Data Strategy Made Simple: From Overwhelmed to Aligned
Data. Love it? Hate it? If you’re in mission-driven work and care about making an impact and growing your capacity to do more good, you need it. That’s why I developed the Data Strategy Audit — to help organizations step back, take stock, and align their data practices with their mission.
Data matters
$$$: Grants require metrics, donors want to know why they should invest. You need numbers and compelling stories.
Accountability, Learning, and Program Improvement: We have a responsibility to ensure the work we’re doing and the funds we’re investing, are actually making the difference we intend. Hello data! Data helps us learn about the environments and communities we work in, get feedback, track changes over time, and ultimately make incremental changes to continually improve our program. A robust system for tracking what matters most allows our organization to proactively adapt to evolving needs. The right data is like turning on a light in a dark room. There is no more fumbling around. We see the layout around us, we know whats working and what isn’t. The right data is incredibly empowering.
Strategy and Decision-Making: Data gives leaders confidence to make tough decisions. Instead of relying on hunches, organizations can set strategy based on evidence of what’s truly moving the needle. Ever felt like strategic planning was being driven by someone’s opinions or pet projects? Data provides grounding and level-setting. It also allows organizations to align day-to-day activities to mission and vision. Too often, organizations invest in strategic planning and their return to their day-to-day activities virtually unchanged. An aligned data strategy ensures a through-line between big-picture objectives and day-to-day work. Strategic planning becomes used and useful with the right data alignment!
Equity, Representation, Transparency: We live in a society that remains vastly unequal. Injustice is baked into the very fabric of our society, so much so that it can be easy to overlook. Thus, data is a tool to advance equity. We use data to look at services and outcomes by race, ethnicity, language, gender identity, sex, geography, age, and more. Data can help us catch biases, serve diverse communities better, increase trust, and improve relationships.
Problems with data
In my 15+ years of working with mission-driven organizations I’ve come across common data challenges.
#1 Issue: Data strategy is piecemeal and does not support needs. Your organization probably evolved over time and added different data tools and systems along the way– a survey here, a spreadsheet or database there, etc. Staff may be busy collecting data, however when it comes time to get on a stage and make your case, tell the story of your impact in the annual report, or sit down with your Board of Directors to make tough decisions, the data is lacking.
Other common challenges include:
Staff collect data but don’t use it.
Data systems aren’t properly in place; data is frustrating and time-consuming.
You’re ‘bean counting’ –you can say how many people participated in your program, or how many cans of food you distributed, but aren’t able to talk about the outcomes and impacts. When a potential donor asks how your work is impacting community health, educational outcomes or personal finance, your response is vague.
The Data Strategy Audit process
A data strategy audit is an opportunity to thoroughly assess your organization’s data landscape. Through a succinct 1-3 month process we work closely with your team to take a deep dive into all aspects of your data, plus its alignment with your organization’s needs, goals and strategy. We consider:
Mission and vision
Data collection practices and tools
Data cleaning and storage
Data use
Training and staff capacity
Organizations find it a huge relief to hand everything over and get a thorough assessment that considers their status quo AND their goals.
After the DSA process organizations have a roadmap they can follow to develop a cohesive, aligned, and right-sized data strategy.
Benefits
Often organizations identify that they need help with a survey, are required to complete a program evaluation, or need to upgrade their database. Rarely, do organizations take a step back and assess how their overall data strategy fits with their organizational strategy and needs. Thus a DSA is an opportunity to save time, money, and ensure current and future data initiatives are right-sized and aligned. Here are some benefits based on past clients:
Clarity: You’ll know exactly what steps to follow to implement an aligned-helpful data strategy. Your team can stop feeling frustrated and confused when it comes to data.
Confidence: Your team will know what data is available for grant-reporting, you’ll have the stories you need when you step on stage, or write your annual appeal.
Efficiency: You’ll know where there are opportunities to streamline tools and processes. Save time, money, and staff headaches!
Engagement: Your team will be part of the process and come out with a better understanding of their roles and fit within the larger organizational strategy.
Equity: Build a data strategy that elevates diverse voices and ensures your programs serve communities with fairness and transparency.
What organizations are saying:
“We all thoroughly enjoyed working with Lily. Each of us felt heard, appreciated, and validated. A few members of our team were nervous about the process, one of which considers themselves very data-averse. Lily made the conversation about data approachable for everyone which is essential to our success as a small organization where we all need to be on the same page, moving in the same direction, contributing to the process.”
“Lily’s objectivity and distance from our work made what seemed impossible to us, quite possible! Lily’s Data Strategy Audit revealed to us that we were already collecting meaningful data, and opened our eyes to other metrics we had not yet been collecting that could give us a real sense of our impact. This was such a relief!”
Are you the right fit?
Not every organization is the right fit for a Data Strategy Audit. Here are some clues to deduce if a DSA is right for you:
Your team collects lots of data and doesn’t use it. The result? Overwhelm, frustration, and wasted time.
You struggle to talk about the impact of your work.
You miss out on funding opportunities because you don’t have the data to back up your work.
You’re a new(er) organization and want to build an intentional data strategy that fits your organization’s strategy and day-to-day work. Invest now to save time, money and frustration later.
Data systems are outdated and time-consuming. They require lots of staff time and manual work. It’s time to get up to speed and improve efficiencies.
You want to ensure your work is having the impact you intend. You want useful data for everyday decision-making, planning and program improvement.
Your team is busy and doesn’t have time for DIY; you want expert support to make progress fast.
Getting started
If data feels overwhelming or disconnected from your mission, you’re not alone. A Data Strategy Audit can give you clarity in 1–3 months. Email lily@lasvisions.com to see if you’re eligible.
