Narrative vs Numbers

Read time: 3 min

👋🏾 Hey! I’m Sid and this is The Philanthropy Futurist, a weekly advice column preparing you for the future of the nonprofit sector. Each Friday, I tackle reader questions about measuring impact, driving growth, and managing your nonprofit.

This Week’s Newsletter at a glance:

• Narrative vs Numbers

• Philanthropy News From This Week

• Sid’s Book Recommendation

Narrative vs Numbers

Numbers impress funders and stories change minds… but impact needs both.

In the Nonprofit sector we often act like numbers and narratives live in different houses— dashboards on one side, and stories on the other. But in actuality, they are lowkey one-in-the-same.

Quantitative data (aka numbers) helps you spotlight the scale, trends, and credibility… for example, the people you served, retention rates, etc.

And qualitative data (aka stories) shares the texture, meaning, and moral clarity… like the moments when a program shifted someone's trajectory, the barriers a family still faces, and the unintended benefits your team didn't anticipate.

If you only show graphs, you risk being technically right but emotionally unrelatable. And that relatability is more important than you think. On the other hand… if you only share stories, you risk anecdotal bias and skeptical supporters.

The trick is to design evaluation and communications that make each element earn its keep. This means using quantitative measures to test hypotheses and track progress… and using qualitative methods like interviews, case studies, participant quotes to explain the how & why behind the numbers.

Practically… you’re going to want to embed short stories into reporting dashboards. This might look like a spotlight alongside a key metric.

And you’ll want to train your team to translate metrics into human terms… because a 12% increase in employment isn’t just a statistic— it’s a young person who can now afford to stay in school because their part-time job became steady work. Pairing the number with a story makes the impact real.

It goes without saying but… make sure you collect stories with consent and offer participants editorial review when possible— because qualitative data deserves the same ethical rigor as quantitative.

When Nonprofit leaders insist on numbers OR narrative... programs lose funding and often become hollow. But when leaders instead push for BOTH, their organizations become persuasive and accountable in a whole new way.

That’s the way of the future.

Hope this was helpful. Until next week y’all! ✌🏾

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Philanthropy News From This Week

• 7 Words That Can Restore Trust in Philanthropy

• Getting AI Right: a Fundraiser’s Guide to Responsible Use

• XPRIZE selects teams for first stage of water desalination competition

• Crypto-Philanthropy and Donor-Advised Funds Are Not Immune to Problems. Here Are Some Red Flags

Sid’s Book Recommendation

Each week, I recommend a book or film that has impacted my life in a positive way. My recommendation this week is:

Effective Data Storytelling by Brent Dykes

This book emphasizes how blending data, narrative, and visuals can transform raw insights into compelling stories that inspire action and drive meaningful change within organizations. The author shares practical frameworks and strategies for engaging audiences, highlighting the importance of understanding your stakeholders, setting proper context, and structuring stories with clear story arcs. Learn more.

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