data integration services (DIS)

These organizations struggle in different ways, with varying definitions of “good enough” when it comes to their current relationship to data. Some don’t understand the technological landscape enough to know what they’re missing out on, others have depended on an ad-hoc approach to tools & software that leave them in a tangled mess. Regardless of starting point, our goal is to create a framework that rockets groups to a common baseline where they can be their own best advocates in data & technology projects.

In 2021, CIL spent several months surveying organizations and key stakeholders throughout the progressive movement to identify recurring issues that prohibit small groups from effectively integrating data into their organizing strategy. While dozens of tools are available, many require custom development and specialists to set them up and leverage full functionality. Despite a few groups devoted to training campaigners on tech tools, there is still a widespread lack of baseline knowledge; this hinders utilization and the communication of roadblocks when working with technology.

 

DIS increases the technical capacity of smaller organizations through a six-step intervention that provides systemic training, personalized restructuring, and mentorship so nonprofits can utilize the wide breadth of movement technological offerings.

  1. Intake: To understand current pitfalls within its organizing strategy, we hold a series of conversations with stakeholders at various levels through the organization

  2. Tool Acquisition and/or Data Restructuring: Our strike team creates a curated plan of change that provides strategy and tool recommendations

  3. Training & Coaching: Organizations receive personalized training specific to their needs based on tools that are currently in use or newly adopted. We ensure that folks are equipped to actually utilize their offerings and provide coaching to ensure practical advice about the implementation and their integration into organizing strategy

  4. Standards and Common Language: We train organization staff on how to ask technical questions, understand development roadmaps, and what else is possible in the tech space and cultivate their confidence to ask questions to a room full of experts

  5. Development & QA: We provide support throughout implementation of new tools and strategy while ensuring that organization moves toward further independence, more wins and greater impact

  6. Sharing: At the end of each cycle, reports are generated in order to share best practices with the larger community and archived so they can serve as templates for similar organizations

Organizations that undergo this 6-month process will be able to:

  • Understand the current landscape of technology tools & best practices for integrating data with organizing strategy

  • Harmonize their current tech stack to smoothly track supporters across platforms

  • Centralize their data storage

  • Establish strong reporting mechanisms to demonstrate the effectiveness of their organizing strategy (and pivot as necessary)

  • Learn common  technical language to communicate with vendors, consultants, & technologists and ask better questions

The DIS team is now offering briefings to discuss topline findings and any next steps for organizations interested in participating in this model. For more information please reach out using the Partner with Us button below.