INDUSTRY INSIGHTS YOUR PEERS ARE READING
Any discussion about nonprofit data or analytics reminds me of Poe’s “The Purloined Letter” because so many organizations have a very valuable asset left out in plain sight. The data nonprofits have is often overlooked and undervalued by them. Everything begins with data quality. MORE
If you’ve migrated donor data from one CRM to another, no doubt you have dealt with a lot of difficult decisions. In fact, our donor data migration clients often express surprise at the number of decisions they have to make. D3: What do I do about data that won’t import? MORE
Nonprofits everywhere are struggling to get their hands on reliable, useful workplace giving data from corporate giving programs. Who remembers the days of charities arguing with local United Ways over the donor data? Too many sources of donor data to keep track of. MORE
Using analytical, data-driven insights enables you to reinvent the way your institution operates. Data analytics and business intelligence tools are no longer nice to have, they’re a prerequisite for success. Data Analytics is Important for Admissions. MORE
At Blackbaud, where I serve as Chief Technology Officer, one of our core tenets has been to design an open, cloud-based software and data architecture. Internet of Things (IoT) technology is cheap, accessible, and can transform normal household items into network devices which generate data. MORE
You can have all the data in the world but if it is not accurate or documented then it can be of very little use to you. For example do you have birth dates or email addresses and if not you may want to consider a data appends for these items. MORE
January’s Fireside Chat was all about being “data-driven” in your nonprofit endeavors. It’s a topic especially close to our hearts as admitted data nerds, but more so, it’s the future of how nonprofits will strive toward and achieve greater goals. marketing design data MORE
Let me offer one piece of advice: let’s not get distracted by the story and instead focus on the epilogue – the Ice Bucket Epilogue: it’s about the data. It’s true – Mashable reported this amazing data milestone in September. It’s all about the data. MORE
Third Sector Labs recently presented a data migration webinar with host Bloomerang. As always, if you have questions about a donor data migration project, or any of your nonprofit data needs, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Processes: Who manages manual data entry? MORE
The root cause of bad data management for any organization – for-profit, nonprofit or government – can usually be found in the data management paradigm itself. But they always check our data for leads. building a central data repository. MORE
Fundraising data analytics is becoming more popular – and more necessary in today’s philanthropy marketplace. Admittedly, for many of us in the sector, the very mention of ‘data analytics’ sounds intimidating. ” What is fundraising data analytics? MORE
To approach the topic of data health at nonprofits, I like to start by talking about something that isn’t data (or at least doesn’t seem like it is). The actions, conversations, and even feelings that occur in that room are data points—but they need to be seen. MORE
Have you completed your fundraising data checklist? What are we talking about – a fundraising DATA checklist? But as we have pointed out before via a cataloguing of more than 150 recommendations for improving fundraising appeals , most charities are making the same common fundraising mistake they made last year, and the year before – bad data management. Because data is boring. Fundraising data has many touch-points throughout your organization. MORE
It is appropriate to expect positive ROI from data analytics, but remember that expectations must be fueled by actions! Here are 4 key ways data and analytics can help your organization achieve positive ROI: 1. MORE
I had the privilege of hearing from Rosie Siemer and Dana Hines on Membership & Engagement: The Power of Data at bbcon 2016. I loved this session; not only am I an undisputed data nerd, but also I love finding new ways to engage and communicate better. Happy data-mining! MORE
The topic – “Drive Your Fundraising Success with Strategy, Smart Technology and Better Data” – focused on the importance of aligning fundraising strategy, technology and a data in order to maximize the efficiencies of all three. Unfortunately, not every fundraising strategy, technology and data question could be answered, and so we wanted to share more of the Q&A here. How do we get “better data”? MORE
Understanding data is critically important to success in any business. Unfortunately, data can be boring, even confusing. Many nonprofits don’t know their donor data. If we don’t know our donor data, how can we effectively plan a fundraising appeal? So, how do we know that nonprofits don’t know their donor data? Data degrades. For starters, ALL data degrades over time. Less than 5% of the advice focused on technology and/or data. MORE
To find out more about how nonprofits are using (or not using) their data to do more good, we asked over 460 nonprofit professionals about their habits, culture, and outlook on the state of data at their organizations. Most nonprofits are collecting data, few know what to do with it. MORE
