This document discusses how to create a data-positive culture within a nonprofit organization. It recommends demonstrating the value of data on an individual level, tying data collection and analysis to the organization's mission, and dispersing data responsibilities throughout the organization. The example of YNPN Boston is provided, which aligns its data on professional development, events, and membership with its mission of engaging young nonprofit professionals to build a stronger nonprofit sector.

1. Using Data as a Nonprofit Employee:
Creating a Data-Positive Culture
Within Your Organization
Jodi Benenson
Director of Research, YNPN Boston
October 15, 2014

2. “Without data, you're just
another person with an opinion.”
~ W. Edwards Deming

3. What is (are) data?
• Facts, information, or
statistics collected for
calculations, reference,
or analysis
• Data is vs. data are

4. What makes an organization’s
culture “data-positive”?
• When an organization:
– relies on data to make
decisions
– uses data that align with all
facets of the organization
– encourages and celebrates
data collection and analysis
for internal and external use

5. What can we do to shape the
data culture within our
respective organizations?

6. Three Tips
1. Demonstrate the value of data on an
individual level
1. Tie the data to the organization’s mission
2. Disperse the data squad

7. The Context: YNPN Boston
• Mission: to develop a stronger, higher
impact nonprofit community by engaging
young professionals and their
organizations
• All volunteer-run
– 5 board members (and growing!)
– 20 ambassadors

8. 1. Demonstrate the value of data
on an individual level

9. Advisory Council
Co-chair 1
Knowledge
Manager
Co-chair 2
Technology
Manager
Communications
Manager
Ambassador/
Events Team
Recruitment/
Membership
Manager
Treasurer/
Secretary
Event/Community
Building
Ambassadors
In 2011-2012...

10. Professional
development
goals
Professional
development
needs
Communications
Programming/Eve
nts
Demographic
information
Event survey from
launch event
Opportunities to
get involved
Chance to win a
prize
Wish list of
program offerings

11. 2. Tie the data to the
organization’s mission

12. 2. Tie the data to the
organization’s mission

13. Board Chair
Operations Team Management Team
Director of
Operations
Director of Talent
Management &
Recruitment
Director of Strategic
Implementation
Director of
Development &
Strategic Partnerships
National Liaison
Director of
Membership &
Volunteers
Director(s) of
Communications &
Technology
Director of
Programming
Director of
Research/Knowledge
In 2012-2013...

14. A More Strategic Approach
• Professional
development survey
• Focus groups
• Post-event surveys
• YNPN National
survey

15. 3. Disperse the data squad

16. Where We Are Today

17. What are we up to now?
• Young Nonprofit Professionals Survey
– Turning data into stories
• Resource list for young nonprofit
professionals
• Interviews to understand membership
models
• Database

18. Wrapping Up
1. Demonstrate the value of data on an
individual level
1. Tie the data to the organization’s mission
2. Disperse the data squad

19. Concluding Remarks
• Alignment between data and the
organization's mission and structure
• Building a culture around data takes time
• Find your “data people” in Boston’s
nonprofit sector

20. Questions?
Contact info: jbenenson@ynpnboston.org
For more on YNPN Boston, visit: ynpnboston.org

21. Resources
• PerformWell.org: Offers a variety of webinars
(e.g., one on evidence-based practices in
organizations)
• BostonIndicators.org: The Boston Indicators
Project at The Boston Foundation
• BethKanter.org: A social media blog that often
contains info about data and research
• FiveThirtyEight.com: Fun data resource