As a grant administrator, you need to show how your project has made a difference for the target population. But how do you present data that is clear, convincing, and relevant? In this article, you will learn some best practices for data presentation when evaluating grant impact on a population.
Before you choose how to present your data, you need to know who will see it and what they care about. Different audiences may have different expectations, questions, and preferences for data presentation. For example, your funders may want to see the outcomes and return on investment of your grant, while your stakeholders may want to see the process and challenges of your project. You should tailor your data presentation to suit your audience's needs and interests.
An annual report that is geared toward the general public is highly useful, and in turn can be aggregated over a period of time to show long term impact. Showing how the grant has grown, created growth of opportunities for the community, and the benefit it provides will create information for any audience. Additionally, showing economic impact on a community will appeal not to just the community but also community leaders such as elected officials, business owners, and more.
The best way to write an effective grant evaluation plan is to lay out each goal and objective and align these with intended outputs and outcomes. Making Sure to create specific , measurable, Attainable , Relevant and time based (SMART) goals and/or objectives will make evaluation easier.
Visuals, annual reports, annual budgetary impact on your org, neighbors, etc. Stats and your numbers are valuable here. Also provide a story to keep the reader engaged and to visually demonstrate impact.
There are many ways to present data, such as tables, charts, graphs, maps, dashboards, infographics, and narratives. Each format has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on the type, amount, and complexity of data you have. You should choose the format that best communicates your message, highlights your key findings, and avoids confusion or misinterpretation. For example, if you want to show trends over time, you may use a line chart; if you want to show proportions or comparisons, you may use a pie chart or a bar chart.
Visual aids can make your data presentation more attractive, engaging, and memorable, as well as simplify complex data, emphasize important points, and illustrate relationships or patterns. However, you should use visual aids wisely and sparingly to avoid cluttering or distracting from your data. When incorporating visual aids into your presentation, consider using colors, symbols, icons, and labels to make your data easy to read and understand. Additionally, ensure consistent and appropriate scales, axes, and legends are used to avoid misleading or confusing your audience. Furthermore, titles, captions, and annotations can be used to explain your data and provide context. Lastly, use charts or graphs that are relevant and accurate; steer clear of 3D effects or pie charts with too many slices or misleading axes.
Data presentation is not only about numbers and facts, but also about telling a story that resonates with your audience. To do this, it is important to have a clear goal and focus on the main message you want to deliver. Additionally, you should use a logical and coherent structure for your data presentation, guiding your audience through your story with transitions and summaries. Furthermore, examples, anecdotes, quotes, or testimonials can be used to illustrate your data and make it more relatable. Emotions, humor, or surprises can also be used to capture your audience's attention and interest. Finally, you should include a call to action or a recommendation in order to inspire your audience to take action or learn more.
I find that it’s often easy to forget that grant review committees are people just like us, sitting around a table, finding a project or cause that speaks to them in some way. The story we weave around our desired call to action needs to convey our plans in an authoritative manner that not only shows our strengths, but also how we can strengthen the funder’s organization.
In my experience, a well-written and organized final grant report that contains visuals, data-driven and verifiable results is always well-received and appreciated by grant funders. By including photos, examples of student work, newspaper articles, commendations, community recognition and an easy to read bar graph that shows specific pre and post increases in specified learning benchmarks, the recipient is able to provide a wholistic approach as to the grant’s final outcome.
Before you finalize your data presentation, you should get feedback from others who can help you improve it. Feedback can help you identify and fix any errors, gaps, or inconsistencies in your data presentation. It can also help you assess and enhance the clarity, relevance, and impact of your data presentation. You should seek feedback from people who have different perspectives, backgrounds, and expertise, such as your colleagues, peers, mentors, or beneficiaries. You should also be open and receptive to feedback, and use it to refine your data presentation.
Always have a fresh set of eyes read any grant proposal and/or final report before submitting. It is amazing how much a new or small detail can add to the overall impact of the grant. I find that professional educators in my field are best equipped to find any omissions or elaborations that will enhance the proposal or final report.