Information is power. Without the data and insights collected through various online and physical methods, you cannot know how your donors feel about a new mission, if you are meeting client needs, or if the NDIS will support your future efforts.
Any not-for-profit operating in Australia (or beyond) can benefit from robust and streamlined data collection. You don’t need to go overboard and make a note of every single detail, but having a few systems in mind to bring in the information necessary for quality decision-making can do a lot to improve your operations.
Here are some of the key ways nonprofit organisations can use everything from donor information to optimise website design and development for robust and strategic data collection and analysis.
Why Should an NFP Collect Data?
Let’s keep this as simple as possible. Data collection is crucial to improving fundamental aspects of your NDIS-approved Australian nonprofit organisation. You wouldn’t run a social media account seeking to earn millions in sponsorship funds without knowing how many users you attract, the number of followers you have, or how far your online reach is.
Your NFP needs data collection for website visits, new donor engagement, and other key performance indicators. This will help you:
- Update donor databases for future decision-making.
- Build stronger relationships in the community.
- Inform key players and stakeholders of your decision-making.
- Improve communication throughout your entire organisation.
- Drive marketing efforts online and offline.
- Boost services aligned with your mission and client needs.
- And more.
Let’s get into what types of data you should be collecting to improve your NFP operations and decision-making.
6 Types of Data to Collect as an NFP
#1 – Donor Data
Donor information is what will make your NFP wheels keep turning. Even if you receive public funding through the NDIS or other organisations, you’ll need discretionary funds for new capital investment or community involvement.
Without knowing your donor data, you cannot better serve their needs and strengthen your relationships. Try to collect things like:
- Name
- Age
- Contact Info (email, phone, address)
- Educational Background
- Giving History
- Hobbies & Interest
- Business Connections
#2 – Campaign Data
Campaigns are a constant effort of many nonprofit organisations. They run the gamut from auction-focused galas to announcing a new initiative or goal achievement. Whenever you run a campaign, you want to eliminate wasteful spending or resource allocation as much as possible.
To make your events, campaigns, and interactions with the community more efficient, you want to focus on key data points that help boost efficiency. These may include:
- Event attendance
- Supporter satisfaction
- DAC (donor acquisition cost)
- Revenue and expenses
- Donor and volunteer retention rates
- Campaign conversions (leading to revenue and engagement)
#3 – Marketing Data
This is probably the easiest way to collect data on your NFP. Most marketing data will be run through a central platform like Google, Facebook, or Yelp. All of these have native (integrated) marketing systems that tell you the success rate of engagement and retention.
The goal here is to use data to boost ROI (return on investment) so you are spending the least amount with the highest return. That will allow you to adjust in real-time to any changes in your market with data points like:
- Website traffic
- Newsletter subscriptions
- Social media engagement (clicks, follows, etc.)
- Email open rates
- PPC (pay-per-click) ad success
#4 – Website Data
Your nonprofit website is crucial to your success. The website design and development team you use should know how to integrate data collection and user engagement into all aspects of your layout. From the funnel used to capture more emails to an immersive event calendar for donors.
There is a ton of helpful information available through data collection via websites. The Key metrics you pick may include items like:
- Traffic sources (where people are coming from)
- Demographics of visitors
- Bounce rate (how long they stay on your site)
- CTR (click-through rate)
- Mobile device vs other-sized screens
#5 – Partnership Data
Your donors are just as crucial as your various sponsors and business partners. These are the community and business leaders you can collaborate to better serve your target audience and carve out a niche for your mission.
You never know when having background information on a key corporate sponsor can make all the difference when it comes to improving your building, securing new transportation, or any other investment. Look for:
- Key contact information
- Community involvement
- Strengths and values of sponsors
- History of collaboration and giving
- Central contact point or person
- Special requests or needs
#6 – Volunteer & Staff Data
The volunteers and staff moving through your Australian NFP are the lifeblood of your operations. They are the first points of contact with donors, clients, and support organisations. You want to know how they operate and how you can keep them happy working with your NFP.
Look for critical data points like:
- Hours worked or volunteered
- History of relationship with NFP
- Retention rates
- Suggestions for improvement
- Relationships with donors, other volunteers, and clients
How to Boost NFP Data Collection
The first thing you need to do is conduct an audit. Look at how you collect, interpret, and clean all your data. Then, ask a qualified team like ours at Web 105 to help integrate new data methods into your website design and development.
Together, we can build automation that ensures you have the systems in place for better decision-making and resource allocation. By utilising clean, real-time data that is stored securely, you can implement incredible and powerful change in your nonprofit organisation.
Contact our team today, and let’s set up a time to discuss how you can transform your organisation with quality and automated data analytics.
FAQs
How do nonprofits collect data?
This will depend on the type of not-for-profit you are running and what your goals may be with the data you collect. That being said, using integrated systems through Google, WordPress, Facebook, and other platforms is an excellent first step. You also want to invest in CRM systems for donor and volunteer data.
How do I start collecting data?
A good first step is your email open rate and website traffic. This will help inform you of what language your target audience responds to most and the effectiveness of your website as a communication tool for your community.
How do nonprofits interpret data?
Again, this will depend on your specific needs. An NDIS-approved NFP working with the blind will want data points different from a volunteer program for housing adoptive pets. First, establish the goals of your organisation, and then you’ll start to outline what data you’ll need to collect to attain those goals.