Data doesn’t have to be a 4-letter word.

We help mission-based organizations turn messy data into clear insights that save money and drive growth.

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Don’t Let Your Data Hold You Back

Struggling with the clarity you need to move your organization forward?

Lost in a sea of data

Frustrated by unclear organization goals

Disengaged teams and missed opportunities

Duplicating efforts in multiple systems

Unsure how to communicate program impact

Current data isn’t telling you what you need to know

We’re Here To Help

Make sense of disconnected data and turn it into direction

Align people, processes, and data to make informed decisions

Cut through the clutter to free up time for what matters most

Uncover the stories behind your numbers

Build a culture where data sparks curiosity, not compliance

Your Partner
In Sense Making

Whether you’re a growing nonprofit or a complex organization, we tailor solutions to fit.

  • We explore complex ideas, develop creative solutions, and make better decisions.

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  • We transform how you collect and use information to better tell your story and drive real action.

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  • We create strategic plans people want to use through processes that meaningfully engage people, draw out their best thinking, and transform shared visions into reality.

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  • Discover what your community truly needs, identify programs you can realistically implement, and create meaningful ways to track your progress.

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We’ve Worn Many Hats

From front-line staff to executive leadership, we’ve held the roles that keep organizations running. That’s why we understand the pressures your team feels at every level.

Proven Impact - We’ve partnered with organizations like Boys & Girls Clubs to align data, strategy, and daily practice, so decisions are clearer and progress is measurable.

Trusted by Leaders - From boards to program managers, our partners report stronger alignment, less frustration, and more confidence in the systems they use every day.

Let's Talk Data
Explore Our Approach

  • “BOTN presented the fresh perspective we needed to lift us out of the temptation to rely on ‘industry jargon’ and help us communicate our value and impact in a way that I believe will help us resonate with a much broader audience.”

    Beverly Hardin, CEO, Landmarks for Families

  • “Dana is a powerhouse of a woman, and an incredible human being with a genuine desire to do good in the world. She’s also one of the funniest people I’ve ever met with a gift for making people feel seen and heard.”

    Yvonne Casteñeda, LICSW, MSW, Director, Community-Based Initiatives, Boston College School of Social Work

  • “Our resource development team is looking at and thinking about our data differently since we walked through our data with BOTN. This change had effect on the teams approach to our messaging, our marketing and how they are thinking about data, and communication in general.”

    Jim Hoyt, Executive Director, Pawtucket RI Boys & Girls Club

  • “Back of the Napkin Consulting helped to make what can be an incredibly complex process, productive and manageable, especially given the difficulty of leading a Logic Model design process online. Dana and her team provided seamless facilitation support, clear guidance, and structure for the discussions that will feed into our annual planning process.”

    Leslie Cordes, Vice President of Programs, Ceres

  • “Dana is one of the most creative, dynamic, and intelligent people that I have ever had the pleasure of working with…As one prominent Massachusetts legislator explained when asked why [we’ve] been so successful in accessing state funds, “dollars follow data.” I would tweak that to say ‘dollars follow Dana.’”

    Anthony Abdelahad, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Ventry Associates

  • “What I appreciated most was the positivity with which Dana approached our conversations, what a true mentor she was willing to be for us, and therefore how much more confidently we were able to plan and activate because of her input.”

    Cristin Rollins, Ph.D., Former National Director of Research and Evaluation, Girls Inc.

  • “Back of the Napkin’s work, while vital to communicate our impact, has also been an invaluable tool in our continuous efforts to become the strongest and most effective organizations for the communities we serve. Their passion, professionalism, and expertise in program design and evaluation make them an asset to our team and Maryland family!”

    Jeff Breslin, CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Baltimore

What Success Looks Like, Together

  • What started as a project to clarify how impact is measured became a journey to turn data into a common language for learning and impact.

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  • We turned a detailed program framework into a clear, visual story of who our client serves and why it matters.

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How It Works

Listen & Learn

We take the time to understand your team, systems, and goals—so we see the full picture before jumping to solutions.

Map the Path Together

We co-create a plan that connects data, people, and strategy in ways that fit your mission and how your team actually works.

Test & Tweak in Real Time

We put ideas into action, adjusting along the way so your systems and processes work for the long haul.

Make Meaning & Move Forward

We turn results into insights you can use to track progress, tell your story, and make confident decisions.

Take Our Free 5-Minute Assessment

Is Your Data Telling the Right Story?

Let’s Do This

It’s Never Just About the Data

At Back of the Napkin, we’re here to help you cut through the noise. We translate data into a clear narrative your team can trust, so you can spend less time decoding spreadsheets and more time focusing on impact.

We’ll help streamline your systems, get your team genuinely excited about data, and provide you with the clarity to share your mission in a way that resonates.

Let's Talk Data
Explore Our Approach

Data-ish

The newsletter for people who don’t just collect data, but want to actually use it. Each month, we break down the messy, overwhelming stuff into insights you can act on, so you spend less time staring at spreadsheets and more time making smart moves.

Decode My Data