About

About the Data capacity Compass

The Data Capacity Compass is a comprehensive toolkit designed to help nonprofits navigate the complexities of data management and make data a driving force for their mission.

The Compass features eight dynamic tools that address key aspects of building data capacity, guiding your organization through a continuous improvement journey. To help you get started, the Compass begins with an assessment to pinpoint your organization’s needs and recommend the most relevant tools.

With the Compass, your organization can:

  • Strengthen data management strategies.

  • Analyze data effectively to inform decisions.

  • Demonstrate impact with confidence.

  • Optimize processes, safeguard data, and document practices.

  • Build your team’s data skills and manage projects with ease.

  • Foster a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

Whether you’re just starting with data or looking to refine your approach, the Compass is both comprehensive and flexible. Use it as a step-by-step guide for a full data transformation or focus on the tools that meet your unique challenges. The journey is yours to shape.

About the Practitioner Data Initiative

The Practitioner Data Initiative (PDI) is a Blueprint initiative funded by the Future Skills Centre that works directly with nonprofits to build their capacity to use data effectively. Recognizing that many organizations face challenges in leveraging data, the PDI provides training, resources, and support to help nonprofits integrate data into their decision-making processes. Through collaborative projects and hands-on learning, the PDI has helped numerous organizations improve their programs and demonstrate their impact. The Data Capacity Compass is a direct result of this work, capturing key lessons and best practices to make them accessible to all nonprofits.

For more information and to read reports about the project, please see the Practitioner Data Initiative page on the Blueprint website.

At Blueprint, we are relentless champions of people-centered, data-driven, evidence-informed policy and practice

Blueprint was founded on the simple idea that evidence is a powerful tool for change. We work with policymakers and practitioners to create and use evidence to solve complex policy and program challenges. Our vision is a social policy ecosystem where evidence is used to improve lives, build better systems and policies and drive social change.

Our team brings together a multidisciplinary group of professionals with diverse capabilities in policy research, data analysis, design, evaluation, implementation, and knowledge mobilization.

Contributors

  • Ben Berres is a seasoned data and technology leader with over 20 years of experience primarily focused on supporting children, youth, families, and communities through systems and initiatives across various sectors, including non-profits, public agencies, philanthropy, startups, and private industry. 

    Ben is a long time collaborator of Blueprint and held an advisory role on the Practitioner Data Initiative (PDI) project, bringing his experience to help the team and participating organizations integrate data and technology, making them more robust, right-sized, and adaptable.

  • DARO builds systems that really work for organizations that do real-world good. DARO partners with nonprofits, philanthropic organizations, and government entities across the globe, providing services in digital transformation, data and information architecture, evaluation and impact measurement, and data sharing and governance collaboratives.

    DARO is based in Montreal, Quebec with an office in Houston, Texas. The Practitioner Data Initiative team includes DARO's Chief Impact Officer, Jesse Bourns; Senior Managers, Elle Gemma Gruver and Jonah Kotzer; and Project Coordinator, Jamie Kim.

Participating Organizations

The Data Capacity Compass would not have been possible without the invaluable contributions of the Future Skills Centre and the 15 nonprofit organizations who participated in the Practitioner Data Initiative. Their willingness to collaborate with Blueprint, share their experiences, and provide insights into their data journeys has been essential in shaping the development of this toolkit. We extend our sincere gratitude to these organizations for their partnership and commitment to building a stronger, more data-informed nonprofit sector.