Data analytics has done more than transform the bottom line for businesses. It's also changed how nonprofits operate.
By leveraging data, nonprofits can transition from traditional, resource-constrained decision-making approaches to evidence-based strategies," says Davi Moreira, a clinical assistant professor in the quantitative methods area at Purdue's Daniels School of Business. "Data analytics enables them to achieve their missions more effectively by identifying patterns and trends, such as emerging needs, demographic changes, and program outcomes over time. It also helps optimize resource allocation, allowing nonprofits to direct their limited budgets where they will have the most significant impact while minimizing inefficiencies."
With those objectives in mind, the Krenicki Center for Business Analytics and Machine Learning at the Daniels School has partnered student teams with two nonprofits, Girl Scouts of Central Indiana and Indy Reads, as part of its new Community Impact Initiative. "Through this initiative, we are creating dual impact – empowering nonprofits with tools to amplify their reach and providing students with unique project opportunities to develop communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills," says Liz Jackson, managing director of the Krenicki Center. "These experiences prepare students to excel as well-rounded professionals while also cultivating a strong sense of social responsibility."
The Girl Scouts and Indy Reads exemplify community-focused missions that align closely with the Krenicki Center's objectives," says Moreira, who serves as faculty lead on the initiative. Both nonprofits also manage extensive processes and complex datasets that can yield actionable insights for program improvement when analyzed. By working together, the Krenicki Center, the Girl Scouts, and Indy Reads can generate meaningful, real-world impact while equipping students and organizations with critical skills and knowledge."
The Indy Reads partnership seeks to optimize the organization's enrollment process by identifying inefficiencies, integrating current data sources, and reducing manual data entry to create a more streamlined and user-friendly experience for applicants, staff, and volunteers. This project will focus on reviewing the existing process, which spans multiple platforms including Form Assembly, Salesforce, SharePoint, Calendly, and InTERS, to ensure seamless data flow across all systems. By analyzing the end-to-end process and implementing simple automations, the student team aims to enhance operational efficiency, make the process more responsive for applicants, and reduce staff workload.
Erin Kilbride-Vincent, an academic consultant for Indy Reads, is leading the project for her organization. "Indy Reads has grown exponentially over the last few years and it is vital for us to maximize our understanding and utilization of data analysis to continue to provide outstanding service to our learners," she says. "We are especially interested in automating and improving our onboarding process for our learners to allow for a smoother experience while capturing critical data. The opportunity to work with Krenicki Center allows Indy Reads to learn from experts in the field and help accelerate our ability to implement process improvement."
Harsh Srivastava, a Purdue graduate and Krenicki Center data scientist who is serving as the student lead on the project, says his team was drawn to Indy Reads because of their strong commitment to improving literacy in the community. “Their mission aligns with our values of creating positive social impact,” he says. “The opportunity to apply our data analytics skills to a project that benefits individuals and the broader community is exciting. We’re thrilled to contribute to their efforts and help them leverage data for improved decision-making and outreach.”
"Through this initiative, we are creating dual impact — empowering nonprofits with tools to amplify their reach and providing students with unique project opportunities to develop communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills.” — Liz Jackson, Managing Director, Krenicki Center for Business Analytics and Machine Learning
The collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana aims to enhance the organization's cookie sales strategy through advanced data analytics. The Girl Scout Cookie Program is a critical fundraising initiative that supports troop activities, community service projects, and personal development programs for troop members. By leveraging historical sales data, troop participation rates, and external factors, the student consulting team will work to develop a machine learning model that forecasts cookie sales by region and troop and provide recommendations for determining optimal ordering quantities based on the forecast
Girl Scouts of Central Indiana has leaned into data analytics to guide strategy decisions at every level, allowing us to deliver a better experience to the more than 17,000 girls we serve across central Indiana,” says Director of Communications Lauren Palmer. “Girl Scout Cookie Program revenue is critical, so our product program team closely monitors data from online platforms to monitor how cookie season is progressing. The importance of cookie season data is one of the reasons we are so excited to work with the Krenicki Center on this new project.”
The student team partnering with Girl Scouts of Central Indiana is motivated by an alignment in values and objectives, says Daniels School undergraduate Rishita Korapati, a business analytics and information management and finance major who serves as student lead for the project.
We saw an opportunity to apply our expertise in data analytics to support an organization that plays a crucial role in empowering young women,” she says. “This partnership allows us to contribute to their mission meaningfully while providing our team with practical experience in applying data-driven solutions to real-world challenges.”
As part of the project, the Krenicki Center and the Girl Scouts will host a workshop in February to give participants an opportunity to learn more about data analytics and cookie sales. During the workshop, Purdue students will collaborate with Girl Scouts to explain what forecasting is and provide an overview of Python and Excel. “They will also get to work with datasets to analyze patterns, make predictions, and utilize code to create their own forecasts,” Palmer says. “From there, they can create a story with the data to share with audiences, especially during their own cookie sales.”
Both projects offer students an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to real-world datasets, honing their skills in data analysis, problem-solving, and communication. “Collaborating with nonprofit leaders also provides valuable experience in project management, client engagement, and teamwork, contributing significantly to their professional development,” Moreira says. “Students gain a deeper understanding of the challenges nonprofits face and the transformative potential of data analytics in addressing these challenges.”
For nonprofits, the collaborations support informed decision-making, enabling them to improve program effectiveness, streamline operations, and develop innovative strategies for greater community impact. “The projects also build internal data literacy within the organizations, empowering them to interpret and utilize analytics independently in the future,” Moreira says. “The insights derived from these analyses further demonstrate program impact to donors and community stakeholders, fostering trust and support for their missions.”
