This is the third post in a series in which I implore nonprofits to do some critical reflecting and planning before they purchase, design, or modify their client databases. However, the same tips are helpful before you embark on any evaluation work or make changes to your data collection forms, tools, or processes, too. This is just plain good thinking!
I think there are four key things organizations need to know when planning their evaluation and data management work. Click the links below to see the first two posts.
- Know Your Programs
- Know Your Data
- Know What You Want to Know
- Know What Your Stakeholders Need
In this post, I’m tackling #3: Know what you want to know.
Those of you who know me have heard me say countless times, “I hate waste!” I hate wasted time, energy, money, and opportunities. Wasted information and learning is particularly irksome. I believe if your organization is going to invest significant human and financial resources in any data collection or evaluation work, it’s worth investing a little more time to get the absolute most out of it as you can. Design it so you can answer as many questions as possible.
Spark Curiosity
Often, organizations are so consumed and bound by their minimum reporting requirements that they rarely think about what they want to know. Consider all the stories your organization has to tell, the decisions it has to make, the plans it has to develop, and the ways data can inform and strengthen each of them.
I’ve heard many program and organizational leaders lament the lack of curiosity among their staff or Board. They say there isn’t much need or appetite for data. But I’ve found that folks just need a little help to spark their curiosity and get the ball rolling. Here are some suggestions.
Ask your staff, leaders and Board to finish these sentences:
- If we knew _________, we could ________.
- I wonder if
Ask your staff, leaders, and Board which data could help you:
- Better demonstrate the need for your program?
- Describe the people you serve?
- Identify unmet needs?
- Identify collaborative partners or opportunities for expansion?
- Decide where to go next?
- Evaluate staff effectiveness?
- Tell your story in a compelling way?
As people fill in the blanks and answer the questions, listen for data points and consider where in your existing data collection tools and processes you could gather that information. It can be as simple as adding a couple new questions to an intake form, keeping track of the types of referrals we make, adding some checklists to service documentation, etc. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you need separate tools and processes for answering different types of questions. Approach all of your work with an understanding of what you want and need to know, and then cast a wide net and catch as much as you can at once.