Utilizing data for social impact

Impact

Communities are strongest when organizations have knowledge, relationships and confidence to use data collaboratively and responsibly. Data for Social impact (DSI) is an initiative of the Center for Social Development within the Brown School at WashU that builds community data capacity by helping nonprofits, public agencies, philanthropic organizations, researchers, and community partners use data to strengthen decision-making, improve programs, and advance equitable outcomes. Through collaborative learning, practice resources, and trusted partnerships, DSI equips organizations to use data not simply to measure impact, but to create it.  

Challenge

By being more strategic and collaborative in how they engage with data, social sector organizations have an opportunity to advance their missions and increase impact. Yet limited capacity, fragments systems, technical jargon, and unequal access to data skills can make it difficult to translate information into meaningful action. 

At the same time, communities increasingly expect to play a greater role in shaping how data is collected, interpreted, and shared. Building trust requires more than better technology—it requires collaboration, transparency, and meaningful engagement with the people data is intended to serve. 

Our plan

WashU Public Exchange lent it’s expertise in project management, coalition building, and impact orientation to assist in translating DSI’s model and key findings into a new tool for public use: “Cultivating Collective Impact: Playbook for Building Community Data Capacity.”

Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all solution, DSI outlines an approach to community data capacity that emphasizes the need to build on existing strengths, identify shared priorities, and co-create practical approaches that fit their unique context. This resource shares lessons learned, practical guidance, and ways to create similar initiatives in other cities or regions.