DATA STRATEGY

We empower teams to make better decisions using data — supporting more efficient and effective fundraising, enabling smoother operations, and understanding program outcomes. Here’s how:

Data Strategy & Assessments

Is your organization struggling to make sense of disparate data sources across your fundraising, program delivery, and advocacy efforts? Do you need help getting your internal stakeholders involved in shaping a plan for major improvements to your data infrastructure? Skeleton Key can partner with you on projects like:

Data maturity and AI readiness assessments to identify the most impactful, right-sized investments based on where you are now
Data roadmaps aligning organizational goals, capacity, and data maturity
Strategic planning for data infrastructure that grows with your mission
Creating clear business cases for investments in data that demonstrate ROI for nonprofit leaders

Read about how we helped Planned Parenthood level up their fundraising campaign data strategy.

Data Governance & Data Ethics

Your nonprofit’s use of data needs both solid operational frameworks and ethical guardrails. Whether you want to bolster your governance structures for data ownership and quality, or ethical standards for privacy and AI use, we can help you establish the foundation for trustworthy data practices:

Data governance frameworks tailored to nonprofit operations and stakeholder accountability
Data stewardship models defining roles, responsibilities, and decision-making authority
Bespoke guidance on practical, structured approaches to ethical data use
Privacy policies balancing transparency with donor and service user protection
AI ethics policies addressing algorithmic bias, automation boundaries, and human oversight
Regulatory compliance frameworks for GDPR, state privacy laws, and sector-specific requirements

Data Infrastructure & Engineering

There’s a critical point when strategy becomes inseparable from execution—where the person who understands what you’re trying to achieve needs to be the same person building it.

We design data architectures that ensure information flows smoothly from where it’s collected to where it’s needed—clean, validated, and ready for decision-making. Because we developed your data strategy, we can implement it without the translation gaps, miscommunications, and scope creep that plague traditional handoffs. Our engineering services include:

Data warehousing and integration aligned with your strategic priorities
Data pipeline development that serves your actual decision-making needs
Database performance optimization and security
CRM optimization based on your workflow requirements
API development and system integrations

Analytics & Impact Measurement

We can help your team move beyond basic reporting to sophisticated analytics that demonstrate impact and guide strategy. Our analytics services are keyed to your nonprofit’s level of data maturity and can include:

Impact measurement strategy and framework development
Automated dashboards and custom reporting solutions
Predictive analytics for areas like donor retention and program services
Data visualization and storytelling for boards and funders

Data Adoption & Optimization

Underutilized data systems represent wasted investment and potential compliance risks—we specialize in helping nonprofits optimize existing CRM and digital marketing investments while building internal capacity for ongoing data management. Our services include:

Data literacy and culture
Operating model designs to align technical, business, and ops teams
CRM and marketing workflow optimization
Change management
Fractional data leadership, including:
- Chief Data Officer
- CRM Director
- Senior Data Strategy & Analytics executives
- Digital Product Management specialists

Read about how we supported Human Rights Watch in transforming their use of data for decision-making.

Let's Work Together

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Organization Name(Required)

Comments

URL

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.