Non-Profit Data Collaboration for Community Prosperity
This three year project is a collaboration between Greater Fredericton Social Innovation, New Brunswick Community College's Department of Applied Research and Innovation, and the City of Fredericton.
Non-profit data collaboration involves working together to enable the use of data to:
Using our data optimally can impact how we provide services and channel our resources, while also improving our ability to secure funds and remain sustainable.
This project consists of two phases:
1 - Enabling Fredericton's Non-profit community to use their data/information more effectively
2 - Supporting the inclusion of Non-profit data in government policy
Non-profit data collaboration involves working together to enable the use of data to:
- effectively address our agency and community needs
- improve service delivery and program design
- influence policy development
- stress accountability to donors, volunteers, and the public
Using our data optimally can impact how we provide services and channel our resources, while also improving our ability to secure funds and remain sustainable.
This project consists of two phases:
1 - Enabling Fredericton's Non-profit community to use their data/information more effectively
2 - Supporting the inclusion of Non-profit data in government policy
Phase #1 Enabling Non-profits to use their data/information more effectively
To increase knowledge and collaboration surrounding the use of data, we have partnered with 22 local nonprofits.
|
When onboarding a new nonprofit, we have them complete Data Orchard's Data Maturity Self Assessment Survey. Data Orchard developed the Data Maturity Framework specifically for the nonprofit sector.
The framework is divided into seven key themes: data, tools, leadership, skills, culture, uses, and analysis. The survey assesses where an organization stands in their data maturity journey and identifies which areas need improvement. Using the results from this survey, we conduct an interview with the partner to gain a better understanding of the organization and their unique needs. After learning more about an organization's processes, we provide guidance on how to better collect data and increase data maturity. By doing so, our partners are better equipped to fill out grant applications and demonstrate their value to funders. |
|
We have created a website that has a lot of useful information about these concepts as well as case studies detailing some of the work we have done with our partners. Here is the link if you would like to check it out: https://npodatacollaboration.com/
The Community Prosperity Hub
|
We have created this video to provide an overview of the data maturity concepts and show a demonstration of the Hub.
|
We have also created the 'Community Prosperity Hub'. The Hub is an online database that is housed by the City of Fredericton.
Once completed, the Hub will be available to our nonprofits to access and use to their advantage. The Hub hosts open source data that is organized into categories that correspond with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. We have fully developed the 'No Poverty' goal and are currently working on the 'Sustainable Cities and Communities' goal. When you want to do some analysis or require some cool data visualizations, you will be able to partner with the volunteers at Civic Tech who can either do the analysis for you or show you how to do it. |
Phase #2 - Supporting the inclusion of Non-profit data in government policy
|
Our provincial government has started the process of breaking down silos between government departments. They are de-identifying (making anonymous) their data through what's called the 'crosswalk process' and housing this data at the NB Institute of Research, Data & Training (NB-IRDT).
We have created this video to explain this complex process as clearly as possible. You may have to watch it a few times. Moving forward in our province, many government decisions will be made based on the research and data that comes out of NB-IRDT. It is crucial that Non-profit information is included in these decisions. We owe it to the people we serve and the issues we are addressing.
NB-IRDT is one of the most data secure facilities in the country. If a researcher wants to access the data we have provided to NB-IRDT, we will have the opportunity to approve or not approve the use of our data for that research. |
NB-IRDT will also help us with the required data sharing/privacy agreements.
|
Examples of how non-profits use data to improve programming & measurement
Meals on Wheels Fredericton used open data to support a successful grant application that secured funding for the expansion of their rural outreach program. (click here)
Data vizualization example of how the Civic Tech team did an analysis on how much it would cost to have NO POVERTY in our province. (click here)
Civic Tech volunteers looked at the role our transit system plays in social isolation of older adults. Could your organization benefit from knowing where the majority of seniors will live in 10 years? Meals on Wheels sure did! (click here)
Meals on Wheels Fredericton used open data to support a successful grant application that secured funding for the expansion of their rural outreach program. (click here)
Data vizualization example of how the Civic Tech team did an analysis on how much it would cost to have NO POVERTY in our province. (click here)
Civic Tech volunteers looked at the role our transit system plays in social isolation of older adults. Could your organization benefit from knowing where the majority of seniors will live in 10 years? Meals on Wheels sure did! (click here)
These organizations have united to support our NPO community