In recent years, we’ve seen a major uptick in organizations across the social good sector looking at data – and how to use data – in new ways. Data champions —whether inside a nonprofit organization or a foundation—know that data on its own doesn’t accelerate impact on its own. MORE
In the Age of Big Data, countless companies are turning their wealth of data into an extremely valuable asset. Unfortunately, the same is not true for many nonprofits and their data. In the book , I explore how nonprofits struggle with maximizing the value in their data. MORE
The world is undergoing a data revolution, and the social sector is no exception. Yet, social enterprises arent typically made up of data geeks. They desperately need to use data better and multiply its impact, but they rarely have the skills or infrastructure to do so effectively. MORE
If your data isn’t getting better, it’s getting worse. – TSL data expert. And no, we aren’t simply advocating some chaos theory about data. Organizations in every industry today dependent on good data to be successful. Document your data needs. MORE
Because our software, the CommunityOS , helps nonprofits and government organizations capture large amounts of complex human service data, we have been quite interested in infographics and have even created a few such as our CommunityOS Customer Snapshot Infographic (shown to the right). MORE
When it comes to nonprofit data, especially donor data, there’s a running debate. Which is more important, data quality or quantity? Like the old Miller Lite commercials, ‘ Tastes Great vs. Less Filling ‘ Your nonprofit organization needs to acquire new donors (data quantity), but you also need the ‘right’ data in order to foster better, longer term relationships (data quality). Donor data quality must come first. MORE
Using data to drive your digital marketing campaigns is essential. Without the discipline of data, your digital marketing success is based more on hope than strategy and execution. Our corporate marketers understand the criticality of data all too well, especially retailers. MORE
Marketers everywhere have access to more information, quantifiable data, and often times, funds than ever before. Big data is responsible for empowering a true movement in the industry. Is data alone enough? We very well may be living in the golden age of marketing. MORE
These stories about the needs in our communities are data points of real, positive change. Data is now a core resource. We’re witnessing how data-driven insights are becoming a prerequisite in decision-making and in the practical work of policy and social service organizations. MORE
In fact, we have so much data to analyze and interpret that it can be hard to know where to start. Before you get overwhelmed and are tempted to spend exorbitant amounts of money on data management, take a step back and think about what you really need. First: Devise a data strategy. MORE
Let’s face it … there is a direct relationship between the number of fundraising software systems we are using and the data problems we are creating for ourselves. More fundraising software = more data headaches. We don’t know our data. – TSL data expert. MORE
The key is moving from simply collecting data to actually leveraging your nonprofit’s data in the right ways. Here are three important components to thinking like a data driven nonprofit : Find Meaning in Your Nonprofit Data. Turn Your Data Insights into Action. MORE
We know that Big Data is fundamentally changing how companies make decisions and improve their performance, but many nonprofit organizations have lagged behind in this area. What I found is compiled in the new book Data Driven Nonprofits. Some organizations still treat data as exhaust. MORE
Data scientists and prospect researchers on the nonprofit payroll are working side by side to mine data within the nonprofit’s information system and create models that predict who is likely to give—and who is not. Top 20 Data Appends for Nonprofits. MORE
The topic of consumer data privacy is getting more and more attention in the media and on Capitol Hill. The topic of consumer data privacy has had the attention of Capitol Hill for some time. A few months back, we provided an update on steps taken by Senator Rockefeller’s Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to expand its investigation into the data brokerage industry. More specifically, it’s about consumer data. Is big data bad? MORE
How do you know when your organization is storing and using too much data? In fact, being in the nonprofit data services business, we get asked lots of questions about how to obtain more donor data, better data, the right data. Too much data vs data hoarding. MORE
Is your organization is a donor data hoarder? Data hoarding extends far beyond just your donor data and CRM software. It applies to outcome measurements, web traffic, social media data, emails, image files, document versioning, backups, backups of backups, etc. MORE
“Big data” has been a “big topic” for quite some time now. What does big data mean? What are the steps to utilizing big data effectively? Step 1: Find the right suite of data analytics products and services! Step 2: Learn to trust the data results. MORE
We believe that organizations should be compensated for the creation, organization, maintenance, and updates of community information data, especially in the nonprofit space. This does not mean that data should be kept private and self-contained. MORE
