2. 1. How stronger information systems support innovation in the
nonprofit sector
2. The data we have at our fingertips
3. Making that data meaningful
4. Basic building blocks that facilitate better access to – and
understanding of – nonprofit data
5. How YOU can use your own org’s data to better connect with
supporters
3.
4.
5. Art by Banksy
The two
elephants
in the
room…
E1: Some nonprofits are better than others
(they create more social or environmental impact per dollar)
E2: Some donors are better than others
(their donations create more social or environmental impact per dollar)
10. Information about…
Organizations (e.g., Nurse-
Family Partnership is
currently serving 22,795
babies and their mothers in
40 states across the U.S.)
Resources (e.g., The
Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation made a 5-
year, $10 million grant to
Nurse-Family
Partnership in 2007)
Interventions (e.g., regular
nurse visitation for new
mothers their babies leads to
a .2 point increase in math &
reading GPA in grades 1-6)
Issues (e.g., 50% of
children from at-risk
backgrounds are below
the basic level for
reading and math skills
16. A nonprofit’s investments in training, planning,
evaluation, and internal systems—investments in
itself—are how are how a nonprofit sustains and
improves its impact on the world.
www.overheadmyth.com
17.
18. Low Pay,
Make Do, Do
Without
Culture
Underfunding
of Overhead
Funder
Unrealistic
Expectations
24. The FREE GuideStar Exchange
Basic information such as contact
information, mission statement,
etc.
Financial
Information
Impact and effectiveness
information
www.guidestar.org/exchange
27. GuideStar
Data about 1.5M 501c3
nonprofits
*IRS
*GuideStar Exchange
*DonorEdge Community
Foundations
8 Top Donor Advised
Funds:
*Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
*Schwab Charitable Gift Fund
20 Donation Portals
Processing $150M+
annually:
*Network for Good
*JustGive
5 Major Online
Destinations:
*Facebook Causes
*Search Engines
10M annual visitors to
guidestar.org
70K social media
followers
140,000+ nonprofit reviews
from beneficiaries,
volunteers:
*GreatNonprofits
Impact assessments about
600+ nonprofits from 5
Expert Partners:
*Philanthropedia, GuideStar
*GiveWell
*RootCause
Data Coming into
GuideStar:
Data Reaching:
•Easily maintain your organization’s profile reaching 110+ leading and
reputable websites and private networks
•Manage your brand on GuideStar’s extended network
100s of other clients and
partners
28. Bronze-levelbenefits
• Participation
widget
• Promotional
tool kit
• Nonprofit
alerts
• First access
to GuideStar
webinars
Silver-levelbenefits
•Bronze-level benefits
plus
•FC’s Foundation
Directory Online
and in-person
grantseeker
trainings
discounts
•Free
VolunteerMatch
premium
recruitment
tools for 1 year
•Grassroots.org
exclusive
technology
tools
Gold-levelbenefits
• Bronze- and silver-
level benefits plus
• 1 free seat
(annual
subscription)
to GuideStar
Premium
($1500 value)
29. 1. What is your organization aiming to accomplish?
2. What are your strategies for making this happen?
3. What are your organization’s capabilities for
doing this?
4. How will your organization know if you are
making progress?
5. What have and haven’t you accomplished so far?
– A framework for advancing strategic thinking.
– A standardized method for sharing concise
information with key stakeholders and the public.
29
30. Benefits Include:
• Encouraging people to invest their money,
time, and attention in effective organizations.
• Highlighting the difference your organization
makes.
• Sharpening your approaches.
• Positioning your organization to work with and
learn from others.
30
31. Claim Your GuideStar Exchange Form
www.guidestar.org
31#ODFWIB @lindsaynichols @guidestarusa
42. Closing thought #1: Data ≠ numbers.
Closing thought #2: It’s time we acknowledge the
elephants.
Closing thought #3: Donors care.
Closing thought #4: It’s not about us.
45. Licensing
The (1) text and (2) basic graphical
representations in this presentation are
under a Creative Commons Attribution
license. The photographs and other
copied images are not, as I do not have
rights to them.
Lindsay J.K. Nichols
lnichols@guidestar.org
GuideStarUSA
@GuideStarUSA
+GuideStar
GuideStar
GuideStarUSA
GuideStar
The GuideStar Blog:
http://trust.guidestar.org
