Data Analytics for Non-Profits
Data Analytics is a key part of every business. As someone who hopes to work at a non-profit some day, I was especially curious to learn about data analysis for that particular mode of business, and what role data can play when profit is not a priority.
I was first introduced to this topic in my MIS 2502 course, Data Analytics, which I took during Spring 2016. As a class, we were discussing “The Power of Data”, and considering different ways organizations have harnessed the power of data to increase profits and improve the lives of their customers and constituents. Inspired by that conversation, I started researching different ways that data is important for charitable and non-profit businesses.
Through my research, I learned that for these non-profits, especially the smaller ones, it’s not always about how much data you have, but how well you are able to analyze the data you do have. One company that exemplifies this is an organization called Charity:Water. They work to bring clean, safe water to impoverished communities, and use GPS data and technology to help donors track exactly how and where their money is being used. Another company, Catholic Relief Services, use their data to improve the quality of their relief projects by focusing on the specific goals of the communities they serve. CRS also works to ensure that the first priority of their data collection is to honor the cultural preferences and human dignity of each person they interview and work with.
By looking at Charity:Water and Catholic Relief Services, it is clear that data has immeasurable value for non-profit organizations, not only to enable them to remain financially viable, but also to empower them to achieve their missions as effectively and efficiently as possible.
References
Completed Projects. 2016. 13 April 2016. <http://www.charitywater.org/projects/completed-projects>.
Hagens, Clara and et al. “Guidance on Monitoring and Evaluation.” October 2012. 13 April 2016. <http://www.crs.org/sites/default/files/tools-research/guidance-on-monitoring-and-evaluation.pdf>.
Halley, Lori. Big Data for Small Organizations. 4 October 2012. 13 April 2016. <http://www.nten.org/article/big-data-for-small-organizations/>.
Thakkar, Sima. WHEN BIG HEARTS MEET BIG DATA: 6 NONPROFITS USING DATA TO CHANGE THE WORLD. 10 June 2015. 13 April 2016. <https://www.umbel.com/blog/nonprofit/when-big-hearts-meet-big-data-6-nonprofits-using-data-change-world/>.
The 100% Model. 2016. 13 April 2016. <https://www.charitywater.org/100percent/>.