Hartford-Area Organizations Convene to Learn How to Develop Data Strategies
New Data Strategic Planning June 2024 Cohort Launched
Today, at The Lyceum, we convened 9 mission-driven organizations serving Greater Hartford to begin their journey of developing a Data Strategic Plan. Participants began with their own storytelling exercise and introduced themselves by explaining their jobs without identifying their role or title. Audience members were “Audience Queens” “Community Navigators” and “Imposter Syndrome Busters” all in an effort to warm up for expansive and aspirational thinking about how to use data to increase their storytelling and improve their impact. Trainer, Jackie Vancour, guided participants through understanding several data literacy topics including:
data ethics,
different ways to collect data,
identifying success in our current data practices,
thinking big about our organizations, our missions, the populations we reach, and the problems we’re trying to solve,
learning what a simple logic model is and starting to build our logic models, and
learning to develop guiding questions that set the state for the entire Data Strategic Plan.
We are grateful to the investment of Hartford Foundation for Public Giving in these organizations so they can identify ways to reach the ambitious goals they have for themselves. The participating organizations are:
People’s Feelings About Data at the Beginning
We start our Data Strategic Planning sessions asking people some version of “when we say the word data, what 3 words come to mind?” This group reflected what many feel - an understanding of the need for data, but an acknowledgment that they find it both confusing and helpful. It also helps people to see that they are not alone, and realize that this is not a permanent state!
Success in Data
While organizations are working CTData’s Strategic Planning because they want to improve their data, they are already implementing good practices! Some of the success in their data work included:
Everyone (in our organization) knows how to use Google Forms and are bought-into using them.
Our team does a great job of reviewing feedback and using that to think about how to improve.
We have software that we can use to analyze our data, and we regularly share our data in presentations.
We have a robust quality review process and have increased the documented service hours we provide by working with staff to identify what counts as a service.
We have tools and systems for collecting data, and we’re here so we can synthesize all of it and learn from it.
“Every aspect [of this session was very thoughtful]”
Aspirations
Data Strategic Planning requires we are expansive and able to think aspirational about our work. As Finn said, “we can only do what we dream.” We all thought about what we could do if we had all that time and all the financial resources for our organizations that we need. Here’s what participant teams came up with.
If time were infinite, how would you spend more time at work?
More advocacy for our clients and community outreach.
Learn more coding languages.
More team-building days, analyze data after programs end, use the time to plan and be together.
Court more community partners and facilitators.
Spend more time building relationships with stakeholders, community members, donors, legislators.
Write more grants and improve development strategy.
Spend more time with clients.
Increase outreach statewide.
Increase evaluation and data practice.
If money grew on trees, how would you invest in your organization?
Grow staff and staff capacity (professional development) (almost everyone said this!).
Expand our social services and programs. Host bigger events and hold awards shows.
Get an office that works better for the team.
Invest in audience development (more marketing staff, communications and marketing).
More time in rehearsal and more support for rehearsals.
Build affordable housing so clients have a place to live.
Have our 1.2 mile driveway paved!
The beginning of Data Strategic Planning requires organizations to live outside the possible. We need to dig in to understanding how we can use data to achieve our goals. To build a solid framework, and understand our data questions, we spend several hours in the aspirational!
“I loved every second of it!”
Gratitude
We’d also like to make a shout-out to Fire by Forge for their delicious catering. New connections were made over this delicious food! And the Lyceum, as always, made us feel welcome and comfortable with their hospitality.
For More Information
If you’d like to learn more about Data Strategic Planning, head on over to this page or set up a free consultation with our Director of Data Strategic Planning. Go here to learn more about the training we provide, and on this page you can learn more about all of the resources and data services we provide that can help you make informed decisions with data, check out this page. You can keep up with us by subscribing to the CTData newsletter and following us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
