In fall 2019, Measure of America (MOA) in partnership with Nonprofit New York launched Learning What Works (LWW), a free nine-month technical assistance pilot program designed to increase nonprofit leaders’ capacity to use data for setting goals, defining programming needs, evaluating progress, and communicating their results. The program was built around Measure of America’s core commitment to democratizing data by making it easy to access and use.
Fifteen nonprofits were selected for our first LWW cohort. The nonprofits came from the fields of community development, education, and community health, and their representatives were a diverse group of leaders committed to improving their organizations’ use of data. Through online and in-person sessions, the cohort engaged in hands-on learning, peer-to-peer learning, and one-on-one technical assistance with our team of coaches and subject-matter experts. The extended nine-month technical assistance program allowed for thoughtful planning and guided implementation, as well as the ability to respond over time to emerging needs.
We recognize that accessing and using data can be difficult and were encouraged to see leaders expand their capacity to use data to guide decisions with a view to improving outcomes.