Change is brewing: How nonprofits are turning data into action
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What’s happening: The Houston region is home to about 15,000 nonprofit organizations that are collecting vast amounts of data. Our latest episode of Upstream shares insights from a thriving learning community, Coffee & Quality, which helps local organizations use that data to better improve operations and outcomes. Panelists from the United Way and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research shared real-world examples of how data can drive decision making and create positive change across organizations.
Key takeaways: From an initial pilot in 2019, Coffee & Quality has grown to offer virtual sessions, a learning cohort, and fellows program. Most recently, the initiative expanded to the United Way of Galveston(opens in new window). Panelists noted that throughout the program’s evolution, key themes have surfaced:
- Data matters when it helps people improve their work.
- Nonprofit staff must feel empowered to use data.
- Feedback should be viewed as an opportunity for improvement—not a criticism.
- Quantitative and qualitative data are equally important.
- Relationships, trust, and collaboration play an important role in data and evaluation work.
