Your thorniest questions hold the key to your nonprofit’s success.

We are applied social scientists who bring fundamental principles of research design to real-world settings.

So, if you’re asking…

  • What’s my nonprofit’s impact on the community?

  • Does my training really work?

  • How do I show my program’s results to a funder?

We can help you turn your questions into insights that…

  • Demonstrate your nonprofit’s influence

  • Increase your program’s effectiveness

  • Communicate with key stakeholders

Read more about the specific questions we’re exploring with our partners.

Featured
How can we easily measure whether an organization has the characteristics of a Community in Mission?

The mission of Street Psalms is directed at freeing leaders to love and serve in the shape of a Community in Mission (CiM). Because Street Psalms is most interested in partnering with and promoting the development of CiMs, they needed an easy, reliable, and valid way to measure the degree to which a given organization or group possesses the characteristics of a CiM. Beyond Data developed survey items and piloted these items with a few partners to refine them. The final deliverable was a 12 question survey that the Street Psalms Design Studio team can easily fill out each time they work on a project.

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How does our leadership development program change participants overtime?

Catalyst Experience is a nine-month experiential learning lab designed for current and emerging leaders in the non-profit, business, and church communities who share a passion for the well-being and prosperity of residents living in the Grand Rapids, MI region. This year-long evaluation aimed to understand the impact of the Catalyst Experience program and examine the effectiveness of the various program components. Beyond Data collected this information to serve at least two main purposes for program leadership: (1) to use the feedback to fine-tune the experience for future participants, and (2) to communicate the value of the program to potential participants and supporters.

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How do we describe the landscape of the Synod in preparation for a Bishop election?

The Southwestern Washington Synod is one of 65 synods that comprise the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). In June of 2025, voting members of the Synod Assembly will elect a new bishop to a six-year term of leadership; in advance of that election, Synod staff wanted to develop a Ministry Site Profile to inform potential candidates about the position itself as well as its broader context. Before connecting with Beyond Data, ELCA Synod Staff conducted multiple listening sessions and 1:1 interviews with key leaders involving over 200 people in total. Beyond Data analyzed the body of qualitative and quantitative evidence, drawing out themes and identifying key findings.

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Some common ways we help organizations use evidence:

  • Evaluate program impact

    We help you measure your current programs to make sure they are having the impact you hope and develop recommendations for positive change.

  • Understand internal processes

    We can help you gauge the operations, concepts, or attitudes that motivate your organization’s functioning and test some of the assumptions you have about your organization’s internal workings.

  • Communicate impact to stakeholders

    We help you identify areas of greatest impact and communicate those effectively to donors, granting agencies, or new clients /partnerships.

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When you work with us, we’ll follow a simple process:

  • Understanding your Context

    We will start the project by learning about you. Who are your key stakeholders? What beliefs, values, or outcomes drive your organization? What questions do you want to answer?

  • Collecting Data & Evidence

    We will turn your questions into a research project aligned with your values, timeline, and budget. We use various methods, including interviews, surveys, focus groups, and archival data.

  • Developing Actionable Insights

    We tailor the learnings to your desired next steps. We use evidence to make program recommendations, design marketing materials, or provide a summary of findings.

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Let’s connect!

We can’t wait to hear what you’re hoping to explore.