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Eric Clinger, Josh Haines, and Haley Roberts

Learn how to collect, analyze, visualize, present, and securely store data for obtaining more data insights for your organization. The ultimate goal of this course is to help nonprofits measure their outcomes and impact. This course is designed for users with little to no technical and data analytics experience. Additionally, this course will provide users with resources provided for free for nonprofits and teach organizations how to use them.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • How to use data analytics to help nonprofits measure their outcomes and impact
  • How to collect data, vizualize data, make business decisions with data, present data, and secure data

Syllabus

Course Introduction

This lecture will introduce the course and the instructors.

What is data, what type of data should I collect, and how do I collect it?
Read more
Introduction
Why Should My Nonprofit Worry About Data?
What Is Data?
Data Points and Observations
Team Trees Data
What is Data Part 2
What Type of Data Should I Collect?
How Do I Collect Data?
What Do I Do If Most of My Data is Paper-Based?
Why Do Some Nonprofits Grow and Others Don't?
Excel Tips and Tricks
Conclusion

Leverage reference lines in Tableau to guide you're audience's attention

What do I do with this data?
Data Relationships
Mighty Four
Using Excel

Use Excel or Google Sheets to calculate the min, max, median, and mean of the donations dataset.

Standard Deviation
Standard Deviation Continued

Use Excel or Google Sheets to calculate the standard deviation of the donation amounts

Why Univariate Matters
Bivariate Relationships
Multivariate Relationships
How can I show others the information from the data?
Data Viz Introduction
The Only Chart Types You'll Need
Data Visualization Software
Tableau Installation
Creating Charts In Tableau

Test your knowledge of 4 basic chart types.

4 Guidelines for Improving Your Visuals
Improving Your Visuals in Tableau

Test your knowledge of data viz best practices

Additional Resources
What advanced analysis can I perform on my data?

Learn what additional controls you can add to your nonprofit in the future.

Skew
Box and Whisker Plot Introduction
Box and Whisker Plot Excel
Tableau Demos

A bigger and better dataset for Tableau analysis

How to show your data's distribution using Tableau

Box and whisker plots in Tableau

Regression Introduction
Regression Excel
ANOVA

Depending on your dataset, roughly predict the future using Tableau's built in forecasting tool.

How do I present the data?

Combine all your learning to tell stories with your data

Things to know when using your data in a written report or proposal

Hands-on practice building a visualization for written reports

Things to know when using your data in oral presentations

Conclusion to telling stories with your data

Learn how to securely store company data according to industry principles

Disclaimer about any security content taught in this module.

Learn why nonprofits should care about data security.

Learn the basics of data security including confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA Triad).

Brief quiz covering the content of the "What is Data Security?" lecture.

Learn the basics of risk and the defense in depth model.

Learn the importance of a data audit to figure out what data you have, where it is located, and who has possession of it. Learn about the Stanford PACS Digital Governance Workbook and why it takes a novel approach at a data audit.

Learn how to fill out the Digital Governance Workbook.

Data Audit Practice

Learn the importance of Personally Identifiable Information and methods to mask it.

Brief quiz about personally identifiable information (PII)


Please be sure to talk to a lawyer or someone in the know, as the legal definition of PII could be different for your nonprofit or your state.

Learn examples of how to mask your data in Excel.

Learn how to calculate risk. Learn how to perform a risk assessment on your nonprofit to determine what threats need to be addressed.

Learn how to perform a risk assessment using the sample template in Excel.

Risk Assessment Practice

Learn what security controls will provide the biggest return on investment. Learn the importance of passwords, software updates, antivirus software, physical security, WiFi security, and backups.

Learn the importance of security awareness, in addition to social engineering and phishing.

Learn the importance of a breach response and why you should be prepared.

Resources specifically written for nonprofits to improve their security posture.

