Measurable Outcomes

Stop with the Tally Marks! Make Excel Functions Do it for You!

This is the last of five posts in a series on how nonprofits can leverage Excel to simplify, streamline, and accelerate their data analysis. The IllumiLab is grateful to have one of our clients, Megan Ondr-Cooper of CASA St. Louis, sharing her enthusiasm and expertise with us. This time, Megan is talking about functions .[…]

7 Tips for Data Discussions with the Folks on the Front Line

This is our third post from guest blogger, Julia Pickup. Julia and I are unicorns in the world of social work. We are therapists who dig numbers. We are bleeding hearts who love to manage and improve processes. We are artists and scientists. You could also say we are bilingual because we can tell stories[…]

Using the Science of Measurement to Enhance the Art of Clinical Work (Part 2)

This is the second post from our guest blogger, Julia Pickup, who is lending her unique perspective on outcome measurement, evaluation, and cultures of learning and improvement. Julia is a skilled family therapist and leader of clinicians. This set of posts is named after a common point of resistance I meet when talking with direct[…]

Bringing Data to Life: Facilitating Engaging Discussions

I’ve been to countless team, committee, and Board meetings where entire packets and slide decks of lists, tables, and graphs of data are presented only to be glanced at and set aside. Rarely do we visualize and present data in a way that suggests we could and should reflect on or engage with it. What[…]

Driving Board & Committee Work with Data

Management and quality guru W. Edwards Deming said, “Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion.” Does that sound like one of your committee meetings? Lots of opinions? Do your committees glance at reports you spent hours preparing and then say things like, “And?” or “So?” or “Yeah, but . . .” Do your[…]

Data and Strategy and Boards – Oh My!

We are back after taking a hiatus in July to focus on wrapping up and ramping up several projects. We are excited to dig into this series of posts about data, strategy, and nonprofit governance. Over the past few months, several of our clients have faced challenges when it comes to engaging their Boards and[…]