How to Build a Data-Driven Culture in Your Organization

In today’s world, impact isn’t just about doing good—it’s about learning what works and sharing it. Whether you’re a global foundation or a neighborhood nonprofit, your success hinges on the same thing: the ability to turn information into insight, and insight into action.

But here’s the paradox: according to the 2025 State of Grantseeking Report, nearly one in five organizations cite lack of time or staff as their biggest barrier to success. So how do you become data-driven when everyone’s already stretched thin?

Let’s explore what a true data-driven culture looks like—and how organizations like the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) are proving that data doesn’t have to be daunting.

What Is a Data-Driven Culture, Really?

A data-driven culture isn’t about spreadsheets and dashboards—it’s about curiosity and collaboration.

It’s a mindset where teams use both quantitative metrics and qualitative stories to make smarter decisions and strengthen relationships with funders, peers, and communities.

As LADF’s Director of Evaluation and Impact, Dr. Kerry Klima, explains:

“We shifted from simply reporting numbers to using data as a strategic decision-making tool.”

That’s the key: in a data-driven culture, data doesn’t just justify past performance—it fuels learning, alignment, and action.

Why It Matters Now

In philanthropy and the social sector, data isn’t just an accountability tool—it’s an accelerator for impact.

Organizations that integrate data into everyday decision-making don’t just report better—they perform better. Consider this:

Data-driven organizations are 23x more likely to acquire new donors or customers, 6x more likely to retain them, and 19x more likely to be profitable according to McKinsey Global Institute’s ongoing research on data maturity.

Yet, only 63% of CEOs believe their organizations are truly data-driven—showing just how much potential remains untapped.

In the nonprofit world, the 2025 State of Grantseeking Report found that organizations submitting six or more grant applications had success rates exceeding 95%, underscoring that data-informed strategy directly correlates with funding outcomes.

The same report identified “lack of time and staff” (19.3%) as the top barrier to effective grantseeking—evidence that automation, collaboration, and shared data systems are essential for scaling impact.

And collaboration amplifies these results: 91% of nonprofits participating in our Southeast Michigan Community Impact Cohort - a program that facilitates collaboration and peer learning across local nonprofits - reported measurable success and rated the experience as 'Valuable' to 'Extremely Valuable', according to the cohort's 2025 Impact Report - proving that shared data learning models can unlock collective progress.

The organizations leading this shift are showing what’s possible when data moves from compliance to connection.

They’re using data not just to prove impact, but to improve it—strengthening relationships, aligning strategy, and ultimately driving more resources to the communities that need them most.

6 Strategies to Build a Data-Driven Culture

1. Lead with Questions, Not Metrics

Every great data initiative starts with curiosity.

Instead of asking, “What data should we collect?”, ask your team “What do you want to learn?”

This simple shift builds buy-in, centers learning, and ties data directly to decision-making. LADF begins every evaluation cycle with this question—helping staff feel ownership over what’s measured and why it matters.

2. Start With Leadership Buy-In

Despite overwhelming evidence of data’s value, 62% of executives still rely on gut instinct.
To change that, leadership must model the behavior they want to see—asking for data in meetings, celebrating evidence-based wins, and making transparency the norm.

At LADF, leadership turned data collection into a cultural cornerstone, transforming what used to be compliance into collaboration.

3. Gamify Data Quality

Data doesn’t have to be dry. LADF hosts “Tracking Parties”—gatherings where staff review data together over food, music, and laughter.
The result? Better data, stronger relationships, and a shared sense of accountability.

By making data review fun and social, organizations build both data literacy and team morale.

4. Adopt a “Minimum Viable Data” Mindset

Collecting every possible metric leads to burnout and confusion. LADF focuses on a small, high-value set of metrics each year—what they call “minimum viable data.”
This approach builds confidence, keeps focus on what matters most, and ensures that every data point serves a purpose.

Remember: it’s better to go deep on a few metrics than skim across dozens.

5. Break Down Silos and Democratize Access

Too often, data gets trapped in silos—owned by one department or a single person. In fact, the Grantseeking Report found that 65% of organizations rely on just one or two people for all grant activity.

To truly build culture, data needs to be shared, not hoarded.

Tools like UpMetrics make this easy by providing accessible, real-time dashboards that connect teams around shared goals and outcomes.

6. Celebrate Learning—Not Just Wins

Being data-driven doesn’t mean chasing perfection. It means fostering a culture where people feel safe to explore, test, and learn.

Encourage teams to ask:

• What surprised us?

• What didn’t go as planned?

• What can we try differently next time?

At LADF, this reflective approach has helped transform data from a scorecard into a feedback loop—turning insights into strategy and results.

The Payoff: From Reporting to Learning, Storytelling, and Greater Impact

When you embed data into your culture, reports stop feeling like homework and start sparking conversation. You learn faster. You inspire funders. You make smarter investments in what truly moves the needle.

As one UpMetrics cohort participant shared:

“We used to spend weeks pulling numbers together. Now, we can focus on what those numbers mean—and how to tell our story better.”

That’s what it means to be data-driven: using data not just to measure change, but to make it.

Ready to Build Your Data-Driven Culture?

At UpMetrics, we help mission-driven teams define what impact looks like, collect the right data, and turn insights into powerful stories that move both funding and hearts.

Whether you’re a funder looking to strengthen grantee capacity or a nonprofit ready to take the next step in your data journey, we’d love to collaborate.

👉 Learn more about building a data-driven culture with UpMetrics.