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The Case of the Impact and Evaluation team at the Masonic Charitable Foundation, Pro Bono Economics, and FTI Consulting

In today’s complex and interconnected world, working together across different sectors can be a powerful way to address urgent social problems amidst  the decline in charitable funding. The collaboration initiative between the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF), Pro Bono Economics, and FTI Consulting is an example of how organisations can work together to drive impactful and long-lasting change, particularly in the area of data analysis and upskilling the sectors building capacity.

The Collaboration in action

Jo Haffenden is the Impact and Evaluation Manager at the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF). She realised that to better understand the MCF’s programmes, they needed insights from different fields. To achieve this, she engaged with Pro Bono Economics, a charity that harnesses economic expertise to address issues related to mental health, education, employment, financial security, poverty, disability, inequality, volunteering, and civil society. Through their Data First Aid scheme, Pro Bono Economics connects charitable organisations with volunteer economists who offer valuable assistance in data analysis, visualisation, and research tasks—all at no cost.

Jo’s request encompassed two primary deliverables:

  • Impact data analysis: The first deliverable focused on analysing the impact dataset her team created for the Masonic Support programme. Jo sought an interdisciplinary perspective from economists to assess and interpret the data, aiming for a nuanced understanding of the programme’s impact through informed analytical approaches.
  • Data analysis dashboard development: The second deliverable involved creating a sustainable data analysis dashboard. This tool would empower Jo and her team to conduct ongoing analyses of the dataset, significantly enhancing their reporting capabilities and improving overall efficiency.

Insights from the project

To facilitate this initiative, Pro Bono Economics connected Jo with Bori Toth from FTI Consulting. Bori reflected on her experience with Pro Bono Economics, stating, “I have completed several projects through Pro Bono Economics, and they have all been incredibly rewarding. It’s a privilege to learn about the missions of various charities and contribute to their goals. The MCF’s extensive dataset on the impact of their grants particularly attracted me to this project, as it provided an opportunity to engage with rich, meaningful data.”

For Jo, collaborating with economists opened up new discussions and helped her explore deeper into the impact of the MCF’s programmes. Creating the data dashboard was crucial for building her team’s ability to manage future analyses and improve their reporting.

Recommendations for successful collaboration

In their reflections on the working partnership, Jo and Bori shared key success factors that contributed to the effectiveness of this collaboration:

  • Bori emphasised that clear communication was paramount. “From the outset, Jo articulated what the MCF wanted to achieve, enabling us to tailor our analysis effectively and deliver meaningful insights. Flexibility was also crucial. As we progressed, initial results often raised new questions. Having the flexibility to adjust the project scope and timelines to address these emerging questions ensured that we delivered a robust and comprehensive analysis, even if it meant extending deadlines slightly.”
  • Jo added that the commitment and dedication of the volunteer team were essential. “Bori and her team demonstrated strong commitment throughout the project, adhering to timelines and applying a structured, project-based approach that ensured smooth delivery. Additionally, matching the right expertise to the project was vital. Pro Bono Economics did a fantastic job in selecting a team with the precise knowledge and skillset we needed. This expertise enabled us to achieve a high-quality outcome, delivering both the data analysis and the long-term dashboard solution we required.

Looking ahead, I am currently testing the dashboard created in Microsoft Excel and envision it being integrated into our internal reporting dataset, UDB. The Excel dashboard will serve as a prototype for our in-house developers. After testing, I expect to enhance its features within our UDB system. This process will not only provide clear specifications for our developers but also streamline the development process, ensuring a more efficient and effective implementation.”

To sum up

The short project -based partnership between the MCF, FTI Consulting, and PBE shows how pro bono work can effectively address complex challenges in the charitable sector. Their success was built on clear communication, adaptability, dedicated volunteers, and the right expertise. Now, the MCF is better equipped to produce data insights to advance its charitable mission, demonstrating how collaboration across different sectors can lead to significant social impact.

By bringing together the strengths of various organisations, we can tackle complex problems, benefit everyone involved, and work towards a fairer present and future.

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