In a Time of Rising Costs, Data Isn’t a Luxury — It’s a Lifeline

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits released its 2025 Current Conditions of Minnesota’s Nonprofit Sector report in July, providing valuable context for organizations across the state. According to the report, 82% of nonprofits say their expenses have increased over the past 12 months. That’s a sobering reminder of the pressures many organizations are navigating—even as demand for services continues to grow.

What This Means for Nonprofits

For many, the picture looks familiar: stretched staff, tough budget decisions, and rising community needs. In moments like these, it’s natural for evaluation to feel like something that can wait until “things calm down.” But evaluation isn’t a luxury—it’s part of the work that helps organizations make sure every effort counts.

How Evaluation Supports Organizations Under Pressure

Evaluation doesn’t need to be complicated or resource-heavy to be valuable. Even simple practices can help leaders answer critical questions like:

• Which programs are making the biggest difference right now?

• Where are resources stretched too thin?

• What’s working that we should protect at all costs?

• What can we pause, adapt, or scale back?

By grounding decisions in data—whether that’s numbers, stories, or both—leaders can navigate uncertainty with more clarity and confidence.

Focusing Your Time and Energy

If your organization is feeling the squeeze, evaluation can be prioritized in small, intentional ways:

• Keep it practical. Focus on a few key questions that matter most this year.

• Use what you already have. Build on existing reports, surveys, and conversations instead of starting from scratch.

• Connect data to decisions. Make sure what you’re gathering helps inform real choices about programs, staffing, and funding.

Evaluation isn’t extra work piled on top of everything else—it’s part of how you protect your mission during challenging times.

Small but Powerful Evaluation Practices You Can Try Right Away

You don’t need a big study or a long report to make an evaluation useful. Here are a few simple ways to build it into your work now:

• Pulse Surveys
  A one- or two-question survey after a program or event can surface quick insights about participant experience.

• Reflective Team Check-Ins
  Dedicate the last 10 minutes of a staff meeting to ask, “What worked well this month? What challenges should we pay attention to?” Document the notes for future reference.

• Story Collection
  Ask staff or volunteers to share one story each month that highlights a program’s impact. These stories can be as valuable as numbers when communicating with funders or boards.

• Simple Dashboards
  Even a spreadsheet that tracks a few core metrics—like number of participants served, waitlist length, or volunteer hours—can help leaders see trends over time and inform decisions.

Ready to put these ideas into action?

Let’s talk about how evaluation can help your organization make clearer, more confident decisions.