Determining the Right Data Tool for Your Community-Based Partnership
Like any well-run non-profit organization, community-based partnerships serving the military and veteran population need to collect and keep detailed records of clients, services they provide directly, referrals to community partners, and donations. Tracking such data helps an organization understand who it is serving, what trends are occurring in requested services, and what initiatives it should focus on in the future. Such efforts ensure that an organization is meeting veterans’ needs and that it looks appealing to funders. At a time of growing emphasis on accountability for donors’ dollars, an organization’s data and ability to show its impact are key to creating confidence in and respect for the organization’s ability to best steward its donated resources.
Many tools are available to help an organization manage its data, including case management software, customer relationship management (CRM) software, referral/lead platforms, databases, spreadsheets, and word processors. Each of those tools has benefits and disadvantages.
To learn more about these data tools and how they can help your organization, view the latest StandSMART below.
The Bob Woodruff Foundation continues to encourage community-based partnerships to expand their data standards and improve the means by which they collect and manage data. BWF has seen a steady increase in community partners’ data sophistication, but more remains to be done.
About Stand SMART For Heroes
The Bob Woodruff Foundation is proud to partner with best-in-class scientific organizations to provide important research findings to the community of organizations that represent and serve post-9/11 veterans, service members, families, and caregivers. Stand SMART issues are documents containing the research findings that we create and share. For more information, visit bobwoodrufffoundation.org.
