Nonprofit Data Collection: Make Space for Human Connection
Tracking data at your nonprofit can be time consuming and frustrating. It can be hard to make space for genuine human connections when...
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Counting Bubbles
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.
Ryan Brooks
- Dec 6, 2022
- 11 min
Different Ways Nonprofits Can Think About Data
Most nonprofits collect data of some kind, either because you have to or because you want to. You might collect outputs and outcomes...
33 views
Ryan Brooks
- Nov 18, 2022
- 5 min
Nonprofit Data Strengths, Challenges, and Obstacles
Over the past couple of months, I've spoken with staff at numerous nonprofits across the country to learn some of the strengths,...
35 views
Ryan Brooks
- Nov 9, 2022
- 8 min
Measuring Nonprofit Success is Hard Part 2: How To Compare Pre- and Post-Program Data
It can be difficult for human service nonprofits to show that your programs are “successful” because they deal with complex issues. It is...
78 views
Anne McDaniel
- Oct 24, 2022
- 9 min
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,...
31 views
Ryan Brooks
- Oct 18, 2022
- 9 min
3 Ways Nonprofits Can Use Demographics to Improve Outcomes
If you run a social services nonprofit, then you probably already collect participant demographic data. Demographics are simply data...
40 views
Ryan Brooks
- Sep 20, 2022
- 5 min
Picking the Right Number to Tell Your Nonprofit's Story: Go Big or Go Deep?
Generous Donor: Our donation could pay for daycare for 20 toddlers or it could pay for tutoring for 200 middle-schoolers. We’ll have a...
90 views
Ryan Brooks
- Sep 12, 2022
- 4 min
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.
57 views
Ryan Brooks
- Sep 5, 2022
- 6 min
When is data tracking software worth it for my nonprofit?
If you’re thinking about getting new software to manage your nonprofit’s service delivery data, then you’ve probably experienced problems...
17 views
Ryan Brooks
- Aug 29, 2022
- 5 min
Demographics. What are They Good For? Absolutely Something.
When I think about demographics, my mind jumps to the standard US Census fields: race, ethnicity, gender, household composition,...
23 views
Ryan Brooks
- Aug 16, 2022
- 4 min
We Did WHAT!?!: Nonprofit Data Collection Basics
Nonprofits are rightly compelled to measure and share their work with the public. Charitable organizations exist to contribute to the...
27 views
Ryan Brooks
- Aug 14, 2022
- 3 min
Don’t Let Data Eat Culture for Lunch: Balancing Data Needs with Service Delivery Experience
We can think of nonprofit data collection and quality service delivery as a seesaw. When you put more weight on the data collection side,...
51 views
Ryan Brooks
- Aug 8, 2022
- 4 min
Does it come with cruise control?: the minimum requirements for nonprofit data management software
Human Services nonprofits have so many options for collecting case management and services data. You can stick with paper files, enter...
31 views
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