Data is a tool that can help us tell our stories and make sense of our world. It can help us build a plan to meet our missions and better support our communities.
Data has become a vital part of nonprofit operations and engagement. Whether it’s knowing how – and how well – your organization is meeting its mission, understanding the state of the nonprofit sector as a whole, or accessing and supporting public data initiatives to build stronger communities, we need to build effective and ethical policies and practices around data.
Don’t know where to start? We can help! This page outlines ways for organizations to learn more about the role of data: how to work with it in everyday operations, how to contribute to a better understanding of the nonprofit sector, and how to engage communities and other stakeholders to share data and learn from each other. We also provide links to data for and about the nonprofit sector in Ontario.
To help you on your journey, here are some great starting points:
- A glossary of terms to help you decipher key words and phrases related to data and the nonprofit sector
- A guide for nonprofits to develop sound data planning strategies from PolicyWise
- Statistics: Power from Data! a tool from Statistics Canada to help users work with statistical information
- A video blog resource explaining data and data governance
Learn more about the power of data for nonprofits with our Data 101 series of resources:
To make sense of some of the key terms, concepts, and approaches for nonprofits and how to use data, consider these links:
- Imagine Canada’s blog post, Demystifying Data for the Charitable Sector, which breaks down the terminology and concepts, while explaining their relevance to nonprofits
- ONN’s blog post, Developing Big Data Analysis for Public Benefit, to learn more about the opportunities for nonprofits to build open and publicly accessible data platforms
- ONN’s web page on the importance of developing a data strategy for Ontario’s nonprofit sector
To help make visual sense of your organization’s data, which you can share internally or with stakeholders, consider these resources on building data dashboards for nonprofits:
- The National Council of Nonprofit’s Dashboards for Nonprofits
- Nonprofit Quarterly’s Models and Components of a Great Nonprofit Dashboard
To understand better how to work with data more ethically and equitably, consider these resources:
- LLana James’ discussion of how race-based data related to COVID-19 may be used to discriminate against racialized communities in Ontario
- Rinaldo Walcott’s warning that a gap exists between race-based data collection and the claim it leads to better policy-making
- This overview from the Ontario Human Rights Commission, outlining how data collection may benefit communities
Our most recent additions:
- Doing Data Ethically: How the Social Sector Can Use Data Ethically and Safely
- Maximizing Impact through Administrative Data Sharing: Briefing Document
- Developing Big Data Analysis for Public Benefit
Browse our data resources: