Hi there,
In exciting news, we just released Data Projects from Go to Whoa! – a step-by-step guide to help not-for-profit organisations get started with data projects. If you’ve read our Developing Capability in your Not-for-Profit framework and wondered “what next?”: this is for you.
It also complements our revised and expanded data science tutorial sequence, including a new Initiating Successful Data Projects topic. Due to COVID-19 they’ve gone online, meaning we can reach a wider audience. Key dates and registration info below.
It’s been five months since the Our Community Innovation Lab team packed up shop and moved to our respective home offices. Whether you’re in a similar situation, at home or in the office, we hope you’re staying safe and well, and we look forward to seeing you on the other side of the pandemic.
What we've been up to
A guide to not-for-profit data projects
We’re excited to announce the release of Data Projects from Go to Whoa! to help organisations get started and successfully deliver data projects. Our step-by-step guide distils lessons we’ve learned from guiding not-for-profit organisations through the process of becoming more data-driven.
The guide will help organisations develop an understanding of data science, scope data projects and oversee their delivery. We also cover the tools and skills needed and provide advice for overcoming obstacles.
Go to Whoa! is divided into 15 steps, each with supporting material including online tutorials, worksheets and templates.
The Innovation Lab can provide free advice and support along the way, as well as help build connections with other organisations who may have knowledge (or even data) to share. We encourage you to get in touch and tell us about your data projects and goals.
A framework for Developing Data Capability in Your Not-for-Profit
We produced Developing Data Capability in Your Not-for-Profit to help guide you through the six types of data that not-for-profit organisations most often work with — such as fundraising data and program data — and what you can actually do with that data.
Think of it as a preliminary resource to help your organisation think about data before embarking on data projects. (Use with Data Projects from Go to Whoa! for best results.)
Tutorials are back and now online
You can now register to attend our upcoming tutorials. Due to COVID-19, our sessions are webinars (instead of at Our Community House.)
Learn from one of our data scientists, Nathan Mifsud, about data science basics for not-for-profit organisations, including how to ask the right questions, initiate successful data projects and understand the fundamentals of data quality.
Upcoming tutorial dates:
Tutorial 1: The What & Why of Data Science for NFPs
Monday 28 September, 11am-12.30pm. Register here.
Tutorial 2: Asking the Right Questions
Monday 26 October, 11am-12.30pm. Register here.
Tutorial 3: Initiating Successful Data Projects
Monday 9 November, 11am-12.30pm. Register here.
Tutorial 4: Getting Hands-On with Data Quality
Monday 23 November, 11am-12.30pm. Register here.
Data collaboration enables innovation
Head of strategy at TaskForce Community Agency, a not-for-profit providing wraparound support to vulnerable people, Mike Davis shares key lessons learned from a recent collaboration with the Innovation Lab. Our work with Mike and the team at TaskForce was one of several partnerships formed with Victorian not-for-profits to help improve data capability.
What we've been reading, listening to and watching
- Survey: Infoxchange Digital Technology in the Not-for-Profit Sector survey, closes 21 August. We encourage you to support this valuable research by completing the survey.
- Virtual conference: Tech Impact Tech Forward conference (15 September)
- Article: Detecting fake news with and without code
- Article: The top data science job of the future
- Tool: Native Land maps Indigenous territories around the world
- Publication: Rest of World – tech stories beyond the Western bubble
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Our Community House
552 Victoria Street, North Melbourne, VIC 3051
The Our Community Innovation Lab receives support from Equity Trustees, with thanks to the Ella & Mitchell Brazier Fund, Charles Lamond Forrest Estate, James Raymond Hartley Charitable Trust, Charles Frederick William Taylor Estate and Truby & Florence Williams Charitable Trust.
