United Way of Central Indiana launches interactive data dashboard

Members of United Way of Central Indiana's Strategic Information team look at the nonprofit's new data tool – the Impact United Dashboard – on Oct. 12, 2022, at United Way's Indianapolis headquarters. (Photo by Jarred Patterson, United Way of Central Indiana)

This week, United Way of Central Indiana launched a new interactive data tool that highlights the needs of the community and how United Way’s partners are working to address those challenges.

United Way has long collected and analyzed data to understand poverty in Central Indiana and inform its decisions and strategies. Now, the nonprofit is making the data available to the public.

“It’s our way of making sure that we are showing how we have been accountable to the community, to donors, to funders – to ensure we are lifting their impact but also (showing) how we’re trying to invest in communities where there are gaps in services,” said Denise Luster, United Way’s vice president of impact research and data analytics.

The Impact United Dashboard provides snapshots of United Way and its partners’ work in key focus areas, including economic mobility, educational success, food, health, housing and transportation. Users can explore the data by focus area, dig into the demographics of those served and filter the data by county, including Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan and Putnam counties.

“This should be a tool that anyone can use to see some key highlights of what’s happening within their community, no matter where they’re located,” said Stephanie Fritz, United Way’s strategic research and analytics senior director.

The tool reflects the most recent data that’s available and is designed to be updated as new data emerges.

Throughout the dashboard, data that shows community need comes from national, state and local sources. Data showing impact comes from programs and community-based organizations that partner with, or receive funding from, United Way.

Community organizations that work with United Way report data to the nonprofit quarterly and biannually. The dashboard reflects the immense efforts of United Way’s partners to serve people in the community, said Daniel Hedglin, United Way’s director of data insights and storytelling.

It shows the footprint of United Way and its partners in Central Indiana, said Purbasha Dasgupta, United Way’s research and evaluation senior manager, who led the project.

According to the dashboard, more than one in three Marion County households are in poverty or are considered ALICE, meaning they earn above the Federal Poverty Level but not enough to afford a basic household budget. (ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.) About 29% of households that are in poverty or ALICE in United Way’s seven-county service area are families with children.

To explore the data dashboard, visit uwci.org/impactunited.

To read more about the project, check out this story from the Oct. 25, 2022, edition of Charitable Advisors.