In this episode of Lead with Heart, I’m talking to Traci Shirachi. She is the CEO and President of The Mark USA, Inc., an applied research and evaluation firm that serves organizations and programs focused on transforming underserved individuals and communities and helps them demonstrate their social impact.When people hear the word data they tend to run the other way, but please don’t run!Join us today to discover how data can help nonprofit organizations thrive, protect their people and create more impact, especially at a time when most organizations are under a lot of pressure, as they face rapid and significant changes and resource constraints.In this episode, you’ll learn:[03:05] Traci’s journey from corporate rat to entrepreneur[10:06] The basics of how to use data and evaluation effectively and its benefits for nonprofit organizations[16:46] The need for a mindset change to create greater and long-lasting impact[21:18] How data brings people together, creates connectedness, and strengthens organizations[27:33] The ways data, frameworks, and systems can help us navigate change and protect our people[32:57] What leaders should focus on and how data can support thatNOTEWORTHY QUOTES“I think getting in the head of funders, and donors, the data helps to be able to do that for a nonprofit organization. If somebody is granting X number of dollars, they want to know that it's going towards something, and they want to be able to see the change that's been achieved by nature of those resources being devoted.”“So, there's a change of mindset too that's involved in this process, which is as leaders and as community members, we need to really think hard about that is: ‘yes, we want to help more people, but we also want to prevent these things from happening in the first place.’”“I think funders are most interested in individuals that are leaders and forward thinkers, because they're not just thinking about the present and the short term, but also the future.”“We want to know we're having an impact and how we're having an impact. And data is just one of those ways in which we can validate or affirm that we are having an impact and to give us the fuel we need to continue to serve and move forward and help more people.”CONNECT WITH TRACITraci is the CEO and President of The Mark USA, Inc. an applied research and evaluation firm comprised of about 15 employees that work with organizations nationally, and internationally to define and articulate community and social impact focused on helping the underserved thrive.Instagram: @tmshirachiLinkedIn: Traci ShirachiWebsite: themarkusa.comCONNECT WITH HALEY Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Certified Stress Management Coach, and Certified EmC train the trainer. She is the Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business. She has worked in both small and large nonprofit teams in the human services, homelessness, and youth sectors; and she specializes in the EmC process, nonprofit leadership, board development, and fundraising. Haley is a passionate, impact-driven, experienced nonprofit professional whose mission is to empower, elevate and engage nonprofit leaders to build healthy, thriving organizations.Instagram: @thesavvyfundraiser LinkedIn: Haley Cooper, CFREWebsite: thesavvyfundraiser.com