Course Conclusion

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Focuses on data analytics for nonprofits, which helps learners measure their outcomes and impact, a crucial aspect of nonprofit work
Designed for users with little to no technical and data analytics experience, which builds a strong foundation for beginners
Teaches how to securely store company data according to industry principles, which is essential for maintaining trust and compliance
Provides resources offered for free to nonprofits, which reduces barriers to entry and promotes accessibility
Uses Excel and Google Sheets for data analysis, which may require learners to have access to these tools
Includes a disclaimer about security content, which indicates that learners should seek legal advice regarding data security

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Intro to Data Analytics for Nonprofits (Charity Analytics) with these activities:
Review Excel Fundamentals
Strengthen your understanding of Excel basics to better grasp data manipulation and analysis techniques used in the course.
Browse courses on Excel Formulas
Show steps
  • Review basic Excel functions like SUM, AVERAGE, and COUNT.
  • Practice data entry and formatting in Excel.
  • Familiarize yourself with Excel's charting capabilities.
Review 'Storytelling with Data'
Learn how to effectively communicate data insights through compelling visuals and narratives.
Show steps
  • Read the book 'Storytelling with Data'.
  • Identify key principles for effective data visualization.
  • Apply these principles to improve your own data presentations.
Follow Tableau Tutorials
Enhance your Tableau skills by working through guided tutorials to gain hands-on experience with data visualization.
Show steps
  • Find online tutorials for creating specific chart types in Tableau.
  • Follow the tutorials to build different visualizations.
  • Experiment with Tableau's features and functionalities.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Review 'Effective Data Storytelling'
Learn how to craft compelling data stories that resonate with audiences and drive change.
Show steps
  • Read the book 'Effective Data Storytelling'.
  • Identify the key elements of a data story.
  • Practice creating data stories using your own data.
Analyze Public Nonprofit Data
Apply your data analytics skills to a real-world dataset from a nonprofit organization to measure outcomes and impact.
Show steps
  • Find a publicly available dataset from a nonprofit.
  • Clean and prepare the data for analysis.
  • Perform exploratory data analysis to identify key trends.
  • Create visualizations to communicate your findings.
Write a Blog Post on Data Security for Nonprofits
Reinforce your understanding of data security principles by creating a blog post targeted at nonprofits.
Show steps
  • Research data security best practices for nonprofits.
  • Outline the key points you want to cover in your blog post.
  • Write a clear and concise blog post explaining data security concepts.
  • Publish your blog post on a relevant platform.
Volunteer Data Analysis Services
Gain practical experience by volunteering your data analysis skills to a local nonprofit organization.
Show steps
  • Identify a local nonprofit that needs data analysis support.
  • Offer your services to help them analyze their data.
  • Work with the nonprofit to define their data analysis needs.
  • Perform data analysis and present your findings to the nonprofit.

