Blog- The Data We Have and the Data We Need
The Data We Have and the Data We Need
It is tantalizing to envision what the nonprofit sector could achieve with the vast amounts of data and sophisticated analytical tools that already exist in the commercial realm. After all, if Target is able to discern a woman’s first trimester pregnancy from changes in her purchasing habits in order to send her specific promotional offerings, just think what we could do to meet the individualized needs of at-risk students, or find the right opportunities for those who are unemployed.
Already, the nonprofit sector is being flooded with data. The 990 tax returns will soon be searchable online. Guidestar, Google, and Charity Navigator are among the many organizations vying to help donors find and assess charities. Evaluations, scientific studies and research reports are piling up faster than anyone can possibly read them.
