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Hidden treasures: Putting your under-utilized data to work

In my work unpacking the data capabilities of nonprofits, we frequently uncover the phenomenon of ‘hidden’ data—that is, data that can answer key business questions without requiring any additional investment in advanced systems or technical implementation. You might be surprised at the valuable data your organization already has at its disposal! Yet it’s not enough

Analytics & Optimization

How to Build a Data-driven Culture: A Case Study from NRECA

Stefan Byrd-Krueger | 7 minute read

Authored By Stefan Byrd-Krueger and Jessica O’Neal, Senior Director Editorial and Digital Strategy at NRECA In a recent Stanford University survey, nonprofit leaders and staff said inadequate measurement of organizational performance is today’s top challenge facing their sector. It’s an issue we’re deeply familiar with in our respective roles as a nonprofit data consultant and

Strategy & Governance

Let’s Discuss…Big Ideas

Lisa McHenry | 2 minute read

When most of us think of forces for change, we think of sudden dramatic events. But more often change happens so slowly we don’t notice. We become comfortable with the status quo and don’t even realize the opportunity to use these changes to create something new, to transform, is passing us by. In this edition

Strategy & Governance

How do we still work together even when we are working apart?

Courtney Matherly | 3 minute read

As someone who has loved working remotely for close to three years, I’ve recently found myself at the shallow end of the pool that our workforce has been pushed into as a result of COVID-19. However, as the virus moves more and more workers online, I’m learning from speaking with friends and neighbors (while adhering

Strategy & Governance

Stay the course on digital transformation

Tony Kopetchny | 3 minute read

In change management theory, there are critical moments when resistance to change is no longer an option due to external pressures that can’t continue to be mitigated or brushed aside. Coronavirus gives us exactly such a moment. We didn’t choose it. But we can make the most of this opportunity to start deliberately transitioning away

Strategy & Governance

Nonprofit COVID-19 Response: Insights from our mission-driven community

Stefan Byrd-Krueger | 27 minute read

Executive Summary The COVID-19 crisis is forcing rapid and, at times, radical adaptation among mission-driven organizations. ParsonsTKO ran a survey among our clients and the nonprofit community to gather more detailed insights into how organizations are impacted and responding, then combined these findings with our experience and advice. Deep disruptions in internal processes, reduced staff

Change Management

Always be yourself: keeping your personality in remote meetings

Andrea Bishop | 2 minute read

Last night at the dinner table with my family, my kids were entertaining us with their impressions of my behavior on camera during my remote meetings. To my delight, my kids were teasing me more about my non-verbal behavior than any verbal tics. I learned that I give the camera a lot of “thumbs up”

Content Strategy

The essential role of nonprofits in the face of a public health crisis

Patti DeBow | 4 minute read

As governments struggle to safeguard public health and shore up the global economy in the face of COVID-19, public sector leaders are in the spotlight as never before. Yet while local and national governments bear the heaviest burden for protecting our collective health, nonprofits and civil society are playing an essential supporting role informing and

Email, CRM and Automation

Before Choosing an Email System, Translate Your Needs into Use Cases

Adam Good | 4 minute read

Is your organization thinking about changing or upgrading its email management system? If so, we’re delighted that you care so deeply about the effectiveness of your organization’s emails—we can’t emphasize enough the importance of email in deepening engagement among your audiences! Having advised dozens of mission-driven clients on how to boost their email capabilities, we’ve

Email, CRM and Automation

How to choose email software that works for you (rather than you working for your system)

Adam Good | 7 minute read

Few things are more important for engaging your stakeholders than strategic, timely emails. If you’re looking to retain members, hit ambitious fundraising goals or win over policy makers, it won’t happen if your team can’t make smart use of its email system to send the right messages to the right people at the right time.