Data for Good: Unlocking the Potential of Big

Data to Change the World

Peter Panepento

Assistant Managing Editor

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

What Passes for Public Data About Nonprofits

How We Started to Bridge the Gap

• Built a Research Team

• Conduct 6-8 Surveys Annually

• Focus on Large Nonprofits – big groups have the best data

The Philanthropy 400

America’s Top Donors

The Philanthropy 50

Executive Compensation

Corporate Giving

A New Approach

Mining Public Data:How America GivesExamine 2008 IRS Giving Data by ZIP Code and Income Level

Compares regions by cost of living

Includes U.S. Census data on demographic trends

Incorporates input from academics

Creates rankings by ZIP Code, City, County, State

How America Gives: AudienceStrong focus on WHO is going to use the data

It’s not about the data, it’s about the user

Charity Staff, to inform decision makingFor example, when planning for a “Symphony on the Go” programShare local giving data with board members and stakeholders

Fundraisers, to compare their charity with community giving hot spots

Independent fundraisers, to approach local charities and propose to do telephone fundraising from homeTo compare top donating zip codes to the overall most philanthropic

Prospect researchers, to identify areas to suit fundraising needs

How are people using How America Gives data

Community forums and charity umbrella groups, to examine ways to spur local giving

Estimate how much charitable capital is leaving the regionMeet with communities to discuss the potential of building local community endowments

Academics and researchers, to explore links between giving and homelessness, government spending, and how donors are affected by their peersLegislative research teams, to identify patterns in rural and urban charitable giving to identify correlations with socio-economic indicators

How others are using How America Gives data

Aggregating Data:Online Fundraising

Visualizing Other Groups’ Data

Foundation CenterPhilanthropy In/Sight

Open Government Data?

ProPublica: Nonprofit Explorer

The Next Step

Is a Golden Age Coming?

The Possibilities

Matching charity data with demographic data

Charting it over time

Does philanthropy move the needle?

Can patterns drive change?

Compelling Storytelling in an Online Age

How to reach meTwitter: @ppanepento @philanthropy

Facebook: facebook.com/peter.panepento

E-mail: peter.panepento@philanthropy.com