from the desk of Maegan Vallejo

I know—it feels like everything is unraveling fast. Because, in many ways, it is.

Nonprofits are facing a storm of political attacks, funding rollbacks, and outright erasure. The current administration is wiping out histories, deleting data, and dismantling decades of progress. Federal agencies are scrubbing reports, state governments are banning discussions of equity, and funders—some out of fear, some out of alignment—are quietly pulling back from commitments to social justice.

And yet, this is not the time to let go of data. This is the time to double down.

In a world where the truth itself is under attack, nonprofits must hold the line. We must track, document, and preserve the realities of our work. We must collect stories, safeguard metrics, and ensure the impact of our communities is recorded.

Owning the Narrative: 2025’s Must-Know Data and Evaluation Strategies

1. When They Erase, We Document 

As some funders retreat from equity, nonprofits must continue tracking disparities and uplifting lived experiences—not for grant reports, but for our communities. Community-led evaluation isn’t just about tracking—it’s about ensuring nonprofits and communities define what impact truly means, using data to drive advocacy and systemic change.

What We Must Do: 

1. Collect and safeguard community stories, even if funders stop asking for them.
2. Partner with grassroots leaders to ensure data reflects real needs, not outside agendas.

2. When They Misinform, We Amplify Our Reality 

Disinformation is rampant, and our communities must own their narratives, using real-time data to tell their truth on their terms.

What We Must Do:

• Equip communities with data tools to tell their own stories (example: Timby).
• Use real-time impact tracking to counter misinformation and build trust.

3. When They Invade Privacy, We Protect Our People

With increasing surveillance and political scrutiny, data privacy is more urgent than ever. Synthetic data and privacy-first evaluation offer ways to share insights without exposing vulnerable communities.

What We Must Do: 

• Prioritize ethical data collection—consent and safety come first.
• Invest in privacy-focused tools to protect community members.

4. When They Devalue Us, We Shift the Narrative

Nonprofit value isn’t measured in fundraising ROI but in the strength of our communities, the movements we build, and the systems we change. Shifting from donor-centric storytelling to community-led transformation ensures our work remains people-powered.

What We Must Do:  

• Show how funds empower communities, not just programs.
• Highlight voices from those directly impacted—they define success, not spreadsheets.

5. When They Undermine Our Work, We Prove the Impact

Community-centered evaluation ensures we don’t just track impact—we learn from it, adapt programs to meet evolving needs, and mobilize data to advocate for lasting change. 

What We Must Do: 

• Use participatory evaluation methods where communities help define impact.
• Track qualitative and quantitative progress—asset-framed stories + numbers = stronger advocacy.
• Shift from reporting for funders to evaluating for community growth.

6. When They Try to Divide Us, We Build Collective Power

Our strength isn’t in a single funder—it’s in the collective resilience of our communities. By shifting from top-down philanthropy to relationship-driven giving, we ensure our work is sustained by those who believe in it most.

What We Must Do: 

• Strengthen networks of grassroots supporters and mission-aligned donors.
• Engage people as partners in change, not just as donors or beneficiaries.

This is more than evaluation—it’s preserving our communities’ power and truth.

Hold the line. Keep the record. Tell the story.