This document discusses how big data and analytics will help the world of charities. It argues that the financial flows to charities, their operations, and government policy will all need to shift as data technology rapidly grows. Charities will need to address issues around who owns and manages the increasing data being collected. This data, from sources like charities, donors, news, and third parties, is currently being used by various stakeholders like funders, charities, and social enterprises to make funding decisions, identify opportunities, and drive impact. A case study is presented on how data was used in a hackathon event. The role of data in influencing estate planning and planned giving conversations is also discussed.

1. How Big Data and AnalyticsWill Help
TheWorld of Charities
The Best of Analytics, Big Data & the Cloud II – May 15, 10:30am

2. Thesis
 Financial: The way that money flows into the
charitable sector is changing due to the information
available to donors and their advisors.
 Operations: The way that charities operate is going
to shift significantly due to the rapid growth and
shift in data related technology.
 Policy: Government is going to be required to
address holes in legislation as the philanthropic
industry evolves.

3. Philanthropic Industry
 Structure and Best Practices
 Academics/Peer Review Journals/Research
 Regulations/Standards/Benchmarks
 Support Platforms (online & offline)
 Data/Measurements
Source: Lucy Bernholz

4. Information Flow
Donor Advisor Charity

5. “Unlike in past eras, social sector organizations
are now in direct control of a mass media
communication medium, more powerful than
any that proceeded it”
- The Communications Network

6. Charity Evolution

7. “Heading for a Revolution...”
Industrial Revolution
 Improved productivity 
Assembly Line
 Technology  Steam power,
shipping systems
 Raw materials  Resource
extraction
 Infrastructure  Government
Policies
Information Revolution
 Improved productivity 
Social networks to leverage
operational objectives
(crowd-sourcing)
 Technology  Internet
 Raw materials  Ideas
 Infrastructure  Government
Policies, co-work space, social
networks

9. What is the data?Who owns it?Who
manages it?
Image: Google Charity

10. Place2Give
Government
3rd Party
Evaluators
Charities
Media/Community/
Social Media
Donor/
User

11. Charities (annual reports, business
plans, project plans, financials)
Donors (testimonials, search
patterns, profiles)
News Aggregators – Google News,
Social Media (Twitter, LinkedIn,
Facebook, YouTube)
3rd party partners & public sources –
CRA, Charity Intelligence, Katipult,
Dexterity Consulting, Fraser
Institute, Imagine Canada
Place2Give

12. Charity Profiles Donor Type/Fit Score
Operations Outcomes
Risk
Financial
Management
Community
Engagement
Maverick
Steady
Informed
Psychographic Analysis

13. Place2Give
Database
API #1
API #2
API #3
Advisor
Toolbox
Data
Resale
Corporate
Giving
Portal
~1100 users/mo researching 2 charities
~$3MM transacted annually from data

14. What is the data used for?
Funders
 Start conversations
 Find opportunities
 Make decisions
 Share stories
 Influence policy
 Drive impact
Charities
 Building new
businesses
 Identifying new
solutions
 Source strategic
partners
 Influence policy
 Drive impact
 Lead the conversation
 Identify market
opportunities
 Understand competition
 Find opportunities
 Share stories
 Drive impact
Social Enterprises

15. Case Study: Hack-a-Thon

16. Digital Legacy Planning
How data is influencing the estate planning and planned giving
conversations
Photo credits: kipling.com; myoklg.com; loganmanzer.wordpress.com

17. Contact information
Gena Rotstein, Chief Conversationalist
403-860-7572
gena@dexterityconsulting.ca
@Place2Give
www.place2give.com