Every nonprofit needs a data management plan, especially for their donor data. The plan needs to address a variety of topics, such as data hygiene and enrichment , data usage in various communications activities , input/output management, and more. MORE
You probably have data that’s in the same shape as my old guitar. Using that data for an analysis or a campaign is like me trying to play that guitar without fixing her up. I attended several sessions at bbcon 2015 about data-driven decision making. MORE
Data is changing how our world operates. As the collection of data becomes ubiquitous and seamless and the analysis of data more powerful, it is changing every aspect of our lives. Similarly, data science methods can help us engage in continuous learning. MORE
Is it just me, or is everything coming up data in 2013? Technology data Nonprofit Technology Conference Nonprofit Technology Network nonprofits smart dataHoping to strengthen organizations, NTEN launched Communities of Impact this year. MORE
What about access to great data that helps us to understand the outcomes being produced by our programs and to know our donors and their interests better? Isn’t all this technology and data helping? All this technology is helping us to capture more data than ever. MORE
It was a blast to be with an entire conference full of social good software and data people from around the world. Using Software and Data to Change the World We are in an amazing time. Of course we know that the questioner has no data to speak of and today’s answer is probably “nothing.” We have to use this opening to help advance our goal; using software and data to change the world for the better! Now this vision is not just about more data. MORE
I recently attended AHP Convene Canada 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia and attended an important session “Turning Data Analytics into Meaningful Business Intelligence” led by Lynn Conforti and Sheila Tilotta of Southlake Regional Health Centre Foundation. MORE
Data Related Topics 3rd Sector Labs
JUNE 1, 2015
Every nonprofit needs a data management plan, especially for their donor data. The plan needs to address a variety of topics, such as data hygiene and enrichment , data usage in various communications activities , input/output management, and more.
3rd Sector Labs
MARCH 1, 2015
Is your organization is a donor data hoarder? Data hoarding extends far beyond just your donor data and CRM software. It applies to outcome measurements, web traffic, social media data, emails, image files, document versioning, backups, backups of backups, etc.
3rd Sector Labs
APRIL 28, 2014
If you’ve migrated donor data from one CRM to another, no doubt you have dealt with a lot of difficult decisions. In fact, our donor data migration clients often express surprise at the number of decisions they have to make. D3: What do I do about data that won’t import?
3rd Sector Labs
OCTOBER 2, 2014
Let me offer one piece of advice: let’s not get distracted by the story and instead focus on the epilogue – the Ice Bucket Epilogue: it’s about the data. It’s true – Mashable reported this amazing data milestone in September. It’s all about the data.
Connection Cafe
MAY 17, 2019
Using analytical, data-driven insights enables you to reinvent the way your institution operates. Data analytics and business intelligence tools are no longer nice to have, they’re a prerequisite for success. Data Analytics is Important for Admissions.
3rd Sector Labs
SEPTEMBER 9, 2014
How do you know when your organization is storing and using too much data? In fact, being in the nonprofit data services business, we get asked lots of questions about how to obtain more donor data, better data, the right data. Too much data vs data hoarding.
3rd Sector Labs
JULY 22, 2014
Let’s face it … there is a direct relationship between the number of fundraising software systems we are using and the data problems we are creating for ourselves. More fundraising software = more data headaches. We don’t know our data. – TSL data expert.
3rd Sector Labs
NOVEMBER 13, 2014
The root cause of bad data management for any organization – for-profit, nonprofit or government – can usually be found in the data management paradigm itself. But they always check our data for leads. building a central data repository.
Beneblog: Technology Meets Society
AUGUST 11, 2014
The world is undergoing a data revolution, and the social sector is no exception. Yet, social enterprises arent typically made up of data geeks. They desperately need to use data better and multiply its impact, but they rarely have the skills or infrastructure to do so effectively.
3rd Sector Labs
OCTOBER 5, 2015
Nonprofits everywhere are struggling to get their hands on reliable, useful workplace giving data from corporate giving programs. Who remembers the days of charities arguing with local United Ways over the donor data? Too many sources of donor data to keep track of.
3rd Sector Labs
MAY 14, 2014
Fundraising data analytics is becoming more popular – and more necessary in today’s philanthropy marketplace. Admittedly, for many of us in the sector, the very mention of ‘data analytics’ sounds intimidating. ” What is fundraising data analytics?
Connection Cafe
SEPTEMBER 6, 2016
We know that Big Data is fundamentally changing how companies make decisions and improve their performance, but many nonprofit organizations have lagged behind in this area. What I found is compiled in the new book Data Driven Nonprofits. Some organizations still treat data as exhaust.
