Windy City Harvest Showcase
Project Showcase
Windy City Harvest
Project: Case Management
Project Showcase
Windy City Harvest
Project: Case Management
"I was absolutely blown away by the story we are now able to tell with all that data we collect. Other foundations might be interested in the model TFF uses to guide grantees through this kind of work."
Jean M. Franczvk,
President and CEO, Chicago Botanic Garden
"Through your generosity, we have greatly improved day-to-day operations. Our staff uses the system to aggregate, track, analyze and report historical and real-time program data and metrics, allowing us to focus more time and energy on our programs and people."
Tiffany Chan, Ph.D.,
Interim AVP Community Engagement & Data Strategist, Windy City Harvest
Refining programs and services to meet growing demand
Thierer Family Foundation worked with Windy City Harvest, the Chicago Botanic Garden’s urban agriculture program, to implement cloud-based software to support their programs and services that create life- changing opportunities. This technology allowed them to measure and report on program impact and to refine programs and services to meet growing demand for food, health, and jobs on Chicago’s South and West Sides.
Challenges
The complexity of Windy City Harvest partners and participants adds to the depth of the programs, and created a need for streamlining data collection and management. Windy City Harvest had been collecting and organizing data using multiple Excel spreadsheets that were not in a centralized location and could not be accessed from Windy City Harvest’s 13 farm sites and training centers. Additionally, staff often had difficulty tabulating and analyzing results due to their lack of time and/or comfort with their evaluation systems, resulting in challenges with compiling, analyzing, and reporting data. An efficient, effective system was sorely needed to track participant impact, and ultimately, program results.
How We Helped
Thierer Family Foundation enabled Windy City Harvest to identify and develop a cloud-based client management database system to systematically collect, manage and report on participant data associated with core community engagement programs. A database was developed to register and track potential, current and former workforce development program trainees, as well as VeggieRx program participants. It allows Windy City Harvest staff to collect, monitor and report on trends, needs, and success over the short and long term.
Outcomes
The data management system used by Windy City Harvest staff collects quantitative and qualitative data to inform programming, planning, and support services. The system allows for historical and real-time tracking, analysis, and reporting of metrics to document impact, address challenges, and plan future growth. The system was integral to an improved client check-in process for VeggieRx, enabling the program to increase produce distribution by 70% to meet growing demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I was absolutely blown away by the story we are now able to tell with all that data we collect. Other foundations might be interested in the model TFF uses to guide grantees through this kind of work."
Jean M. Franczvk,
President and CEO, Chicago Botanic Garden
"Through your generosity, we have greatly improved day-to-day operations. Our staff uses the system to aggregate, track, analyze and report historical and real-time program data and metrics, allowing us to focus more time and energy on our programs and people."