Making Data Work for You: Using Research to Improve Practice and Communicate Impact

Saturday Skill Ups is a free learning series by New Venture Partners, designed for professionals working in community-based organisations and small nonprofits. Through practical, expert-led sessions delivered online, this series helps teams and leaders build confidence, enhance capabilities, and adapt to the evolving needs of the social sector.

The series features eight sessions covering key themes such as:

• Effective programming
  
  

• Quality communications
  
  

• Resource mobilisation
  
  

• Organisational strengthening
  
  

About Session 5 | Making Data Work for You: Using Research to Improve Practice and Communicate Impact

NGOs often don’t see research as an end in itself — and this session builds on that belief. Instead, data becomes truly valuable when it helps improve programmes, guide real-time decisions, and communicate your impact more effectively.

This practical, myth-busting session will help teams move from being data-wary to data-ready. Through real examples from the sector, we’ll explore how both quantitative and qualitative data can be used to inform programme design, know when to pivot, and contribute to larger conversations around development and impact.

You’ll also learn how to design participatory, reflective research processes that include your team, your community, and your leadership — making data something your whole organisation can own and use.

Key takeaways:

• Build confidence in working with data, even without a research team
  
  

• Learn to use data for timely decisions and programme improvement
  
  

• See real-life examples of NGOs using data well — without being data-heavy
  
  

Target audience:

This session is ideal for mid to senior programme team members in nonprofits looking to make better use of data for design, decision-making, and storytelling — across sectors.

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New Venture Partners is a social enterprise that supports CBOs and growth-oriented nonprofits in scaling their impact. It works closely with partners on resource mobilisation, programme design, and team capacity building—covering areas like donor engagement, strategic planning, and compliance. Its experienced team brings sector expertise and creativity to help turn ideas into action. New Venture Partners also taps into a network of experts in M&E, compliance, web design, finance, and more.