How to engage ‘non-data people’ in interpreting data

When interpreting data to evaluate nonprofit programs, it’s critical to include and center the voices of all stakeholders in a meaningful way. Including “non-data people” like frontline staff, nonprofit leaders, donors, partner organizations, and community members can increase buy-in to processes, build capacity, and foster a culture of learning. But it isn’t easy to create a welcoming space for everyone to understand and engage with data. Based on my experience as an evaluator working with various methods of engaging diverse audiences, I’m excited to share some ways to make data approachable. 

Tips for engaging stakeholders in interpreting data 

1. Make it easily digestible 

Let’s face it, data can be intimidating. Many of us picture data as dry spreadsheets and one-dimensional interview transcripts, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Instead of presenting raw data, conduct some initial analysis and curation first and distill your data into graphs, colorful charts, and quotes related to defined themes, such as challenges and positive outcomes program participants identified. You can present these findings in formats such as: 

• Data placemats: One-pagers of curated data focused on a theme 

• Data posters: Larger-sized wall hangings displaying multiple data visualizations  

2. Design engaging activities around the data 

Once your data is formatted in a visually inviting way, invite stakeholders to interact with it in a hands-on activity to make sense of the findings and develop strategies and tactics for moving their collective work forward. At a recent convening of nonprofit leaders, we analyzed the data they’d provided in advance and shared back our analysis of that data through a series of activities: 

• Data walk: Participants rotate through stations with different data displays and discuss key takeaways in small groups 

• Gallery walk: Participants leave sticky notes with questions and/or reactions or stickers on posters to indicate the findings they thought most interesting or provocative, which can be used to prompt follow-up discussions and provide additional data

3. Position participants as experts 

As an evaluator, I’m comfortable analyzing data but lack the day-to-day understanding and lived experience of program participants and communities. The stakeholders, partners, and community members we aim to engage in interpreting data bring this contextual expertise. Be sure to remind them of this. Highlight and privilege participants’ perspectives and make space for story sharing and collaborative reflection. 

For example, during an evaluation of an environmental education program, I hosted a data walk with a group of its educators and had them reflect on questions such as: “Does this align with what you see on the ground?” and “What might explain these trends?” In doing so, I positioned them as the experts and empowered them to contribute meaningfully to making sense of their program data. 

4. Emphasize that the process is leading to action 

It’s crucial to emphasize to stakeholders that this evaluation and data interpretation work leads to improvements and better outcomes for their programs and communities. Invite them to connect the data to possible actions and changes, so they can take ownership of the data and responsibility for applying the findings. 

In working with a national nonprofit to develop an impact measurement plan, we engaged staff in virtual Emergent Learning Tables to make sense of the data, build hypotheses, and identify concrete actions to test those hypotheses—demonstrating how their analysis and insights can lead to tangible next steps. 

Presentation playbook: Interpreting data in different settings 

There are various ways to engage stakeholders—in real time and asynchronously, in-person and virtually—and each can be enhanced differently: 

In-person 

In-person sessions allow for rich interactions and maximize opportunities for hands-on engagement. In these settings, take advantage of tools such as flip charts, sticky notes, and printed visuals to facilitate discussions. Make space for participants to move around and interact with the data and one another.  

Virtual 

It can be more difficult to create interactive spaces in a virtual environment, but there are online tools that can help, such as Miro Boards and Lucid Charts. Live polls and charts enable participants to share insights in real time—and you can save poll results and charts to capture these insights for later use. Virtual data walks can be facilitated through breakout rooms, fostering more focused discussions. 

Visual/written reports 

When engaging stakeholders without the benefit of real-time interaction, be sure to organize findings clearly and highlight key takeaways. Include visuals that summarize findings such as charts and quotes. It’s also important to include “reflection questions” designed to prompt readers to consider potential actions to take based on the data findings. 

Including stakeholders in data analysis brings authentic contextual expertise and perspective to the process of interpreting data. This, in turn, can make the findings more usable and more easily translatable into action. And these engagement strategies will help you connect with “non-data people” beyond evaluation data—from needs assessments to benchmarking to strategic planning. By creating an inclusive process that empowers everyone to take ownership of data and put it to use, you can build a deeper connection to the findings, encourage greater buy-in, and help make meaningful, sustainable impact.  

Photo credit: Wavebreakmedia Ltd via Getty Images