LibraryCapSource OpenCasesRevitalizing Nonprofit Performance Measurement: The Arc of Howard County's Interactive KPI Dashboard Initiative

CapSource OpenCases

To View Full Case Details.

Register Now
Already Have an account? Log In

Revitalizing Nonprofit Performance Measurement: The Arc of Howard County's Interactive KPI Dashboard Initiative

Last Updated: 04/02/2026

Case Organization

The Arc of Howard County, Inc.

https://www.archoward.org/

11735 Homewood Road

Case Contributors

Case Disciplines

Growth Strategy Marketing

Skills & Expertise

Accessibility and Inclusive Design Principles Basic Web and CMS Awareness Business Intelligence Fundamentals Critical Review and Validation of AI-Assisted Outputs Dashboard Wireframing and Prototyping Data Analysis and Trend Analysis Data Cleaning and Data Organization Data Integration and System Thinking Data Interpretation for Decision Making Data Visualization and Dashboard Design Data Visualization Tools (e.g. Descriptive Statistics Excel or Google Sheets for Data Analysis Feedback Loop Design and Continuous Improvement Generative AI for Data Interpretation and Drafting Support Google Docs for Strategy Documentation Google Slides or PowerPoint for Presentations Human-Centered Design Information Design and Data Storytelling Interactive Dashboard Development Concepts KPI Alignment with Strategic Goals KPI Development and Metric Selection Nonprofit Impact Measurement Performance Measurement and Management Power BI – conceptual exposure) Project Management and Agile Workflow Basics Stakeholder Analysis and Needs Assessment Strategic Communication and Insight Presentation Tableau User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) Design User Journey Mapping for Dashboard Interaction
Background & Objective

The challenge or opportunity you are trying to address for the organization.

Our organization is trying to enhance the effectiveness of its performance evaluation and decision-making process. Specifically, we want to create a more robust and visually engaging Key Performance Indicators (KPI) Dashboard. The current dashboard is inadequate and lacks visual appeal.
Learning Objectives

This is what students will learn as they complete the case.

Nonprofit organizations increasingly rely on data-driven insights to communicate impact, guide strategic decisions, and engage stakeholders such as donors, board members, and community partners. In this case, students take on the role of data and strategy consultants tasked with redesigning The Arc of Howard County’s KPI dashboard to improve usability, clarity, and decision-making effectiveness. By integrating performance measurement, data visualization, and user-centered design, students will develop a dynamic dashboard strategy that transforms organizational data into actionable insights.

Students completing this case will be able to:

  • Analyze how nonprofit performance metrics align with organizational goals, stakeholder needs, and impact measurement priorities. 
  • Evaluate the limitations of an existing KPI dashboard in terms of usability, visual clarity, and effectiveness in supporting decision-making. 
  • Assess the information needs of different stakeholders, including leadership, board members, and external audiences, to inform KPI selection and dashboard design. 
  • Design a structured KPI framework that prioritizes the most relevant and actionable metrics for tracking organizational performance and impact. 
  • Develop a user-centered dashboard architecture that improves navigation, accessibility, and clarity of insights through effective layout and interaction design. 
  • Model how data visualization techniques (e.g., charts, graphs, trend analysis) can highlight patterns, performance gaps, and opportunities for improvement. 
  • Recommend appropriate tools, technologies, and data integration approaches to support real-time updates, accuracy, and scalability of the dashboard. 
  • Synthesize performance data, user needs, and design principles into an interactive dashboard strategy that enhances stakeholder engagement and supports informed decision-making. 
Key Action Items

These are activities and action items you might want to complete in order to achieve the expected outcomes.

Milestones
Milestone #1
Guiding Questions
Deliverable
Suggested Outcome(s)
Milestone #2
Guiding Questions
Deliverable
Suggested Outcome(s)
Milestone #3
Guiding Questions
Deliverable
Suggested Outcome(s)
Milestone #4
Guiding Questions
Deliverable
Suggested Outcome(s)

Explore the CapSource Case Library

Explore Case Library

The CapSource Case Library helps students explore real-world challenges faced by leading organizations across industries. Each case introduces a practical business or social impact problem and invites students to think critically about potential solutions.

Students can use cases to:

Discover potential career paths and industries
Learn how organizations approach strategy, operations, and innovation
Practice solving real-world challenges
Build a portfolio of real work product that showcase impact

Educators can register and browse the library for free. Upgrade for classroom use to bring experiential learning into your courses through case discussions, assignments, and competitions. The library is constantly growing and used by schools everywhere.

What you get when you upgrade:

Case notes and discussion/facilitation guides
In class presentation slides and teaching support materials
Visibility of student submissions and industry feedback
Evaluation tools and outcomes reporting

Unlock the Full Case

Create a free account to browse case materials, submit custom cases/case responses, and explore ways you can leverage this material to improve classroom engagement and enhance learning outcomes.

Register to View Full Case Details

Register Now

Already have an account? Log In

Educator or organization? Book A Demo