Connection Cafe
JULY 28, 2017
At Blackbaud, where I serve as Chief Technology Officer, one of our core tenets has been to design an open, cloud-based software and data architecture. Internet of Things (IoT) technology is cheap, accessible, and can transform normal household items into network devices which generate data.
3rd Sector Labs
AUGUST 15, 2014
Using data to drive your digital marketing campaigns is essential. Without the discipline of data, your digital marketing success is based more on hope than strategy and execution. Our corporate marketers understand the criticality of data all too well, especially retailers.
Connection Cafe
APRIL 25, 2017
In recent years, we’ve seen a major uptick in organizations across the social good sector looking at data – and how to use data – in new ways. Data champions —whether inside a nonprofit organization or a foundation—know that data on its own doesn’t accelerate impact on its own.
Connection Cafe
JULY 27, 2016
Any discussion about nonprofit data or analytics reminds me of Poe’s “The Purloined Letter” because so many organizations have a very valuable asset left out in plain sight. The data nonprofits have is often overlooked and undervalued by them. Everything begins with data quality.
Connection Cafe
APRIL 18, 2017
The key is moving from simply collecting data to actually leveraging your nonprofit’s data in the right ways. Here are three important components to thinking like a data driven nonprofit : Find Meaning in Your Nonprofit Data. Turn Your Data Insights into Action.
3rd Sector Labs
APRIL 14, 2014
If your data isn’t getting better, it’s getting worse. – TSL data expert. And no, we aren’t simply advocating some chaos theory about data. Organizations in every industry today dependent on good data to be successful. Document your data needs.
Connection Cafe
NOVEMBER 15, 2013
You can have all the data in the world but if it is not accurate or documented then it can be of very little use to you. For example do you have birth dates or email addresses and if not you may want to consider a data appends for these items.
3rd Sector Labs
JULY 16, 2014
When it comes to nonprofit data, especially donor data, there’s a running debate. Which is more important, data quality or quantity? Like the old Miller Lite commercials, ‘ Tastes Great vs. Less Filling ‘ Your nonprofit organization needs to acquire new donors (data quantity), but you also need the ‘right’ data in order to foster better, longer term relationships (data quality). Donor data quality must come first.
3rd Sector Labs
AUGUST 22, 2014
Third Sector Labs recently presented a data migration webinar with host Bloomerang. As always, if you have questions about a donor data migration project, or any of your nonprofit data needs, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Processes: Who manages manual data entry?
3rd Sector Labs
MAY 29, 2014
What about access to great data that helps us to understand the outcomes being produced by our programs and to know our donors and their interests better? Isn’t all this technology and data helping? All this technology is helping us to capture more data than ever.
Connection Cafe
MAY 30, 2017
Data is changing how our world operates. As the collection of data becomes ubiquitous and seamless and the analysis of data more powerful, it is changing every aspect of our lives. Similarly, data science methods can help us engage in continuous learning.
VisionLink
APRIL 16, 2014
We believe that organizations should be compensated for the creation, organization, maintenance, and updates of community information data, especially in the nonprofit space. This does not mean that data should be kept private and self-contained.
Connection Cafe
MAY 24, 2018
To approach the topic of data health at nonprofits, I like to start by talking about something that isn’t data (or at least doesn’t seem like it is). The actions, conversations, and even feelings that occur in that room are data points—but they need to be seen.
Beneblog: Technology Meets Society
MARCH 10, 2014
These stories about the needs in our communities are data points of real, positive change. Data is now a core resource. We’re witnessing how data-driven insights are becoming a prerequisite in decision-making and in the practical work of policy and social service organizations.
Connection Cafe
OCTOBER 9, 2017
Data scientists and prospect researchers on the nonprofit payroll are working side by side to mine data within the nonprofit’s information system and create models that predict who is likely to give—and who is not. Top 20 Data Appends for Nonprofits.
EveryAction
MARCH 18, 2016
To find out more about how nonprofits are using (or not using) their data to do more good, we asked over 460 nonprofit professionals about their habits, culture, and outlook on the state of data at their organizations. Most nonprofits are collecting data, few know what to do with it.
