management Software Worth It for My Human Service Nonprofit? If you’re thinking about getting new software to manage your...
Ryan Brooks
Sep 5, 20227 min read
24 views
Demographics. What are They Good For? Absolutely Something.
Why Demographic Data is Critical to Nonprofit Success When I think about demographics, my mind jumps to the standard US Census fields:...
Ryan Brooks
Aug 29, 20224 min read
44 views
Nonprofit Data Collection Basics
Essential Data Every Nonprofit Should Collect Nonprofits are rightly compelled to measure and share their work with the public. ...
Ryan Brooks
Aug 16, 20224 min read
45 views
Don’t Let Data Eat Culture for Lunch: Balancing Data Needs with Service Delivery Experience
Can Nonprofits Collect Too Much Data? Yes! Nonprofits can collect too much data, data that's never used, data that sits in a digital...
Ryan Brooks
Aug 14, 20224 min read
57 views
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