Data to drive decisions: How can research inform philanthropic giving?

About

When a disaster strikes, many funders struggle to identify where and when to invest their philanthropic dollars effectively and equitably. Using available impact and risk data can help grantmakers and nongovernmental organizations understand where their activities and dollars make the most sense. But despite improvements in the amount of data available, gaps in the ability to analyze and share vital information to inform decision-making for equitable recovery outcomes persist.

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) is hosting a webinar to highlight the different ways funders and NGOs have used data to inform grantmaking, highlight needs and generate disaster funding. We will also share how CDP uses data in developing our educational resources.

We will explore several community-level data sources and discuss the challenges of collecting, analyzing and sharing information. We will also highlight the work of innovative grantee partners that can help communities and funders create timely responses, even amid a disaster. At the end of the webinar, funders will:

1. Have an increased understanding of data sources and how this is useful for decision-making.
2. Develop an enhanced understanding of what is available to guide their giving.
3. Build a heightened commitment to collect, analyze and share information.

While primarily aimed at funders, it may also be of interest to emergency managers, academics, disaster responders and NGO staff interested in or working on disasters and other crises.

Speakers:

• Cari Cullen, Director, CDP Midwest Early Recovery Fund
• Andrew Schroeder, PhD, Vice President of Research and Analysis, Direct Relief
• Shao-Chee Sim, PhD, Vice President of Research, Innovation and Evaluation, Episcopal Health Foundation