Thoughts on Data and Philanthropy from a Nerd-Turned-Philanthropist

 As a nerd, facts and data are exceptionally important to me. Using hard evidence to make informed decisions means that our actions are more likely to be helpful and mean something. As a philanthropist, reporting metrics and other measurements of success help me understand how effective an organization is or has the potential to be. There are many worthy groups and causes that need a hand, so any information that illustrates whether folks are really making an impact is helpful to my decision-making.

 The Bob Woodruff Foundation, an organization I’ve supported for many years, shares my enthusiasm for data. They have a long track record of using research to identify and meet the unique needs of our nation’s veterans, their families and their caregivers.

 Along with their initiative the National Veterans Intermediary, they recently launched an innovation called the Local Partner Self-Assessment Tool. This resource will gather and analyze data to understand the capacity of veteran service organizations around the country to make an impact. Essentially, it will gather details on over 100 organizations to figure out the degree to which on-the-ground groups are actually meeting the needs of their local veteran community. This information will then be shared with folks for free so that local policy- and change-makers can improve how we serve those who have served.

 As a nerd-turned-philanthropist, I especially appreciate what this could mean for the broader future of giving in this country. If we can understand the needs of our communities through grassroots research, we can effect real change. This assessment tool has the potential to be adapted and scaled to help improve how we serve all sorts of causes, so I’m hopeful that others will one day benefit from this kind of approach. We all need to be savvy with our choices, and using fact-based information to make them is a great start.