4 powerful ways nonprofits use data visualization to share their stories
Learn how nonprofits are transforming complex data into compelling visual stories using Flourish
Nonprofits face a unique challenge: transforming complex data into stories that resonate with donors and communities. At Flourish, we empower charities and nonprofits with tools and partnerships to bring their data to life.
Data Viz For Good
On what we’ve nicknamed Data Viz For Good, our team partners with a different nonprofit roughly once a month to create impactful visualizations that tell their story. We not only create 5-10 visualizations together but also provide training to help these organizations continue telling their data stories effectively.
Here are four powerful ways our nonprofit partners are using Flourish to visualize their impact and engage their audiences.
1. Tell a global story with regional insights
Working with GiveDirectly, a nonprofit that supports families in extreme poverty through direct cash transfers, we created a series of connected area charts that unfold as viewers scroll to demonstrate the changing landscape of global poverty.
The visualization reveals a key insight: while extreme poverty has fallen in most regions since 1990, it continues to rise in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. A scrollytelling format guided viewers through these trends, bringing the data to life step by step.
Tip: When dealing with complex data stories, consider using a scrollytelling format that gradually builds understanding. Start with the headline number, then add context and detail as users scroll. Scrollytelling is available out-of-the-box on premium Flourish plans.
2. Reveal patterns through population pyramids
For Trussell, a charity that works to end the need for food banks in the United Kingdom, we used our population pyramid starting point to reveal the profound link between food bank use and adverse life events.
The visualization revealed that while most people in the general population (three out of four) had no adverse life events, only one in three food bank users could say the same.
Tip: While population pyramids are traditionally used for age demographics, they can be powerful tools for comparing any two populations. Consider using clear annotations and selective labeling to guide viewers to key insights.
3. Bring impact journeys to life with interactive storytelling
For Forever Projects, a charity that empowers women in Tanzania, we created a journey diagram to illustrate how their programs help break the cycle of poverty. Using Flourish’s Interactive SVG template, we transformed this pathway into an interactive experience that reveals their impact story step by step.
Each icon in the journey becomes a clickable element that unveils relevant data: from charts showing dramatic improvements in infant health, to visualizations of growing business income, to hexagon grids demonstrating comprehensive support for basic needs. This approach combines illustrations with data to show how immediate interventions, like providing formula for malnourished babies, connect to long-term changes through business training and ongoing support.
Tip: Our premium Interactive SVG template is perfect for transforming existing diagrams into dynamic, data-driven stories. By adding interactivity and embedding visualizations, you can guide viewers through complex impact narratives while maintaining a clear visual structure.
4. Project impact using maps
Maps are a powerful way to tell stories with data. For nonprofits, they don’t just show where change happens – they highlight disparities, reveal scale, and make geographic data more accessible.
For FEAST With Us, a nonprofit tackling food insecurity, we created a map showing the priority rank for food access needs across London. Barnet, Camden, and Islington stand out as high-priority areas, emphasizing the importance of FEAST With Us’s work in these boroughs.
Another map visualized their activities across London, showing where and how the charity makes an impact. These maps help engage stakeholders and highlight the scale of the challenge alongside the charity’s critical role in addressing it.
Tip: When visualizing geographic data, the type of map you choose matters. Use choropleth maps to show patterns across regions and point maps to highlight specific locations. Learn more about choosing the right map type for your data.
Want to learn more?
These are just four examples of the many nonprofits we’ve worked with. You can find more inspiring stories in this Canva blog post about how nonprofits are using data visualization to demonstrate their impact. Are you using Flourish as a nonprofit? We’d love to hear from you and see what you’re creating! And if you’re interested in partnering with us for Data Viz For Good, stay tuned for updates – submissions for our 2025 program will open later this year.
