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SisterWeb – Sharing Data Internally and Externally to Create Buy-In

Table of Contents

1. Culturally Harmonious Doulas Serving San Francisco

2. From Modest Beginnings to a Data Powerhouse

3. Finding the Right Tools to Get the Job Done: RBA, Scorecard, and Compyle

4. Ensuring Everyone Has the Data They Need to Make Good Decisions

5. Uplifting the Work With Public Impact Reporting

6. Marna Armstead’s Tips for Funders: Establishing Performance Reporting Systems for Grantees That Work 

1. Culturally Harmonious Doulas Serving San Francisco

On the other side of the funding fence is grantee SisterWeb, a small community nonprofit based in San Francisco, California. SisterWeb consists of a network of culturally harmonious Doulas and birth workers belonging to and serving Black, Pacific Islander, and Latinx communities. These ethnic and cultural groups face the most health disparities in San Francisco. SisterWeb also works to dismantle racist healthcare systems, strengthen community resilience, and advance economic justice for birthing families and Doulas. As of 2020, they had 26 staff and received a combined $1,248,904 in funding. Some of SisterWeb’s notable funders include Every Mother Counts, San Francisco Public Health Foundation, San Francisco Health Plan, The San Francisco Foundation, Anthem Blue Shield, Merck for Mothers Safer Cities, and The University of California Berkeley.

2. From Modest Beginnings to a Data Powerhouse

In December 2018, The San Francisco Foundation awarded SisterWeb seed funding, and they opened three months later in March 2019. SisterWeb truly started from nothing. They were not an existing program, an extension of another program, part of a city department, or part of anything with infrastructure. Despite these modest beginnings, SisterWeb has become a powerhouse of data collection, data-based decision-making, and data transparency. As part of their funding, they were paired with an evaluation team from UC Berkeley who helped them understand the importance of data collection, how to tell important stories through numbers, and how to use ethical data collection methods. 

3. Finding the Right Tools to Get the Job Done: RBA, Scorecard, and Compyle

A few years ago, SisterWeb Co-Founder and Director of Evaluations Alli Cuentos came across Trying Hard is Not Good Enough and the Results-Based Accountability (RBA) framework. Alli convinced Marna Armstead, SisterWeb’s Executive Director, to crawl out from under her mountain of paperwork and read the book. Marna fell in love and began using RBA to direct the organization. She loved RBA’s plain-speaking approach to nonprofit work, and a common language helped SisterWeb remain transparent with its staff and the public throughout its organizational processes. 

RBA created an impetus for SisterWeb to transparently share its progress with staff and the public. Motivated by attracting more funding from existing and new funders, they began to read up on the benefits of sharing data and seeking systems to help them do it effectively. Eventually, Marna came across the Clear Impact Scorecard and thought, “I want a Scorecard on our website!”

Originally, SisterWeb utilized Google forms to collect their client-level data, but ultimately it wasn’t secure enough for their needs. They also tested out medical provider platforms, but these systems only collected and stored data — there was no way to practice data evaluation, track progress over time, or share achievements with partners and the public.  Marna found that Compyle (Scorecard’s sister data-collection system) was the answer to their data-collection needs.

As a plus, RBA proved to be adaptable from SisterWeb’s “low-tech/no-tech situation” to its current level of technological sophistication in using Clear Impact’s data collection and evaluation systems.

4. Ensuring Everyone Has the Data They Need to Make Good Decisions

A year after embarking on its RBA and technology journey, SisterWeb had established its Common Purpose in the form of four overarching goals and accompanying Indicators, all managed in online Scorecards. They collect their data through Compyle surveys, put it into spreadsheets that are sorted and disaggregated, analyze and reflect on the data, and review it in supervision meetings. Throughout all their data collection efforts, SisterWeb ensures that everyone has access to the data they need to make good decisions about their work. Part of this effort is the intentional involvement of all SisterWeb’s Directors in data collection and entry — each Director is responsible for managing a particular set of data. 

To enhance collaboration, SisterWeb regularly distributes data reports to each of its programs so that each can stay current on SisterWeb’s goals, the state of community Indicators, areas of progress, and challenges. Data is thus made highly visible, always adhering to ethical guidelines and striking a balance between numbers and narrative.

SisterWeb understands that transparency isn’t the endgame — it’s a means to continual improvement, buy-in, and capacity-building. After distributing data reports, SisterWeb solicits feedback on what might be missing from the story. All staff members are free to request particular reports or data. Not only does this help everyone stay aligned — it contributes to a feeling of belonging and that the organization cares for its staff and Doulas.

As of 2020, 85 percent of Doulas felt that SisterWeb cared about helping them achieve their professional goals, and they continue to work on Turning the Curve.

5. Uplifting the Work With Public Impact Reporting

Transparency isn’t just an internal game for SisterWeb. They use RBA and public Scorecards to uplift their work and draw attention to the needs and changes that arise as part of a growing, learning organization. Each of their four organizational goals is publicly displayed on their website via an “Our Impact” page, and each button links to a performance Scorecard. In addition to Scorecards, the webpage houses an interactive Annual Report, notable measurable accomplishments, and a financial snapshot disclosing where funding comes from and where it goes (down to the exact dollar amount!).

On SisterWeb’s “Our Impact” webpage, visitors can see the current status of health Indicators for each of the organizational goals (to be updated by late 2022):

• Goal 1: SisterWeb nurtures a skilled workforce of Community Doulas who see birth work as a viable profession
• Goal 2: SisterWeb’s culturally congruent, holistic Doula care supports Black, Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander, and Latinx pregnant and birthing people in achieving their own birth goals
• Goal 3: SisterWeb engages in the national movement to eliminate structural racism in healthcare systems as a driver of birth inequities
• Goal 4: SisterWeb expands and strengthens its operational effectiveness and organizational sustainability.

You can view these Scorecards here.

The early implementation of RBA and efforts around data transparency set SisterWeb up for exponential growth. These efforts allowed them to engage partners in discovering issues and making changes on the fly. Recently, they transitioned 10 Doulas from independent contractors to full-time employees with benefits.

In 2020 SisterWeb reported that 100 percent of their Doula client survey respondents reported that SisterWeb’s services helped them achieve their birthing goals, feel more confident in navigating healthcare systems, and feel more connected to their bodies.

6. Marna Armstead’s Tips for Funders: Establishing Performance Reporting Systems for Grantees That Work

When it comes to developing a world-class performance reporting and data transparency system that works for grantees, Marna has a few recommendations for funders:

• Pour development and resources into how organizations can carry out their data development agenda, including staffing, technology, tools, and general operations
• Use targets and Indicators that are fair and useful
• Provide ongoing technical support for the implementation of technology
• Account and plan for the extensive time it may take for grantees to customize and make data collection meaningful

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