Data Projects from Go to Whoa!

A guide to not-for-profit data projects

Most not-for-profit organisations recognise the potential of data – public data, data they've collected, or data they could be collecting – but fewer know how to start putting this data to good use.

That’s where Data Projects from Go to Whoa! comes in. We produced this guide so you can get things rolling and ensure your data projects are as successful and sustainable as they can be.

In it, we distil lessons we've learned from guiding not-for-profit organisations through the process of becoming data-driven – and from Our Community’s own journey on this path.

You'll begin the step-by-step process by developing an understanding of data science and scoping projects, and learning how to ask the right questions. Next, you’ll learn to lay the foundations for project success, and make sure you've got the right tools and skills at hand. We’ll talk about deriving insights from data — and overcoming any obstacles that crop up. Finally, as you wrap up your project, we'll discuss how you can keep up your momentum and move forward strategically.

We suggest following the steps in order. Along the way, Our Community's Innovation Lab can provide free advice and support. We can also help build connections with other organisations who may have knowledge and resources (or even data) to share.

We hope Data Projects from Go to Whoa! proves useful in making your organisation data-driven.

Our step-by-step project pathway

Getting started

Nathan tutorial tile craft

Scoping the project

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Laying foundations

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Diving into the data

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Wrapping up

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Resources & Advice

All pathway resources

All our tutorials, templates, worksheets and publications in one easy-to-find place.

Supplementary resources

A curation of useful resources to extend your understanding and guide your work.

Scrolled this far? Get in touch!

If you‘re thinking about setting out on this pathway, feel free to contact us for an initial discussion.

Our data science resources and community-building activities were supported by Equity Trustees, with thanks to the Ella & Mitchell Brazier Fund, Charles Lamond Forrest Estate, James Raymond Hartley Charitable Trust, Charles Frederick William Taylor Estate and Truby & Florence Williams Charitable Trust. Here’s an overview of what we achieved with four years of their support.