Investing in women and girls drives economic growth, creates more stable societies, and leads to better outcomes. Data is part of the infrastructure undergirding this work, and central to how decision-makers, citizens, and advocates measure progress (or the lack of it). Data is also foundational for effective philanthropy. More philanthropists are now focused on advancing rights and opportunities for women and girls globally, and they are prioritizing systemic impact and sustainability. Everyone has unique reasons to give: issues that drive them, and outcomes they seek. What unites effective giving is a commitment to impact. Here are some key questions and considerations for donors.

First, decide what you want to accomplish. Is there an issue you want to advance? Are you interested in a particular country or part of the world? Are you interested in funding policy advocacy, humanitarian relief, or something specific like girls’ education?

Second, consider what type of organization you want to support. Some organizations address one issue, some have a broader mandate. There are funds that pool money, and make grants to multiple organizations.

Third, use data already collected to frame giving. There are many sources of data about the lives of women and girls, including that collected by the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Report; by governments; or by NGOs.

Fourth, consider how to measure the short, medium, and long-term impact of your giving. Donors should understand an organization’s vision and goals, what data it collects, and how that data is collected.

Finally, know that there isn’t one right way to structure philanthropic giving. At Smash Strategies, we have seen that building a data infrastructure for giving helps both donors and those who receive funds evaluate impact.

Read the full article about being an effective philanthropist by Stephanie Foster at Medium.