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At the Providence Center for Outcomes Research and Education (CORE), we believe in the power of data to drive meaningful change. That ethos is at the heart of our Data for Change program, a partnership with Providence Community Health Investment recently recognized by the Portland Business Journal with the Corporate Philanthropy Innovation Award. The award highlights Data for Change's impact and how Providence is advancing philanthropic practices in Oregon through its support of the program. 

Empowering communities with data 

Since its launch in 2022, our team at CORE has provided tailored technical assistance to over 30 Oregon-based community organizations through Data for Change. For many smaller organizations, navigating the complexities of data collection and analysis can be a significant barrier to scaling their work. We work in close collaboration with these organizations to overcome those challenges by offering:

• Learning opportunities such as site visits, peer-to-peer meetings, webinars, and collaborative data summits
• Customized capacity building
• Technical assistance  

This hands-on support builds on participating organizations' existing strengths while helping establish additional tools to measure their impact, strengthen their initiatives, and unlock new funding opportunities. 

From outputs to impact 

One of the goals of Data for Change is to help organizations use data to paint a more complete picture of their programs and their impact. For many organizations, that means shifting from a focus on reporting on outputs to reporting on impact. Traditionally, many funders require organizations to report on specific outputs like “meals served” or “vouchers distributed.” While these metrics can be valuable, they don’t tell the full story of a program’s impact.  

Through Data for Change, our team helps grantees build the capacity to report on any required outputs while also encouraging them to measure long-term outcomes and impacts—how their work improves lives and communities. We also provide learning opportunities on how to analyze data, including open-ended qualitative data, and share findings with community stakeholders.   

For example, Feed’em Freedom Foundation, a Black-led organization focused on food distribution and agricultural education for Black Oregonians, leveraged its partnership with CORE to document the value they bring to health system partnerships, which helped them more effectively tell their story in funding applications.  Similarly, organizations like Central City Concern, Rose Haven, Rockwood CDC, Growing Gardens, and Bridges to Change have been able to streamline operations and enhance their impact through the program. 

Transforming philanthropy 

Data for Change has also helped Providence Community Health Investment reimagine its approach to community investments. By connecting its grantees with the program, Providence builds stronger relationships with those grantees, receives more useful information on their impact, and helps grantees build the capacity needed to tell their stories and sustain their important work.   

Dr. Joe Ichter, Community Health Investment regional director, describes it as “engaged investing and a way to build trusted partnerships across our communities.” He adds, “I encourage all organizations who do philanthropy to take it to the next level and be a partner with the people they're giving money to.” 

By fostering a culture of partnership, Data for Change ensures that charitable giving isn’t just transactional—it’s transformative. 

“We’re honored by this recognition from the Portland Business Journal,” says Keri Vartanian, Director of CORE. “It affirms the innovative ideas behind Data for Change and inspires us to keep growing and improving as we work to help more community-based organizations use data in ways that work best for them and to catalyze equity, innovation, and lasting impact.”  

Learn more about Data for Change at CORE’s website. 

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