These "4 A's" just might be your nonprofit's new way of planning your data management.
Data management can be a tedious, difficult process. But if done right, it has the potential to be one of the most rewarding and profitable endeavors your nonprofit can engage in.
Nonprofits are often inexperienced, ill-equipped, or poorly staffed before taking on major data gathering and parsing undertakings. As a result, it is important to look at the big picture and plan your strategy from the ground up.
Below, we have spelled out for you the “4 A’s” of data management to help you get started on your data collecting process, according to Sidekick Solutions.
1. Accumulate
The first step to executing a successful data management plan is to accumulate data through a CRM. It is important to hash out what type of data your nonprofit is uniquely interested in, and then move on from there. For example, you may want to know the demographics viewing specific web pages, or interacting with your social media feeds. Whatever the case may be, make sure it is collected in a consistent and relevant way.
2. Analyze
Once you have accumulated the relevant data, it is time to analyze that data. This is the time to decipher what your newly accumulated data is telling you. Decide what insight or leg up you can gain by now having these raw numbers at your disposal. At this stage you should be looking for something specific, whether it be a trend, consistency, or inconsistency.
3. Apply
Once you have analyzed your data it is then time to apply your new found knowledge to some aspect of your nonprofit. This is the strategy and planning phase where your data has shed some light into a once dark corridor of your nonprofit. By better understanding why certain aspects of your nonprofit are successful or unsuccessful, you can better plan and prepare for the future.
4. Act
The final and most important ‘A’ is action. Having mounds of data is great, but unless that information is applied and acted upon it is all for nothing. Take consistent and timely action based on your new found knowledge and define new goals, coordinate new strategies, and plan for a brighter future.
Data alone can not change the world, but with your help, it just might.
If you’re interested in reading more, you can check out the original article on Sidekick Solutions.
