Foundations have the opportunity to improve communities’ ability to use data to drive change by: (1) promoting the use of data by grantees, (2) championing community data resources and capacity, and (3) investing directly in building community-wide capacity. To carry out these three strategies, they can invest their funding and capital, provide leadership and political will, deploy their convening power, or leverage communications.

Foundations can also take advantage of our articulation of the elements of community data capacity, which consist of enabling resources and a set of skills and practices for individuals, for organizations, and collectively.

Featured Content

Investing in Data Capacity for Community Change
Learn in this brief why data capacity is important, how to build it in the communities you care about, and the elements of community data capacity.

Stories from the Field
Read how foundations around the country are investing in building community data capacity.

Resources
Take advantage of tools and national support groups that can help you build community data capacity.

Community Data Capacity Handout (286.61 KB PDF)
This handout describes the specific elements of community data capacity: enabling resources and a set of skills and practices held by individuals, organizations, and collectively.