This series of three case studies, written by Artha Global for data.org, explores how organisations oriented towards social impact are embedding data in their practice. By documenting real-world journeys of three diverse organisations, the project highlights how data, when paired with community trust and local expertise, can deliver measurable change.

These case studies aim to retain the energy of an impact story while explaining more fully the qualitative and quantitative results of the work, in relation to the data.org partnership. The cases track how each organisation was supported through data.org’s Inclusive Growth and Recovery Challenge or its Capacity Accelerator Network, and how those resources were used to enable social good through data.

Each case offers a distinct lens on the use of data:

• Mississippi AI Collaborative shows how a coalition of four organisations is building an AI ecosystem across education, small business and community life to stem the outflow of talent from Mississippi and widen access to opportunity.
• Adaapta shows how a mission-first business model uses data as a “neutraliser” of distrust, co-creating evidence with communities so they can shape and fund the redevelopment of contaminated brownfield sites.
• Icon Data and Learning Labs (IDL) shows how building data systems, talent and partnerships can support climate-resilient, integrated farming that benefits women farmers in Kenya.

The cases offer credible, actionable examples that funders can reference, practitioners can learn from, and other organisations can build on.

• Initial Research: Secondary research on each organisation’s work and its use of data, reviewing public documents to map key details and identify gaps to explore further.
• Case Framing: Working with data.org to identify a narrative angle for each case, such as an ecosystem-building approach (Mississippi AI Collaborative), the tension between mission and margin (Adaapta), or talent and partnerships as the foundation of data-driven change (IDL).
• Interviews and Information Exchange: Interviews with two to three key people at each organisation, including founders, programme leads, data specialists and community partners, to balance strategic and technical perspectives. Interviews were supplemented with datasets, visuals and impact metrics where available.
• Narrative Style: A narrative approach matched to each case: systems-focused for the Mississippi AI Collaborative, and protagonist-driven for Adaapta and IDL, following the journeys of founders, leaders and data specialists.
• Development and Review: A detailed outline for each case covering context, challenge, approach, engagement and outcomes, followed by 1,300-1,500-word drafts blending storytelling with analysis. Each case went through two rounds of feedback, and final deliverables included all editable assets.

• Three Case Studies Published: Featuring Mississippi AI Collaborative, Adaapta and Icon Data and Learning Labs, each offering a distinct lens on how data delivers social outcomes. 
• A Proof-of-Work Resource for the Organisations: The case studies give each organisation a tool to showcase its work and thinking, and to document its success for funders and ecosystem partners.
• Narrative and Ecosystem Shift: By documenting how organisations use data to steer social outcomes, the project broadens how data for social good is understood.