In this episode of The Common Good Data Podcast, we continue our three-part series exploring the “The Storyteller” as leader. Listen in to learn why storytelling isn’t just a communications strategy — it’s a leadership practice.

Every nonprofit and prevention organization is full of powerful stories. But too often, those stories live in hallway conversations, side comments, or moments that never get shared. Great leaders know how to create a culture where stories are noticed, collected, and told well.

We’ll break down three core practices of a storytelling leader:

• Listening for stories and finding meaning in everyday moments

• Building simple systems for gathering them

• Sharing stories with integrity, respect, and care

Plus, we’ll talk about how stories and data work best together — creating a fuller, more human picture of your impact.

If you want to build the storytelling muscle of your organization — not just for marketing, but for learning, trust, and connection — this episode is for you.

Think back to when you were young.

Can you remember a moment when an adult truly listened to you, took your opinion seriously, and made you feel like your voice mattered?

Many of us don’t have those memories—at least, not until much later in life. But for a child who hears, “You are an expert in your own life. Your voice matters,” the impact can be profound.

That’s exactly what UNICEF’s Child-Friendly Cities Initiative is working toward. And just recently, Decatur, GA, became one of the first cities in the U.S. to receive this designation.

But what does it actually mean for a city to be ‘child-friendly’?

And how do we ensure that youth participation isn’t just symbolic, but truly embedded in governance, policy, and community life?

Today, we’re joined by  Danielle Goldberg, Managing Director of the Community Alliance for Child Rights, and Anne Day, who is the Senior Director of Research, Evaluation, and Research Partnerships at UNICEF USA.

Skip Ahead:

(01:31) Why children’s voices are often missing in governance, and how this impacts policymaking and funding decisions.

(7:56) How the “Child-Friendly Cities Initiative” helps local governments adopt child-centered governance strategies.

(13:10) How are cities selected.

(15:25) How did Decatur, GA achieve Child-Friendly City status, and what unique steps did they take to become more child-friendly?

(18:19) What are the challenges in evaluating large-scale, systems-level initiatives like CFCI, and what indicators define success?

Connect with Danielle and Anne and learn more about the Child Friendly Cities Initiative.

Read the full show notes HERE.

P.S. Enjoying the podcast? I’d greatly appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review. Your support helps me reach more nonprofit and social sector leaders like you who are working to make a difference. Don’t forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thanks for listening!

In the nonprofit and social sector, data is everywhere—whether it’s survey responses, attendance records, financial data, or program outcomes.

But numbers alone don’t drive change.

It’s how you interpret and apply them that makes the difference.

As part of a three-part series, we previously discussed the strategist, and now we’re focusing on the analyst—the person who turns data into clear insights that inform decisions.

While many people take on this role in an organization, it’s not always just the “data person.”

Anyone who interacts with data needs to embody the characteristics of an analyst to become a strong, data-driven leader.

Skip Ahead:

(02:06) Why it is worth analyzing your data well.

(03:47) Effective analysis always starts with this.

(04:59) How to understand key metrics and trends with a high school math background.

(06:38) Methods for those who’ve taken a statistics course.

(07:43) Communicate your findings effectively.

(11:18) Balance accuracy with action and avoid ‘analysis paralysis.’

P.S. Enjoying the podcast? I’d greatly appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review. Your support helps me reach more nonprofit and social sector leaders like you who are working to make a difference. Don’t forget to FOLLOW the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thanks for listening!

We often focus on addressing problems after they’ve occurred in the nonprofit and social sector, but what if we could intervene earlier?

After 30 years of research in prevention science, the evidence is clear: many behavioral health issues and related challenges can be prevented.

I’m joined by Mitchell Moore, an advanced certified prevention specialist, to discuss the power of early intervention in preventing behavioral health problems—specifically in the context of youth and families.

(01:02) Why Mitchell believes funding should shift from reactive solutions like treatment and incarceration to proactive prevention.

Skip Ahead:

(04:44)  The role of data in helping Prevention Training Services reach out and train so many people.

(07:57) What a 9-month community assessment revealed and how it shifted their prevention strategy.

(16:45) How media literacy, a key aspect of prevention work, has made him hyper-aware of product placement in movies and commercials.

Connect with Mitchell Moore and learn more about Prevention Training Services.

Read the full show notes HERE.

Federal funding for nonprofits is in flux.

A recent White House memo led to a freeze on funding, only for a federal judge to put it on hold. Meanwhile, key public health datasets disappeared, with some now being reinstated.

What does this mean for nonprofits relying on federal support?

In this episode, we break down the latest legal battles, agency shifts, and what nonprofits can do to stay ahead.

Skip Ahead:

(01:15) The funding freeze—where things stand now

(02:13) The datasets that were removed (and partially restored)

(03:21) What these changes mean for federal grants and contracts

(05:10) How nonprofits can advocate and prepare for more uncertainty

Building strong university-community partnerships isn’t easy.

Power imbalances, competing goals, and trust issues can get in the way, turning good intentions into missed opportunities.

So how can nonprofits and universities work together more effectively?

In this episode, Roger and I sit down with Toye Watson, Director of Community Impact at UNC Charlotte, to unpack the common challenges and share how to create partnerships that truly work.

Skip Ahead:

(00:52) Why communities are looking beyond government solutions and what that means for partnerships.

(05:10) What UNC Charlotte’s urbanCORE is trying to accomplish.

(11:23) The reason some collaboration efforts don’t work out.

(16:37) The first thing nonprofits should do if they want to build university partnerships

(24:32)  What’s different about a partnership with local nonprofit versus a city government and how you might approach those differently

(29:01) How urbanCORE supported the Three Sisters Market, a food collaborative in West Charlotte

Connect with Toye Watson and learn more about urbanCORE.

• Learn more about the Data-Driven Leadership Series (The Strategist, The Analyst, The Storyteller)

  
  

  Read the full show notes HERE.

In the first weeks of the new administration, a series of executive orders have introduced significant policy changes affecting nonprofits.

These cover areas like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), gender and LGBTQ+ rights, international aid, and immigration.

It raises critical questions about compliance, funding stability, and long-term program sustainability.

In this episode, Drew breaks down what these changes mean for nonprofit organizations connected to these areas and how they can adapt.

Skip Ahead:

(01:21) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

(04:03) Gender, sexual orientation, and LGBTQ+ services.

(07:59) International aid, environmental initiatives, and immigration.

(09:59) What can nonprofits do to adapt.

Read the full show notes HERE.

Funders want proof that your programs are efficient and impactful.

But pulling together data to show your impact feels challenging when you don’t have the tools, systems, or extra staff to make it happen.

Your team is likely piecing together metrics with limited capacity, resulting in reports that fall short and reinforce the cycle of underfunding.

Today’s episode is about breaking that cycle.

We’ll show you how to make the most of data  to create a roadmap that  communicates your value and drives sustainable growth for your organization.

 And we'll also talk about the tools and concepts that we cover in our upcoming online course, The Strategist.

Skip Ahead:

(04:26) Culture of data

(6:06) Assessing needs

(7:59) Impact plan

(10:46) Implementation

(12:20) Evaluation

(14:20) Organizational buy-in

Learn more about the upcoming courses at www.commongooddata.com/courses

Read the full show notes HERE.