# Using External Datasets in Community Foundations **URL:** \ **Category:** Data Champions in Community Foundations\ **Created:** [1 November 2018 10:19 UTC](https://forum.threesixtygiving.org/t/using-external-datasets-in-community-foundations/267 "2018-11-01T10:19:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FabRider](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex032/user_avatar/forum.threesixtygiving.org/fabrider/32/70_2.png) [@FabRider](https://forum.threesixtygiving.org/u/FabRider)\ **Post date:** [1 November 2018 10:19 UTC](https://forum.threesixtygiving.org/t/using-external-datasets-in-community-foundations/267/1 "2018-11-01T10:19:20Z")
We’ll be talking about which external datasets are valuable to community foundations and how to get the most out of using them. Thursday, November 1st, at 15:00 ---
**Author:** ![FabRider](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex032/user_avatar/forum.threesixtygiving.org/fabrider/32/70_2.png) [@FabRider](https://forum.threesixtygiving.org/u/FabRider)\ **Post date:** [5 November 2018 11:09 UTC](https://forum.threesixtygiving.org/t/using-external-datasets-in-community-foundations/267/2 "2018-11-05T11:09:14Z")
Notes from the first Data Champions Online Discussion, it was super useful to hear about people’s challenges and lessons learned in using external datasets. Here are some top-level learnings that came out of the conversation: - Everyone is striving to stay on top of finding relevant datasets. We all feel like we’re starting from scratch when we start a new one. - Understanding the gaps/what is missing from a dataset is critical. Also what was the primary purpose for collecting the data, for what, and when did it happen? Having a bibliography would help. - It’s often a huge culture shift for decisions at community foundations to be data-driven. - FInding data to answer a question is not necessarily the best way to get a picture of the truth. - Mor has been working with others to compile the [Wall of Data](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N-ef0RUC1eSxqLQmBWmXxN-KNiEMiOuY0k-5S93wEYM/edit#), a collection of useful datasets. Mor also shared: - https://findthatcharity.uk/ - A tool to identify a charity by its name and find the identifiers related to it and other charity commission data. - https://insights.threesixtygiving.org/ - A tool that takes any 360Giving formatted file (included GrantNav outputs) and returns visualisations related to the data. The raw notes. The Agenda: - Introductions - Discussion - What are external datasets you are using in your work? - What are helpful datasets? - What are your challenges in using them? - Some 360 Giving external datasets examples - The Wall of Data - a list of datasets - Best practices for identifying and applying external datasets - Where from here? - What’s next for Data Champions? Notes: Who’s here?: Dirk, Mor, Tom, Kate, Andy, Gareth, Angela, Nicola Andy uses[Indices of Deprivation](https://data.gov.uk/dataset/1014339c-de8f-43c6-955e-d45d0a96afb1/english-indices-of-deprivation-2015-summaries-at-local-authority-level), also - the annual [Fuel Poverty Statistics Report](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/annual-fuel-poverty-statistics-report-2018), also [Pupil premium](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pupil-premium-information-for-schools-and-alternative-provision-settings) - l It feels like starting from scratch everytime - Data in an excel file - Grants data - intuitive ways. Other datasets - for making grants- imagines there are other stuff out there. Using it to drive decisions. It’s a culture shift to use data to drive decisions is a culture shift. A primer for trustees would be helpful. Have a confidence to know - where it is a valuable. Knowledgeable - Complex social issues - metrics - hang you hat on that number. Kate used to use [Surrey-i](https://www.surreyi.gov.uk/2011-census/) - which was supported by the county council. The challenge is that it is not updated. Nicola is using [Local Insights](https://local.communityinsight.org/). The county council created a [good online tool](https://new.devon.gov.uk/factsandfigures/open-data/) to look at useful profiles. [DCLG made an app for depravation](http://dclgapps.communities.gov.uk/imd/idmap.html) data. Lots of ONS data but it is really time-consuming to get all the data on a local authority level. I have to start from scratch all the time. We are experts on a place but we are generalists on themes, and that takes time to find the relevant dataset. [School comparison data by Ofsted](https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/) It’s hard to look at data from different types of councils and local government. If you don’t know what is there you don’t know what to ask. Learnings: - Mechanism - interesting stuff that is out there - Really enthralled to the local authority and their data - Adhoc basis - sometimes using them for stuff for what they are already asking. - Missing the charity commission What Mor is talking about: - https://findthatcharity.uk/ - A tool to identify a charity by its name and find the identifiers related to it and other charity commission data. - https://insights.threesixtygiving.org/ - A tool that takes any 360Giving formatted file (included GrantNav outputs) and returns visualisations related to the data. - Wall of Data: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N-ef0RUC1eSxqLQmBWmXxN-KNiEMiOuY0k-5S93wEYM/edit - 360Giving resource for most used datasets by grantmakers. Lessons Learned - Andy - More systematic - not ‘just do something when it is needed - really figuring it out. Tom - Check out how old the data is - how you can prove the questions is. Know where the Communicating what each other is doing - what have other people in the office found. A really good filing system ---
**Author:** ![FabRider](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex032/user_avatar/forum.threesixtygiving.org/fabrider/32/70_2.png) [@FabRider](https://forum.threesixtygiving.org/u/FabRider)\ **Post date:** [5 November 2018 11:13 UTC](https://forum.threesixtygiving.org/t/using-external-datasets-in-community-foundations/267/3 "2018-11-05T11:13:18Z")
Also - you can view the online conversation here: https://zoom.us/recording/share/LT56Cox\_AoW\_QQDzlQqQYYwhgRJhNzdzlKFMHOHOJaCwIumekTziMw?startTime=1541084580000