Connection Cafe
MAY 12, 2015
I recently attended AHP Convene Canada 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia and attended an important session “Turning Data Analytics into Meaningful Business Intelligence” led by Lynn Conforti and Sheila Tilotta of Southlake Regional Health Centre Foundation.
Connection Cafe
FEBRUARY 28, 2013
Is it just me, or is everything coming up data in 2013? Technology data Nonprofit Technology Conference Nonprofit Technology Network nonprofits smart dataHoping to strengthen organizations, NTEN launched Communities of Impact this year.
3rd Sector Labs
SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
Have you completed your fundraising data checklist? What are we talking about – a fundraising DATA checklist? But as we have pointed out before via a cataloguing of more than 150 recommendations for improving fundraising appeals , most charities are making the same common fundraising mistake they made last year, and the year before – bad data management. Because data is boring. Fundraising data has many touch-points throughout your organization.
Connection Cafe
DECEMBER 2, 2016
I had the privilege of hearing from Rosie Siemer and Dana Hines on Membership & Engagement: The Power of Data at bbcon 2016. I loved this session; not only am I an undisputed data nerd, but also I love finding new ways to engage and communicate better. Happy data-mining!
EveryAction
FEBRUARY 1, 2016
January’s Fireside Chat was all about being “data-driven” in your nonprofit endeavors. It’s a topic especially close to our hearts as admitted data nerds, but more so, it’s the future of how nonprofits will strive toward and achieve greater goals. marketing design data
3rd Sector Labs
JUNE 30, 2014
Understanding data is critically important to success in any business. Unfortunately, data can be boring, even confusing. Many nonprofits don’t know their donor data. If we don’t know our donor data, how can we effectively plan a fundraising appeal? So, how do we know that nonprofits don’t know their donor data? Data degrades. For starters, ALL data degrades over time. Less than 5% of the advice focused on technology and/or data.
Connection Cafe
JULY 9, 2015
“Big data” has been a “big topic” for quite some time now. What does big data mean? What are the steps to utilizing big data effectively? Step 1: Find the right suite of data analytics products and services! Step 2: Learn to trust the data results.
TechImpact
JULY 25, 2014
Marketers everywhere have access to more information, quantifiable data, and often times, funds than ever before. Big data is responsible for empowering a true movement in the industry. Is data alone enough? We very well may be living in the golden age of marketing.
3rd Sector Labs
JUNE 11, 2014
The topic of consumer data privacy is getting more and more attention in the media and on Capitol Hill. The topic of consumer data privacy has had the attention of Capitol Hill for some time. A few months back, we provided an update on steps taken by Senator Rockefeller’s Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to expand its investigation into the data brokerage industry. More specifically, it’s about consumer data. Is big data bad?
3rd Sector Labs
APRIL 4, 2014
The topic – “Drive Your Fundraising Success with Strategy, Smart Technology and Better Data” – focused on the importance of aligning fundraising strategy, technology and a data in order to maximize the efficiencies of all three. Unfortunately, not every fundraising strategy, technology and data question could be answered, and so we wanted to share more of the Q&A here. How do we get “better data”?
Connection Cafe
JANUARY 13, 2016
You probably have data that’s in the same shape as my old guitar. Using that data for an analysis or a campaign is like me trying to play that guitar without fixing her up. I attended several sessions at bbcon 2015 about data-driven decision making.
Connection Cafe
OCTOBER 15, 2015
In fact, we have so much data to analyze and interpret that it can be hard to know where to start. Before you get overwhelmed and are tempted to spend exorbitant amounts of money on data management, take a step back and think about what you really need. First: Devise a data strategy.
Beneblog: Technology Meets Society
JULY 16, 2018
It was a blast to be with an entire conference full of social good software and data people from around the world. Using Software and Data to Change the World We are in an amazing time. Of course we know that the questioner has no data to speak of and today’s answer is probably “nothing.” We have to use this opening to help advance our goal; using software and data to change the world for the better! Now this vision is not just about more data.
VisionLink
JANUARY 27, 2014
Because our software, the CommunityOS , helps nonprofits and government organizations capture large amounts of complex human service data, we have been quite interested in infographics and have even created a few such as our CommunityOS Customer Snapshot Infographic (shown to the right).
Connection Cafe
APRIL 10, 2017
It is appropriate to expect positive ROI from data analytics, but remember that expectations must be fueled by actions! Here are 4 key ways data and analytics can help your organization achieve positive ROI: 1.
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