乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网 helps organizations transform their operating models with data and better fulfill their missions.
Any organization that wants to maximize performance must harness the power of information. Nonprofit organizations are no different, but whether measured in time, money or expertise, limited resources can impede the most earnest efforts to turn data into action. 鈥淒ata collection and management is a perennial stumbling block,鈥� says Bob Parr, chief data officer, U.S. advisory practice with the professional services firm 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网 LLP (乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网).1聽鈥淭he data has gaps and holes and is often cobbled together from multiple sources.鈥�
That paradigm, however, is not set in stone.
To help elevate the work of its dedicated employees and volunteers, Denver-based Mile High United Way (MHUW) has made data a priority. 鈥淲e鈥檝e put a stake in the ground to make sure we鈥檙e able to collect data that helps tell us where we can be most effective,鈥� says Wade Treichler, MHUW鈥檚 chief operating officer.2
What the organization needed was a better path from collection to action. 鈥淲e had a lot of data, but we didn鈥檛 have the expertise to manage our enormous data sets,鈥� Treichler says. MHUW鈥檚 211 Help Center provided a perfect opportunity to build that bridge.
This multilingual, confidential service connects individuals to critical resources, including food, shelter, child care, rental assistance and more, from a database of more than 7,000 health and human resources. MHUW has gathered tremendous amounts of data through the program鈥攑articularly as the COVID-19 pandemic spiked鈥攂ut struggled to extract full value from it, limiting its ability to provide the best possible service to those in need.
Data can make scarce dollars and people resources go a lot further. It鈥檚 a shot of adrenaline to help people do their jobs better and benefit the community.
Joel O鈥橦air
Data Science and Analytics Leader, Deal and Advisory Strategy, 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网 LLP
鈥淧eople calling us through 211 are doing so during some of the most troubling, darkest times,鈥� Treichler says. 鈥淧roviding a trusted source of help is incredibly important, and the only way to do that is if we have clean, solid information.鈥�
The organization sought assistance from 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网, through Data Citizens with Purpose庐, a pro bono program that provides data-driven insights to help nonprofit organizations better serve their stakeholders.5
The collaboration quickly paid dividends. The team at 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网 helped MHUW align data sets to more effectively match the information received from people calling 211 for help鈥攁 single parent looking for food assistance, for example鈥攚ith data on resources, where they鈥檙e located and what they provide. 鈥淚ntegrating the complexities of those two pieces helped us paint a better picture for where the emerging needs are in our community鈥攁nd where we lacked the resources to meet those needs,鈥� Treichler says.
Through a dashboard provided by 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网, MHUW鈥檚 211 team used analytical tools against incoming data to uncover critical trends and patterns that led to new protocols for call center representatives. Questions were revamped to more proactively assess the totality of a caller鈥檚 situation. Based on data correlating risk factors, callers requesting rent or work assistance, for example, are now also asked about food assistance with the goal of providing more comprehensive care and reducing the need for repeat calls.
乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网 used analysis of requester ZIP codes and demographics to build a portfolio of maps broken down by key categories, so MHUW鈥檚 211 team can see exactly where callers are requesting services specifically related to food as well as the location of the nearest service centers. Going forward, these capabilities will help MHUW see any gaps so it can work to reallocate services more appropriately, or stand up services where they are needed.
By sharing data with community partners, including nonprofits serving Denver鈥檚 immigrant community, governments and school boards, MHUW is creating a ripple effect that amplifies the value of its data. Those organizations can improve their services, while local government and school boards receive valuable demographic information to better identify and serve at-risk individuals and families.
鈥淭he tools and insights we鈥檝e gained not only help us understand how to work more effectively, but also help the community understand what鈥檚 happening,鈥� Treichler says.
The story of MHUW and its 211 program demonstrates that data isn鈥檛 a luxury, but a potential force multiplier for nonprofits fighting to maximize every dollar they raise. 鈥淒ata can make scarce dollars and people resources go a lot further,鈥� says Joel O鈥橦air, data science and analytics leader, deal advisory and strategy at 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网.6聽聽鈥淚t鈥檚 a shot of adrenaline to help people do their jobs better and benefit the community.鈥�
Organizations that embrace data-driven strategies can work smarter and be more effective in achieving their visions. There are advisers out there that want to help. You don鈥檛 have to do it alone.
Wade Treichler
Chief Operating Officer, Mile High United Way
O鈥橦air says many data and analytics software providers offer free or heavily discounted licenses to help boost data analysis for nonprofits, and training can often happen online. Parr believes the advancement of tools like generative artificial intelligence will help nonprofits avoid having to heavily curate data to use it effectively.
乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网, through Data Citizens with Purpose庐,聽aims not only to deepen an organization鈥檚 insight, but also to leave it with a better understanding of how to view and utilize data. 鈥淲e set them on a journey where they鈥檙e starting to do more data analysis themselves,鈥� Parr says.
Treichler agrees nonprofits don鈥檛 need a big data team or a massive budget to perform meaningful data analysis. MHUW plans to take the lessons it鈥檚 learned from its collaboration with 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网 and apply them to a wide variety of projects. 鈥淥rganizations that embrace data-driven strategies can work smarter and be more effective in achieving their visions,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here are advisers out there that want to help. You don鈥檛 have to do it alone.鈥�
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