Measure, understand, and improve!
Humanitas is a nationwide volunteer organization that focuses on supporting individuals in vulnerable situations. In addition to providing temporary practical assistance and emotional support, Humanitas also places great value on evaluating the effectiveness of their programs. Instead of relying on external researchers, Humanitas has chosen to utilize Crowdtech, a platform that enables them to conduct independent market research.
To measure the impact of their programs, Humanitas has developed an evaluation method distributed to participants after the program concludes. Using a structured questionnaire, participants share their experiences with volunteering or their interactions with their assigned mentor, their introduction to the organization, and the program’s effects on their lives. Utilizing a fully branded evaluation process, Humanitas efficiently distributes the questionnaire, ensuring participants feel a sense of trust and recognition. This customized approach not only enhances respondent engagement but also improves the overall quality of the data collected.”
Collecting this information from all participants each year is crucial for Humanitas as it helps them determine which programs are effective and which ones are not. By integrating survey data with their existing systems through seamless API connections, Humanitas can streamline the analysis and reporting processes, allowing them to quickly identify areas of success and those requiring improvement. This integration ensures a more efficient and cohesive evaluation process.”What’s interesting is that Humanitas operates across 78 branches. Crowdtech’s multilingual approach allows them to compare their performance to national figures accurately. This comparison is facilitated through a dashboard developed using Power BI.
The greatest lessons in DIY Research
Humanitas has learned valuable lessons in the field of DIY research. The first lesson is the importance of going beyond asking for numbers alone. It is essential to delve deeper and understand the origins of these figures. By asking the right questions, valuable information can be obtained that can lead to insights and improvements. This is particularly important because Humanitas focuses on human-to-human contact rather than solely relying on numbers and graphs.
Another important lesson is the need to not only collect data and understand what is happening but also to know what to do with that information and take concrete action. It is crucial to go through the cycle of measuring, understanding, and taking action, continuously striving for improvement. While measurement is indeed important for gaining insight, it is not sufficient to bring about the desired change. The art lies in gathering the right information, interpreting it, and translating it into actionable steps that lead to improvement.
A third lesson is the importance of not only collecting data but also returning it to the respondents. This allows them to see what they can do with the information and draw lessons from it. It contributes to empowering the respondents and strengthens the relationship between Humanitas and the people they support.
Lastly, it is important to emphasize that DIY research is not only valuable for its results but also for the process itself. Leveraging an integrated research platform enhances this process, making data collection and interpretation more efficient and insightful. The process provides an opportunity for learning and reflection, facilitated by intuitive tools that streamline research activities. This can lead to significant improvement and growth, not only for the organization but also for those involved in the research.
In conclusion, Humanitas has learned valuable lessons in DIY research that are applicable to any nonprofit organization. It is important to go beyond mere number inquiries, to delve into the story behind the data, to take action, to provide feedback to respondents, and to learn and reflect on the process itself. By applying these lessons, valuable information can be gathered, leading to improvements in supporting people in vulnerable situations.
What to consider in DIY Research?
- Go beyond the statistics. Ask follow-up questions and provide context!
- Take action by using the right insights to support your decisions.
- Provide feedback and strengthen your relationship with your audience.
- Make research an integral part of your organization, promoting growth at all levels.
Why Humanitas chose Crowdtech
By partnering with Crowdtech, Humanitas has found a reliable solution that meets their requirements and needs. It’s not just the platform’s technical expertise and user-friendly interface that make an impression, but also the comprehensive research capabilities of Crowdtech Insights, which integrates quantitative and qualitative tools for deeper insights. Additionally, the commitment of the Crowdtech team to providing solutions and support enhances the overall experience. The partnership between Crowdtech and Humanitas exemplifies the harmonious integration of technology and social engagement to drive positive change.
Crowdtech’s commitment to tailored solutions and exceptional customer service makes it easy for organizations like Humanitas to trust the platform. For instance, Humanitas received comprehensive training at the outset, enabling them to independently create questionnaires efficiently. With Crowdtech’s outstanding support, Humanitas can confidently focus on enhancing their programs and services without worrying about the technical aspects of the collaboration.
Crowdtech’s technical proficiency played a significant role in Humanitas’ decision to choose the platform. The seamless integration with other systems, facilitated by the Connect feature, simplifies the data collection and analysis process. Furthermore, Crowdtech’s intuitive design empowers Humanitas to have full control over the platform, allowing them to customize their research to suit their specific needs.
Data security is of great importance to Humanitas and Crowdtech
Both Humanitas and Crowdtech share a common core value: a strong commitment to privacy and data security. This shared value, supported by Crowdtech’s GDPR compliance and robust security measures, is the primary reason why Humanitas chose to partner with Crowdtech.
Humanitas strives to create a secure environment for its participants. They minimize data collection and store it exclusively within their own system. When deriving insights from research, they always use anonymized data.
Crowdtech provides the ability to anonymize participant data. They have also established a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) to ensure the privacy of participants. Additionally, Crowdtech is ISO 27001 certified, demonstrating compliance with international standards for information security. Crucially, it was essential to Humanitas that the data remains within the Netherlands and does not cross national borders. Crowdtech hosts its servers in Amsterdam, which was the decisive factor for Humanitas in selecting Crowdtech.
About Humanitas
Humanitas is a volunteer organization that operates in 78 branches throughout the Netherlands. The organization connects volunteers with participants to provide support on various topics, such as loneliness and home administration. The fundamental principle is to empower participants to maintain their autonomy, with the support serving as a means of assistance without taking over control.