Career center

Learners who complete Intro to Data Analytics for Nonprofits (Charity Analytics) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Nonprofit Program Analyst
A Nonprofit Program Analyst uses data to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and initiatives. This role requires a strong understanding of data collection, analysis, and visualization, all of which are covered in this course. The course teaches how to measure outcomes and impact, a critical skill for a program analyst who needs to demonstrate the value of their organization's work. Further, the material on data security and presentation will be invaluable when an analyst needs to present findings to stakeholders or when they are handling sensitive data. This course is particularly useful for those who want to enter this career field because it focuses on practical application of data skills within the nonprofit context.
Nonprofit Data Manager
A Nonprofit Data Manager is responsible for overseeing the collection, storage, and security of an organization’s data assets. This course directly addresses the core duties of a data manager, teaching how to collect different types of data, as well as how to securely store this data according to industry standards. The course will also teach how to perform a data audit to understand what data is held, where it is kept, and who can access it. This is a skill uniquely relevant to a data manager role. Further, the course covers data masking techniques, a critical skill for anyone handling sensitive data. This course is useful because of the specific focus on nonprofit data issues.
Data Visualization Specialist
A Data Visualization Specialist focuses on creating insightful and engaging presentations of data. This course helps build a foundation for the role by teaching the principles of data visualization, including the selection of appropriate chart types and the application of design best practices. The course also introduces software used for data visualization like Tableau, which is a key tool for any data visualization specialist. The course’s module on storytelling with data is invaluable as a data visualization specialist needs to communicate complex data in an understandable manner. A unique aspect of this course that makes it suitable is the focus on nonprofit data, which will give a specialist a unique perspective.
Development Associate
A Development Associate supports fundraising efforts by leveraging data to understand donor behavior and giving patterns. This course equips a development associate with essential data analysis skills, such as using Excel and Tableau to identify trends and visualize data. By utilizing this knowledge, a development associate can generate reports to target fundraising activities. The course will improve both the collection and presentation of data, key skills for this role. The course is tailored for nonprofits, which is why it’s relevant for workers in development.
Grant Writer
Grant Writers need to present compelling evidence of a nonprofit's impact and needs. This course's emphasis on data visualization and storytelling with data directly helps a grant writer. The course's practical training in data collection, analysis, and presentation prepares a grant writer to use data to support grant proposals. The course teaches a grant writer how to quantify impact and outcomes. The material on data security also helps ensure a grant writer is handling sensitive data responsibly. This course may be useful because the data focus is on nonprofits.
Research Analyst
A Research Analyst uses data to investigate trends, patterns, and insights for reports. This course helps build a foundation for the role by teaching how to collect data, visualize it, and then perform basic statistical analyses. This role needs to use data to answer questions and the course will help a research analyst begin the process of performing more advanced statistical work. It will also give the researcher a unique perspective as the course focuses on nonprofit data, which can be useful in social science research. This course may be useful for a research analyst, because it may provide new skills and perspectives.
Operations Coordinator
An Operations Coordinator is a role with broad responsibilities. This course helps build a foundation for decision-making by enabling operations coordinators to collect and analyze data to assess organizational effectiveness. The course's focus on data visualization will be useful in presentations. The course's module on data security helps ensure compliance with industry standards. This course may be useful for a coordinator because it covers key skills in data analysis and security, which are relevant but not central to many coordinator roles.
Project Manager
A Project Manager, especially in the nonprofit sector, can benefit from data analysis skills. This course can help a project manager understand project outcomes and impact through data analysis. This role involves making data-informed decisions; therefore, the course's modules on data collection, analysis, and presentation can be applied to project management. The module on secure data storage is relevant for managing project data. This course may be useful for a project manager as it provides data skills, which are important, but not primary, in this role.
Community Outreach Coordinator
A Community Outreach Coordinator seeks to engage the community and understand needs. While this coordinator may not use data every day, the skills taught in this course may be useful from time to time. This course could help a community outreach coordinator gather data about key local issues. The course also teaches how to best present data to stakeholders and for reports. The course's emphasis on data security is important when handling sensitive community data. This course may be useful because a coordinator may need to use data from time to time.
Volunteer Coordinator
A Volunteer Coordinator oversees recruitment, training, and management of volunteers. This course helps a volunteer coordinator measure the impact of volunteer programs through data analysis. The course would teach them how to collect data, visualize it, and present it to key stakeholders. The module on data security is important, as volunteer data may contain personally identifiable information. This course may be useful because it helps build skills that are relevant to, but not central to, the volunteer coordinator role.
Marketing Specialist
A Marketing Specialist uses data to assess campaign effectiveness and measure impact. This course can help a specialist understand data, generate reports, and make strategic decisions. The course emphasizes data visualization, which will help a specialist present trends or insights to stakeholders. The data security module is relevant when handling customer or client data. This course may be useful as a marketing specialist may occasionally use data.
Social Media Manager
A Social Media Manager often uses data to understand what types of content perform best. This course helps a manager make use of data to increase impact. The course teaches the core skills of data collection, analytics, and reporting. The course's module on data visualization would be useful when sharing performance data with stakeholders. This course may be useful as a social media manager often needs to interpret data.
Administrative Assistant
An Administrative Assistant provides support to an office or team. This course may be useful from time to time, as data entry and reporting may fall under their duties. The course can improve skills in data analysis, spreadsheet software, and data visualization. The module on data security is also relevant. This course may be helpful because it may improve some of the skills needed when handling data.
Human Resources Assistant
A Human Resources Assistant performs administrative tasks. This course may be useful from time to time, as certain data management tasks will fall in their purview. The course can help an assistant perform data collection and reporting, and the module on data security is relevant. This course may be useful because it may help a human resources assistant in some aspects of their job duties.
Customer Service Representative
A Customer Service Representative helps customers. While this is not a data-driven role, this course may be useful in some capacity. A customer service representative may need to collect data, report findings, or use data when working with a customer. The module on data security is important when handling customer data. This course may be helpful as some skills taught in the course may eventually be useful.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Intro to Data Analytics for Nonprofits (Charity Analytics).
Provides a comprehensive guide to data visualization and storytelling. It emphasizes how to effectively communicate insights from data through compelling visuals and narratives. It is particularly useful for the 'How do I present the data?' section of the course. This book is commonly used by data professionals to improve their presentation skills.
Focuses on the intersection of data, narrative, and visuals to drive change. It provides a framework for crafting compelling data stories that resonate with audiences. It is particularly useful for the 'How do I present the data?' section of the course. This book valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their data communication skills.

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