Thank you for outlining the problems human service nonprofits face with the demand for data and outcomes. To many outside the sector, the request for data seems a simple request but it isn't. The expense of maintaining, changing, adapting and/or upgrading IT systems plus retraining staff is often prohibitive. In the for profit sector, these expenses are more easily assumed in the budget and expenses tacked onto the cost of services or product provided. The demand for nonprofits to be lean and plow all proceeds to provide services is a double-edged sword.
Laura, great post! I wholeheartedly agree there needs to be more of this in the nonprofit sector. There is one funder that is working to solve this problem in affordable housing - NCB Capital Impact. We have been fortunate to be involved in the HomeKeeper project with them. Some additional info can be found here:
- https://appexchange.salesforce.com/servlet/servlet.FileDownload?file=00P3000000GwUspEAF
- http://myhomekeeper.org
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Ekennedy says:
Thank you for outlining the problems human service nonprofits face with the demand for data and outcomes. To many outside the sector, the request for data seems a simple request but it isn't. The expense of maintaining, changing, adapting and/or upgrading IT systems plus retraining staff is often prohibitive. In the for profit sector, these expenses are more easily assumed in the budget and expenses tacked onto the cost of services or product provided. The demand for nonprofits to be lean and plow all proceeds to provide services is a double-edged sword.Brad Struss says:
Laura, great post! I wholeheartedly agree there needs to be more of this in the nonprofit sector. There is one funder that is working to solve this problem in affordable housing - NCB Capital Impact. We have been fortunate to be involved in the HomeKeeper project with them. Some additional info can be found here: - https://appexchange.salesforce.com/servlet/servlet.FileDownload?file=00P3000000GwUspEAF - http://myhomekeeper.orgMichelle says:
Oops! I meant CEP -- Center for Effective Philanthropy.