The value of data is expanding at a breathtaking pace. And, many organizations are looking for new strategies for nonprofit data management. From monitoring, evaluation, and learning to powering AI, organizations are seeking new ways to capture, organize, and explore data. Shifting your mindset to treat data as a product marks a pivotal evolution—where data moves from being a byproduct of your nonprofit’s work to one of its most valuable strategic assets.
Increasingly, foundations, nonprofits, and associations are approaching data not merely as an outcome of their work, but as a product. Not a product to be sold, but one that departments and teams can actively tap into.
Why This Shift Matters
Most nonprofits collect vast amounts of information—donor interactions, program outcomes, community engagement metrics, and grant activities. Yet many struggle to transform this raw information into actionable insights that drive their mission forward.
In A Better Way to Put Your Data to Work, Harvard Business Review outlined the shift to thinking about data as a product. Rather than simply connecting systems via APIs or centralizing data in warehouses or lakes for specific use cases, it advocates for a more holistic approach to nonprofit data management.
Rethinking Nonprofit Data Management
Treating data as a product doesn’t mean selling it. It means creating organized, accessible data resources that teams and stakeholders can easily “consume” to advance their work.
Example: A Community Foundation
Imagine a community foundation aiming to better understand its operating landscape. The first step is identifying which data products would be most valuable to program officers, trustees, and community partners—before diving into specific use cases.
Potential data products might include:
- Donors
Who are the individuals and organizations the foundation wants to cultivate and steward? - Regions
What does the foundation know about specific regions, and how can external data enrich that understanding? - NGOs
Who are the established and emerging organizations serving the community or sector? - SMEs/KOLs
Who are the local leaders, technical experts, and community members capable of influencing and impacting the foundation’s work? - Grants
What grants have been applied for, and what has been funded?
Understanding how these data products will be used—or consumed, as HBR puts it—drives the development of specific applications, data pipelines, and reporting. This productized approach is also easier for staff and leadership to grasp.
Making the Pivot to a Data Product Approach for Nonprofit Data Management
Shifting to a data product mindset is a fundamental change for many nonprofits. It can disrupt existing applications, data systems, and reporting structures.
A data strategy is often a useful starting point. It provides a framework for aligning data efforts with broader organizational goals. More than just cataloging existing or desired data, it’s a strategic guide—one that Build has used with nonprofits, foundations, and associations to inform key technology investments.
Example:
If your organization aims to reduce health impacts from local industry on historically disadvantaged communities, your data strategy should define how that data will be captured, measured, and used.
Engage Stakeholders Early and Often
Identifying valuable data products requires engaging stakeholders across your organization. Change management is central to Build’s approach—because data and technology changes affect governance, operations, processes, and systems.
Stakeholders extend beyond staff to include peer organizations, partners, community members, policymakers, and elected officials. Use meetings, surveys, and workshops to gather input on data needs and priorities.
Tip:
Stakeholder data should be captured and analyzed using a stakeholder matrix—Build Partner Debbie Cameron is an expert in change management and has a great video on change.
Define High-Value Data Products Clearly
Determining what constitutes “high-value” data can be challenging. Value may be measured by impact, ROI, or other metrics—and not all data products are equal.
Leadership must evaluate value through multiple lenses, ideally with cross-functional input. Whether you’re in Marketing or Finance, your perspective on what’s “high-value” may differ. These diverse viewpoints are essential, and leadership alignment is critical.
Unlock the Full Potential of Your Nonprofit Data Management
Treating data as a product can dramatically improve its usability and impact. By viewing data as a strategic asset, nonprofits can build more effective applications, pipelines, and reporting systems.
This approach requires leadership alignment, stakeholder engagement, and a well-defined data strategy. Engaging a broad range of stakeholders helps develop data products that meet both organizational and community needs.
Bottom Line:
Aligning data with strategy unlocks its full potential—driving better decisions and creating greater impact.
