Making Nonprofit Data Support More Accessible
Better data support does not have to begin with a massive project.
Nonprofit leaders need useful data to make decisions, communicate impact, manage relationships, and use limited resources wisely. But many smaller organizations cannot afford a large custom analytics engagement, even when the need is urgent.
Tammy Armstrong, owner of Little Data Solutions and a member of the Heart of Des Moines Consultant Collective, saw that problem in her own business. Demand was strong for the broad range of services she offered, including reports, KPI suites, analysis, documentation, and CRM health. Still, the way those services were packaged put some smaller organizations out of reach.
Instead of walking away from those clients, Armstrong reconsidered how people could access her expertise.
From a broad service list to clearer ways to get help
During a recent HODM consultant spotlight, Armstrong shared how Little Data Solutions has evolved from describing a long list of capabilities to organizing its work around four clearer service areas: reports, tech optimization, KPI suites, and analysis.
That sharper structure makes it easier for a nonprofit leader to recognize the help they actually need. A team might not be shopping for “data consulting,” for example. They may know only that their board report takes days to assemble, their CRM is unreliable, or their staff cannot agree on which numbers matter.
Clearer service categories connect those day-to-day frustrations with a practical next step.
Multiple delivery models create more accessible entry points
Little Data Solutions did not simply narrow what it can do. Armstrong changed how the expertise can be delivered. The business now provides support through several formats:
Project work for defined needs such as dashboards, technology implementation or migration, CRM cleanup, KPI development, scoring, and benchmarking.
Ongoing work for organizations that need continuing technical support, reporting help, or analysis without adding a full-time data specialist.
Workshops that build staff knowledge and help teams use tools or practices more confidently.
Digital products that guide people through specific CRM platforms and processes on their own schedule.
These options matter for smaller nonprofits. A digital guide or workshop will not replace every customized engagement, but it can help an organization solve a focused problem, strengthen internal skills, or prepare for more intensive consulting later.
What nonprofit leaders can learn from this model
Armstrong’s business evolution also offers a useful lesson for nonprofit leaders evaluating outside support: the best engagement is not automatically the largest one. Start with the decision, system, or recurring task that is creating the most friction.
That could mean asking:
Which report consumes too much staff time every month?
Where is unreliable or inconsistent data affecting decisions?
Does the CRM support the team’s work, or has the team built workarounds around the CRM?
Which performance indicators would genuinely help leaders and the board understand progress?
Beginning with a specific problem makes it easier to choose the right level of support and determine whether a project, ongoing relationship, workshop, or self-guided resource is the best fit.
Candid conversations make the local nonprofit sector stronger
HODM appreciates Armstrong’s transparency about how Little Data Solutions has changed. Consultant spotlights are designed to go beyond polished service descriptions. Members share what they are learning, how their work is evolving, and what helps clients get better results.
That openness reflects the value of the Heart of Des Moines Consultant Collective: trusted local professionals learning from one another, making meaningful connections, and helping strengthen nonprofit capacity across Central Iowa.
If your organization needs clearer reporting, healthier technology, more useful KPIs, or stronger analysis, explore HODM’s consultant network to find specialized local support.
