A new bespoke monitoring and evaluation app developed in Staffordshire by Heaward Solutions is set to revolutionise how small and medium sized not for profit organisations record and analyse their work.
Andrew Heaward, Managing Director of Stoke-on-Trent based Heaward Solutions, has helped scores of charities and not for profit organisations to develop effective strategies and raise vital funds.
While each scheme has provided vital support for communities, Andrew says there’s often issues around monitoring the impact of individual projects, and the launch of the Not For Profit Insight will help to change that.
Working with North Staffordshire’s two universities and an app developer, Heaward Solutions has developed Not For Profit Insight, an intuitive, easy to use app which helps organisations to collect information and outputs reports on how effective their work is.
“I believe the Not For Profit Insight app can be a gamechanger for the sector,” said Andrew. “One of the fundamentals in business is you can’t track what you can’t measure, and this applies equally to the not for profit sector.
“Whether you are providing food for hungry children or community sports sessions, it is easy to see that poor data is a major issue. It hinders the process when applying for vital grant funding and has a direct detrimental impact on the services provided to the community.”
A basic problem is not for profits often don’t have the staff time available to gather accurate information.
But Andrew said: “Not For Profit Insight has been developed around bespoke software. It’s designed to be easy to use on a smart phone, tablet or laptop, giving you a range of valuable information on your inputs, outputs, outcomes and impact. It provides each organisation with bespoke, unique and secure data that is fully compliant with privacy legislation.”
Heaward Solutions is an independent specialist consultancy for charities and not for profits with a significant track-record in fundraising for a diverse range of good causes.
Founded by Andrew Heaward around six years ago, Heaward Solutions has won over £3 million in grants and other funding for projects that have a positive impact on communities.
Andrew worked with Keele-based NoCode app developer, Delphos, while support was brought in from both Keele and Staffordshire universities.
“I’ve recently completed a business MBA at Keele during which I explored how digital solutions might help grow my business. I was then able to gain support from their Digital Advisor project,” explained Andrew.
“Heaward Solutions then applied for and won funding from the Staffordshire Digital Innovation Partnerships (SDIPs) programme a collaborative project between Staffordshire University and Staffordshire County Council and the European Regional Development Fund through which we were able to gain support to develop Not For Profit Insight.
“From the initial spark of an idea to the design and build, we can certainly say this is a success story made in Staffordshire and because of this we will offer a discount to Staffordshire Not For Profit organisations.”
Heaward Solutions has now completed initial trials of Not For Profit Insight with two North Staffordshire based charities and has now launched the app. You can hear Andrew talking about how it works here www.heawardsolutions.co.uk/insight.
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