Challenge — Program staff were managing data across multiple platforms, making it difficult to prepare for new program rounds and track team progress over time. The organization’s central database was strong but not structured to hold this type of operational data, leaving a gap between information and use.

Approach — Over several years, I designed and refined a lightweight data system that integrates information from multiple platforms and presents it through clear, intuitive dashboards. The system includes a well-documented R-based workflow for generating dashboards and a structured space for staff to record notes and assessments throughout each program.

Impact — The tool now provides a unified, flexible workspace that complements the central database rather than competing with it. Program teams can easily access, record, and analyze their data in one place—improving coordination, visibility, and long-term tracking.

Challenge — A rural arts nonprofit’s sales systems had grown organically over time, leaving them with disconnected platforms and inconsistent product categories that made financial reporting cumbersome.

Approach — We co-created a lightweight, spreadsheet-driven solution that organizes data from all sales channels in one place. We additionally proposed and implemented a set of low-tech process improvements to streamline their sales ecosystem.

Impact — The organization now regularly compiles sales data, which it uses to report to its finance committee and to guide product and inventory decisions.

Challenge — A newly formed nonprofit preparing its first major grant proposal needed to define realistic, measurable outcomes for an ambitious set of activities, without existing data systems or prior reporting templates.

Approach — We guided the team through the development of clear, achievable metrics aligned with proposed activities and available capacity, creating a framework that links outcomes to indicators and reporting requirements.

Impact — The organization submitted a strong, metrics-driven proposal and now has a ready-to-implement evaluation framework that will support grant reporting, learning, and future funding opportunities.

Challenge — The local Planning Commission sought meaningful input from residents to guide its upcoming Town Plan but had historically struggled with low response rates and limited actionable feedback.

Approach — As a volunteer member of the Commission, I co-led the design of a comprehensive community survey to capture residents’ priorities, needs, and satisfaction with local services. To ensure strong participation, we paired the survey with a creative outreach campaign, and I prepared a synthesis of results to highlight trends, areas of alignment with town priorities, and surprising insights.

Impact — The initiative achieved a response rate five times higher than previous surveys, producing rich data and clear insights. The results are now directly informing the new Town Plan, ensuring that future initiatives reflect the voices and values of residents.

Challenge — A STEM-focused nonprofit had a well-established process for reflecting after each program cycle but lacked a consistent way to revisit past lessons and track how insights translated into action over time.

Approach — Inspired by the concept of evaluation learning logs, I co-designed an Airtable system with simple, user-friendly interfaces to document reflections, organize next steps, and make insights easy to search and report on. The tool aligned seamlessly with existing staff workflows, making documentation natural rather than burdensome.

Impact — The organization now has a living repository of learning that supports reflection, reporting, and continuous improvement. Staff can quickly surface patterns across years of work and use that knowledge to shape future initiatives.