Are You Data Informed?

Over the last decade, data has become a big deal, showing up more in our everyday lives and work environment. If you attended IPA’s 2022 Philanthropy Leads Conference you heard a common theme in several presentations: we need data to inform our work, especially in philanthropy.

We shared what a data-informed organization looks like in this featured article a couple weeks ago. Today we’re doing a deep dive into the four components of data-informed culture.

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• Clear Metrics – The organization has agreed upon key performance indicators (KPIs) that tie back to the mission and “theory of change.” Everyone understands the importance of these metrics and how they support accomplishing them.
• Leadership Buy-In – The leadership understands the importance of data, using data, and empowering/equipping their staff with data for decision-making.
• Data Access – All employees need to have access to the data to glean insights and use it. Data must be Findable, Accessible, Interpretable, and Reusable (“FAIR”).
• Data Literacy – Staff has knowledge and understanding of data, terms, data tools, processes, schedule, and plan.

Looking at the list above, where would you rate your organization as strong and/or in need of improvement? We often find “Clear Metrics” and “Data Literacy” seem to be the most common areas that need strengthening. We have a self-assessment tool you can review with your team to determine how data informed your organization is and identify areas for improvement.

"The goal is to turn data into information and information into insight.” - Carly Fiorina

Maybe you have great leadership buy-in but not clear metrics. Perhaps you lack processes and systems for your staff to easily access data. What now?

• Download “How to Become a Data-Informed Organization” Toolkit - The toolkit offers case study examples and practical tools to help your organization move the needle when it comes to using your data to inform your work.
• Meet with a Consultant - Perhaps you already know an area you want to improve in your organization. We’d love to have a conversation with your team. We have trained many organizations on the four components above and can review your assessment results to support your next steps. Schedule a time slot to meet virtually.

You can also contact us at any time with questions: Amanda Schortgen, TCG Communication Manager, 317.324.4070 ext. 807.