Nonprofit Impact Reporting
Mixed-Method Study
In this case study, I was brought on by a mission-driven edtech nonprofit to help build their research and evaluation function from the ground up. With a growing portfolio of educational programs and initiatives, the organization needed a comprehensive data collection and reporting strategy to better measure impact and communicate outcomes to funders, donors, and board members. By developing a cross-functional, organization-wide research framework, we established a solid foundation for consistent data practices, enabling the organization to track program effectiveness, surface meaningful insights, and tell a more powerful story about their work.
The Challenge
The edtech nonprofit sought to develop a robust research department capable of measuring the impact of their diverse educational programs and initiatives.
My goal was to design and implement an organization-wide data collection strategy that would capture meaningful outcomes and insights, enabling the nonprofit to effectively report on program success to funders, donors, and board members.
The Solution
Phase 1: Creating a Data Roadmap
The first step was to develop a comprehensive data roadmap that mapped out all existing educational initiatives across the organization. This involved conducting interviews and workshops with program managers and key stakeholders to document each initiative’s goals, target audiences, and current data practices. The roadmap provided a clear, organization-wide overview that identified gaps, redundancies, and opportunities for standardizing data collection—setting the stage for more cohesive and strategic impact measurement.
Phase 2: Defining Impact Measurement
With the data roadmap in place, the next phase focused on developing tailored impact measurements for each educational initiative. Working closely with program teams, we identified key performance indicators (KPIs) that aligned with both the organization’s mission and the expectations of funders and donors. This process ensured that the metrics captured meaningful outcomes, such as student engagement, knowledge gains, and behavioral changes, while also being feasible to collect and analyze.
Phase 3: Data Analysis and Reporting
The final phase involved implementing data collection processes, analyzing the gathered information, and generating clear, actionable reports. We established tools and workflows to streamline data capture, trained staff on best practices, and created reporting templates tailored for various audiences including board members and funders. This enabled the nonprofit to consistently track program effectiveness, demonstrate impact, and make data-driven decisions to improve and scale their educational efforts.
The Results
As a result of implementing the comprehensive research and data strategy, the nonprofit dramatically improved its ability to report not only on high-level outcomes in annual donor reports but also on the granular impacts and subtle features of each individual program. This deeper visibility enabled program leaders to refine and adapt their offerings based on real-world feedback and data, driving continuous improvement.
Internally, the organization strengthened its systems and processes for data management and collaboration, creating a culture of evidence-based decision-making that empowered staff at all levels to optimize educational products and maximize impact.