Demystifying Data

Ask anyone at the Health Fund: we love data. In your proposal, data helps us understand the “why” of your work, giving us a sense of the gaps that need filling and the context of those gaps. Once you get started, it helps us quantify and qualify your impact, and it opens the door for growth as we home in on what works and what doesn’t. When we land on a highly effective model, data stories are the backbone of replication and expansion. And data drives the Health Fund’s strategic direction—we focus and sharpen our priorities based on what we learn. 

But we also know that the world of logic models, data menus, and dashboards can be overwhelming and unfamiliar. To help get you started, we asked Jennifer Nulty of Pivot Data Design and Liz Gordillo of LizGStrategy to run through some of the basics through a Harnessing the Power of Data mini-series. In 16 short videos, Jenny and Liz provide practical lessons on data uses of all kinds—from planning to collection to presentation.

You can see all 16 videos in a playlist here. Below, you will find links and descriptions for each lesson.

Phase 1: Proposal

The lessons in the proposal phase will help you develop your measurement strategies and create the foundation for effective evaluation.

One of our favorites: “Developing and Using a Data Menu,” which provides a way to compile your go-to statistics for easy incorporation into your proposal.

1. Introduction to Theory of Change
   Participants will learn how to make a theory of change to link program activities to outcomes of interest.
2. Introduction to Logic Models
   Participants will learn the purpose of logic models and how they can provide a framework for storytelling, evaluation, and strategy.
3. Developing a Measurement Plan
   Participants will learn why it is important to develop a measurement plan for each element of the logic model.
4. Developing and Using a Data Menu
   Participants will learn how data menus can streamline data compilation for reports, presentations, and dashboards.
5. Tips for Building an Evaluation Budget
   Participants will learn the key items to include in an evaluation budget in a proposal.
6. Digging Deeper into Program Logic
   Participants will learn the difference between outputs and outcomes and how each is important to outline in detail in a grant proposal.

Phase 2: Learning

In the learning phase, our evaluation experts share three free tools that can help you strengthen your data collection during program implementation.

One of our favorites: “Google Sheets Program Data Tracker,” which includes a walkthrough of a simple but powerful data tracking method based on a real example.

7. Creating a Survey in Google Forms
   Participants will learn how to create a survey in Google Forms and how to extract the raw data.
8. Google Sheets Program Data Tracker
   Participants will get a glimpse of a simple program tracker and its components in Google Sheets.
9. Jamboard Whiteboards for Virtual Facilitation
   Participants will learn how to use virtual whiteboards to facilitate collaborative learning experiences.

Phase 3: Reporting

The reporting phase is all about presenting your data—and how carefully selected information combined with fundamental visual principles can help you communicate your story effectively.

One of our favorites: “Audience-Centered Data Design,” which shows that the same raw data may be presented differently depending on the intended audience.

10. Internal Navigation Links in Word, PowerPoint & Adobe PDF
    Participants will learn to make documents easier to navigate through a step-by-step tutorial on internal navigation links.
11. Color Coding Your Deliverables
    Demonstrating how color-coding helps your reader process information quickly through visual organization.
12. Mixed Methods Visualization
    Sharing techniques you can use to pair your quantitative and qualitative data together and tell a more complete story.
13. Audience-Centered Data Design
    Demonstrating different ways to visualize the same data for multiple audiences and their unique contexts.
14. Building a Color Theme in Microsoft
    Walking through the steps needed to build a design theme in Microsoft and share it with your team.
15. Data Design Using Canva Templates
    Using Canva templates to make data visualization easy.
16. Dashboards vs. One-Pagers vs. Infographics
    Reviewing the differences and similarities between common deliverables and providing tips on determining what product type is the right fit.