Since the launch of DATA4Philanthropy, we have had a great response with many sign ups for the DATA4Philanthropy Network and suggestions for future programming. Several DATA4Philanthropy Network members voiced the need for more resources on measurement and evaluation as well as how data can be used within specific sectors–in particular for education. We are eager to explore your suggestions further throughout the year. In the meantime we wanted to share a few resources aligned with some of your suggestions. These resources include topics such as data responsibility, impact assessments, value propositions of data for funders, and more.
Below we provide a summary of these resources in alphabetical order.
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In an article published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, Cathleen Clerkin discusses the challenges of data standardization for the social sector and how to accelerate responsible data standards. Clerkin explains how data standardization can reinforce existing power asymmetries within the social sector and how funders can impact the metrics nonprofits aim to achieve. Clerkin provides a series of recommendations for funders in their data standardization processes, including clear metadata and provenance and including community voices in the research process.
A working paper published by Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence and Project Evident (an initiative focused on using data effectively) provides takeaways from a survey of foundations and nonprofits in the United States on how AI ought to be used in the social and education sectors. The paper provides several insights on how AI is already being used by foundations, where social sector actors see AI making an impact, and the barriers that are currently limiting AI use.
Education technologies (or EdTech) have emerged as a key area of investment across the philanthropic sector, yet how funders go about prioritizing these EdTech remains a challenge. In this article, Natalia Kucirkova explains the challenges of measuring EdTech using traditional measurement approaches and provides the “5Es Framework of Evidence” to help philanthropies compare and prioritize EdTech investments. The framework aims to support funders in balancing factors such as the environmental impact with the EdTech performance and advance a broader approach when measuring EdTech investments.
This article includes a series of interviews with philanthropic data leaders who supported the development of the “Democratizing Data Platform”--an online platform that uses artificial intelligence to demonstrate how data is being re-used in scientific research. It includes interviews with representatives of Schmidt Sciences, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, and the Overdeck Family Foundation about why they chose to support this initiative and how data use in the public’s interest could evolve in the future.
This open access book provides an overview of the current state of social impact assessments–the practice of evaluating both the positive and negative social implications of a program or initiative. The authors explain current challenges in conducting social impact assessments and the conditions required to conduct them in a meaningful way. The book includes several case studies of how social impact assessments can be used across domains, how these assessments can engage diverse stakeholders, and what to do at different stages of a project.
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Do you know of innovative uses of data that should be featured on the platform? Or, are you a philanthropic data leader interested in collaborating with the DATA4Philanthropy team? Let us know by emailing us at DATA4Philanthropy@thegovlab.org.
Submit a case study to the DATA4Philanthropy website here.
Stay up-to-date on the latest developments of this work by signing up for the DATA4Philanthropy Network here.