This spring, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas was honored to be invited by Microsoft to participate in their Global Nonprofit Leaders’ Summit, a convening of nonprofit and technology leaders from around the world committed to advancing digital transformation where it matters most—in communities like North Texas.  

Hosted in Bellevue, Wash., the summit brought together organizations tackling some of the world’s most complex challenges through innovation, collaboration and data. 

We were proud to arrive not just as attendees, but as contributors—bringing the North Texas story to the global stage, highlighting the growing impact of the Live United movement and sharing what five years of field‑tested, community‑centered data practice can achieve when paired with trust, partnership and purpose. 

Why Data Matters Now 

Community‑based organizations today face growing pressure to demonstrate impact, measure outcomes and adapt quickly to changing needs. Yet many lack access to the tools, skills and infrastructure required to effectively use data in their day‑to‑day work. The result is a disconnect between their mission and their impact. 

Our message at the summit was simple but urgent: Data should not be a privilege reserved for a few well‑resourced institutions.  

This is a belief that we’re putting into action in North Texas. Over the last several years, we have worked to make data available to more organizations and pair it with structured “capacity building”—which simply means developing our community partners’ data skills, system and resources. By taking this approach, we are unlocking the potential of the organizations closest to our community’s greatest challenges in our focus areas of education, income and health.  

Introducing Our Data-Driven Approach to the World 

Representing United Way of Metropolitan Dallas were Susan Hoff, chief strategy and impact officer, and Jennifer Sampson, McDermott‑Templeton president and CEO, alongside Dr. Steve Miff, president and CEO of the Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI). Together, they joined an extraordinary lineup of international leaders including Tim Bachta of Children International, Douglas Jackson of Project C.U.R.E., Kristanne Littlefield of Women’s Funding Network, and Olivia Harris of Make‑A‑Wish America. 

In our featured session—“Building Data Capacity for Real Impact”—we shared how a regional nonprofit ecosystem like United Way of Metropolitan Dallas can move beyond an approach that Sampson has described as “sprinkling well‑intentioned goodness” to building a data‑driven philanthropic infrastructure that drives measurable, equitable outcomes at scale. 

Democratizing Data Through the Data Capacity Building Initiative 

At the heart of our presentation was the Data Capacity Building Initiative (DCBI)—a key driver of our Aspire United 2030 community‑wide goals in education, income, and health. 

The DCBI represents a bold investment in our next century of impact. Rather than focusing solely on individual programs, the initiative creates a multiplier effect, strengthening the entire nonprofit ecosystem across North Texas by equipping organizations with practical, usable data capabilities. 

Since its launch, the DCBI has supported a curated network of more than 200 strategically aligned nonprofits, providing a scalable model that combines hands‑on training, one‑on‑one technical assistance, ongoing coaching and peer learning, and a shared, powerful data tool called the Community Vulnerability Compass. 

On the verge of beginning its fourth cohort of fellows, the DCBI is proving that when nonprofits are empowered with the right tools and support, they can improve performance, tell richer impact stories and make smarter, more equitable decisions rooted in the realities of the communities they serve. 

“This initiative is about democratizing data—putting powerful analytical tools in the hands of those who are closest to our community’s challenges,” Sampson said. “When you combine data science with structured capacity building and ongoing support, you create real, lasting change.” 

The Community Vulnerability Compass: Data as GPS for Social Impact 

Developed in partnership with PCCI, our external Aspire United 2030 evaluator, the Community Vulnerability Compass (CVC) is the backbone of this work. 

The CVC is grounded in the Healthy People 2030 framework, a federal framework for reducing health disparities. The CVC integrates 27 clinical and socio‑economic indicators that illuminate neighborhood health, resiliency and economic vitality. What makes the tool truly transformative is its hyper‑local lens—mapping need down to the census tract level, not just ZIP codes. 

Think of the CVC as GPS for social impact. It allows us—and the organizations we support—to visualize social barriers to health, access and opportunity with unprecedented precision. We can see where investments will have the greatest effect, identify gaps, track progress and align efforts across sectors. 

At United Way, we’re leveraging the CVC to drive more strategic community investment. Through the DCBI, we’re also putting that same capability into the hands of grassroots organizations—those working daily to improve access to education, income and health. 

Moving from Hope to Strategy 

A recurring theme of our summit session was the idea that, for nonprofits, data is the difference between hoping for change and strategically driving it. 

By equipping community organizations to turn data into actionable insights, the DCBI helps organizations  

• Expand reach into underserved areas 

• Improve service delivery 

• Strengthen evaluation and learning 

• Tell more compelling, credible impact stories to funders and partners 

As Destiny Davis, senior director of the DCBI, shared, empowering community organizations with data creates a ripple effect—accelerating progress toward shared goals across North Texas. 

These stories from Lone Star Justice Alliance, a member of Cohort 1, demonstrate the real-world potential of the DCBI: 

During the 89th Texas legislative session, Lone Star Justice Alliance used data from the CVC to influence policy change, drilling down to district-level data to make customized arguments to lawmakers. As a result, they reduced by 40% the number of children going to adult court in Texas; prevented survivors of crime from being convicted of the crimes of their abusers; and established an affirmative defense for people who have been victims to not be charged for the crimes of their abusers.   

Lone Star Justice Alliance used CVC data to show how social determinants of health, such as a lack of transportation, can put young people on the path to justice involvement. They took CVC data with them to court when defending a client named Jaquan. They were able to show that his failure to get to work on time was due to a lack of transportation in his area. As a result of their data-driven argument, Jaquan was able to get his driver’s license and access training to become an electrician. He’s now earning $22 an hour as an apprentice.   

Looking Ahead 

As conversations at the Microsoft summit made clear, the future of philanthropy is collaborative, data‑informed and deeply rooted in community. We’re proud to be part of that future—bringing a North Texas model to a global audience and continuing to learn alongside partners who share our commitment to lasting, equitable change. 

Together, we’re proving that data isn’t just numbers—it’s a catalyst for change. And when data becomes a shared asset, communities become stronger, smarter and more resilient. 

Be Part of Our Data-Driven Impact 

Interested in learning more about how the DCBI could benefit your nonprofit organization? Read our new Mid-Year Impact Report, which explores how Cohorts 1 and 2 are leveraging the CVC to benefit more North Texans.