21st Century Information Scaffolding for Social Change

May 3, 2014Lindsay J.K. Nichols (@lindsaynichols)GuideStar (@GuideStarUSA)#ODFWIB

see IP note on final slide

1. How stronger information systems support innovation in the nonprofit sector

2. The data we have at our fingertips

3. Making that data meaningful

4. Basic building blocks that facilitate better access to – and understanding of – nonprofit data

5. How YOU can use your own org’s data to better connect with supporters

Art by Banksy

The two elephants in the room…

E1: Some nonprofits are better than others (they create more social or environmental impact per dollar)

E2: Some donors are better than others(their donations create more social or environmental impact per dollar)

volatileuncertain ambiguous

complex

#ODFWIB @lindsaynichols @guidestarusa

visionunderstanding agility

clarity

#ODFWIB @lindsaynichols @guidestarusa

8

Information about…

Organizations (e.g., Nurse-Family Partnership is currently serving 22,795 babies and their mothers in 40 states across the U.S.)

Resources (e.g., The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation made a 5-year, $10 million grant to Nurse-Family Partnership in 2007)

Interventions (e.g., regular nurse visitation for new mothers their babies leads to a .2 point increase in math & reading GPA in grades 1-6)

Issues (e.g., 50% of children from at-risk backgrounds are below the basic level for reading and math skills

#ODFWIB @lindsaynichols @guidestarusa

15

A nonprofit’s investments in training, planning, evaluation, and internal systems—

investments in itself—are how are how a nonprofit sustains and improves its impact on

the world.

www.overheadmyth.com

Low Pay, Make Do, Do

Without Culture

Underfunding of

Overhead

Funder Unrealistic

Expectations

Coverage from 144 Outlets

11 Blog Posts

20

http://hopeconsulting.us/pdf/Money%20for%20Good_Final.pdf

21

Money for GoodOnly 1/3 of donors

research

~5% research to find the best

nonprofit

22www.guidestar.org/moneyforgood

Money for Good II

#ODFWIB @lindsaynichols @guidestarusa

The FREE GuideStar Exchange

Basic information such as contact information, mission statement, etc.

Financial Information

Impact and effectiveness information www.guidestar.org/exchang

e

25

26

IRS, GuideStar Exchange,

Other Partners

GuideStar

Clients and

Partners

GuideStar

Data about 1.5M 501c3 nonprofits

*IRS*GuideStar Exchange

*DonorEdge Community Foundations

8 Top Donor Advised Funds:

*Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund*Schwab Charitable Gift Fund

20 Donation Portals Processing $150M+

annually:*Network for Good

*JustGive

5 Major Online Destinations:*Facebook Causes*Search Engines

10M annual visitors to guidestar.org 70K social media

followers

140,000+ nonprofit reviews from beneficiaries, volunteers:*GreatNonprofits

Impact assessments about 600+ nonprofits

from 5 Expert Partners:

*Philanthropedia, GuideStar*GiveWell

*RootCause

Data Coming into GuideStar:

Data Reaching:

•Easily maintain your organization’s profile reaching 110+ leading and reputable websites and private networks•Manage your brand on GuideStar’s extended network

100s of other clients and partners

Bronze

-leve

l benefits

•Participation widget•Promotional tool kit•Nonprofit alerts•First access to GuideStar webinars

Silver-leve

l benefits

• Bronze-level benefits plus

• FC’s Foundation Directory Online and in-person grantseeker trainings discounts

• Free VolunteerMatch premium recruitment tools for 1 year

• Grassroots.org exclusive technology tools

Gold-leve

l benefits

• Bronze- and silver-level benefits plus

• 1 free seat (annual subscription) to GuideStar Premium ($1500 value)

29

1. What is your organization aiming to accomplish?2. What are your strategies for making this

happen?3. What are your organization’s capabilities for

doing this?4. How will your organization know if you are

making progress?5. What have and haven’t you accomplished so

far?– A framework for advancing strategic thinking.– A standardized method for sharing concise

information with key stakeholders and the public.

30

Benefits Include:• Encouraging people to invest their money,

time, and attention in effective organizations.

• Highlighting the difference your organization makes.

• Sharpening your approaches.• Positioning your organization to work with

and learn from others.

31

Claim Your GuideStar Exchange Form

www.guidestar.org

#ODFWIB @lindsaynichols @guidestarusa

Individual ReviewsYelp-like reviews written by individuals in the community

Collects individual reviews and provides a 1-5 star rating for each organization

32

33

#ODFWIB @lindsaynichols @guidestarusa

35

Celebrate Your Success

http://npo.gs/impactpage

37

Evolving the definition of transparency:- Timely- Interactive- Inclusive- Comprehensive

http://npo.gs/GSImpactCall2

Next Impact Call: May 12, 2014, 2-3 pm ET- Financials- Programs- New developments- Failures

#ODFWIB @lindsaynichols @guidestarusa

Know Your Donors

Closing thought #1: Data ≠ numbers.

Closing thought #2: It’s time we acknowledge the elephants.

Closing thought #3: Donors care.

Closing thought #4: It’s not about us.

43

Questions?

Licensing

The (1) text and (2) basic graphical representations in this presentation are under a Creative Commons Attribution license. The photographs and other copied images are not, as I do not have rights to them.

Lindsay J.K. Nichols lnichols@guidestar.org

GuideStarUSA

@GuideStarUSA

+GuideStarGuideStar

GuideStarUSAGuideStar

The GuideStar Blog: http://trust.guidestar.org