From Data to Decisions: Making Nonprofit Data Work for You

How can nonprofits move from collecting more data to actually using it to make better decisions? For many organisations, programme data can be scattered across different systems, difficult to analyse, or disconnected from the questions teams need to answer.

In this practical, interactive session, we’ll explore how nonprofits can build a useful data + AI process — starting with the right questions, identifying the data needed to answer them, and building the foundations to collect, manage and analyse that data effectively. We’ll also look at where AI and other tools can help turn data into timely, actionable insights, while considering how to use them responsibly.

Key Takeaways

• Learn how to start with the right questions and identify the data needed to inform programme decisions.

• Understand practical approaches to collecting, managing, and analysing programme data.

• Explore how better data practices can strengthen funder reporting, accountability, and impact storytelling.

• Identify where AI and other tools can support data analysis and decision-making responsibly.

• Take away a practical framework for moving from data → insights → action within your organisation.

Who is this session for

This session is ideal for programme, MEL, monitoring and data professionals, and data leaders in NGOs and development organisations who collect, manage, or use programme data and want to make it more useful for decision-making.

Before the Session: Take IPN’s Data Maturity Assessment Today!

The assessment will help you understand where your organisation currently stands in its data maturity and identify areas where you may need to strengthen your data practices.

We recommend completing the assessment before the session. This will give you a starting point to reflect on during the session and help you connect the discussion and recommendations to your organisation’s own context. Click here.

Additional Resources

Here are some additional resources you can go through if you would like to learn more about the topic.

1. Is Your Data Actually Useful? A Practical Guide to Strengthening Data & MEL in NGOs

2. From Raw Data to Insights: Data Analysis with Technology for Nonprofits

3. What to Measure to Draw Insights from Raw Data?