If you work with data in a charity, you’re rarely the person holding the budget.
You’re the one who:
- keeps things running when systems don’t quite line up
- gets asked questions when reports are challenged
- quietly carries responsibility for data that underpins income, compliance and decisions
This page exists to help you have a clear, grounded conversation about why investing in data capability matters, and where CRAFT Premium fits.
Start with the reality of the role
Charities rely on data every day.
But the people responsible for that data are often:
- working largely on their own
- learning as they go
- expected to be certain in complex, ambiguous situations
This doesn’t usually lead to a single big failure.
It shows up as:
- repeated rework
- hesitation and second-guessing
- delayed decisions
- quiet stress and burnout
Over time, that costs confidence, time and money.
What CRAFT actually is (plain English)
CRAFT is a shared support space for people working with data in charities. It was created by the team at Actually Data Analytics
It exists so data-curious people are not carrying the weight of the role on their own.
CRAFT combines:
- practical learning grounded in real charity scenarios
- tools and checklists designed as starting points, not gospel
- a peer space to ask questions, pressure-test ideas and learn from others doing similar work
It doesn’t replace your systems.
It doesn’t impose a single right way of working.
It helps people feel more confident in their judgement.
Why peer support really matters
Many charity data roles are isolated by default.
CRAFT gives people access to others who:
- understand the context they’re working in
- have faced similar challenges
- can share what worked, what didn’t, and why
That means:
- fewer dead ends
- better-informed decisions
- more confidence when dealing with unfamiliar or high-risk issues
This isn’t about social chatter.
It’s about not having to solve everything alone.
Built on lived sector experience
CRAFT is shaped by people who have worked inside the charity sector for years, as practitioners, trainers and consultants.
That means:
- guidance reflects real constraints, not ideal conditions
- tools are designed for how charities actually operate
- learning is grounded in what people genuinely need day to day
It’s not generic data advice.
It’s support designed for this sector.
What CRAFT is not
To be clear, CRAFT is:
- not another CRM
- not consultancy in disguise
- not a silver bullet
- not a one-size-fits-all solution
It is a support layer around the people and systems you already rely on.
What this gives the organisation
CRAFT Premium helps organisations by:
- Reducing risk
Issues are spotted, discussed and addressed earlier. - Saving staff time
Less rework. Fewer false starts. Fewer urgent fixes. - Improving confidence in data
Reports and insight are easier to trust. - Supporting and retaining staff
People feel invested in, capable and less isolated in their role.
This is as much about people as it is about data.
Why CRAFT Premium (not just free access)
The free version of CRAFT gives access to the shared space and a growing set of resources.
CRAFT Premium adds:
- deeper access to practical tools and exports
- structured learning paths that build confidence over time
- direct support when judgement is needed
- resources designed to be used immediately, not “when there’s time”
Premium is about consistency, not just access.
How to frame the cost
It helps to compare CRAFT Premium to:
- a few hours of consultancy
- repeated rework because data isn’t trusted
- staff time lost fixing avoidable issues
- the cost of catching problems late rather than early
A year of CRAFT Premium costs less than a short consultancy engagement, but provides ongoing support, tools and peer access throughout the year.
A simple way to ask
You don’t need a big pitch.
You could say:
“We rely heavily on data, and the people responsible for it often work in isolation. CRAFT Premium provides structured support, practical tools and peer access to help reduce risk and build confidence. The annual cost is modest compared to consultancy, but the benefit is ongoing support across the year. I think it’s a sensible investment, and we can review the value after 12 months.”
Final thought
CRAFT isn’t just a platform.
It’s a way of making sure the people responsible for your data feel supported, confident and able to do their best work.
That’s not a luxury.
It’s good stewardship.