Presenting Data

Effectively presenting data is essential for professionals in the third sector. From securing funding to showcasing the impact of your work, data can be a powerful tool to support and guide decision making and subsequent decision making.  Here are some best practices to keep in mind: 

1. Audience-Focused Language: Avoid technical jargon, tailoring your presentation to what funders, stakeholders, or beneficiaries need to know. 
2. Visual Clarity: Use simple, high-contrast visuals with a single takeaway. Refer to our Data Visualisation Guide for more accessible design tips. 
3. Storytelling with Data: Structure data to tell a story—introduce the issue, show impact, and summarise the benefits. 
4. Simplify with Real-World Analogies: Replace percentages with terms like “one in three” for greater clarity and resonance. 
5. Highlight Impact Over Numbers: Frame data in terms of real-world benefits, e.g., how many gained skills rather than attendance numbers alone. 

For further information, we have a range of online training courses, such as our ‘Introduction to Data’ and ‘Presenting Data’. If you are a charity or CIC registered in the UK, with an annual income of <£1million, you can get 10% off these courses. Email s4s@rss.org.uk for more information. 

Alternatively, check out ‘Advice when looking at stats’ for videos from Statisticians on interpreting data effectively.  

We also have an in-depth paper on the ‘Best Practices for Data Visualisation’ which provides insights, advice, and examples (with code) to make data outputs more readable, accessible, and impactful.