There are plenty of software programs out there to help you visualize your data. Excel, which you may already have, is perhaps the simplest to use. Other programs such as Tableau and Qlik Sense allow you to create interactive visuals and “drill down” into your data. If, for example, you see an overall downward trend in program participation, you might want to see if the trend holds for subgroups of participants such as women, men, or those in certain age groups. Free versions of Tableau and Qlik Sense are available as long as you store your data and visuals on the companies’ servers (and you can make your data and charts invisible to anyone without the URL).
See other data tips in this series for more information on how to effectively visualize and make good use of your organization's data.
(This data tip originally appeared on Philanthropy News Digest’s PHILANTOPIC blog.)