A suite of similar solutions

You may notice similarities between the MuseumStat and ImpactView Philadelphia projects. Since we released MuseumStat as an open source project – meaning the source code is available for anyone to use – we were able to leverage the project to create a similar concept for the same client. This is an example of how we can leverage one project to create a tool with similar functionality. Read more about each of these web apps below.

MuseumStat

We worked with Drexel University and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to build MusemStat, a resource for museums, communities, and researchers to gain insights into the reach of museums and communities they serve.

Organizations including aquariums, botanical gardens, art museums, nature centers, and zoological parks can use MuseumStat to find out socioeconomic details and other indicators about the community around their facility.

The web app includes a number of features. Users can:

  • Display the location of organizations like museums, nature centers, aquariums, and zoos on an interactive map
  • Visualize statistical data related to the location of the organization (i.e. what percent of the population within 1 mile of the Philadelphia Zoo is female?)
  • Export a formatted report with a map and data visualizations to present to a Board of Directors, the community, or potential donors

The tool provides museum leaders with American Community Survey data, accessed via an API, to facilitate planning and outreach activities. Data visualization can be downloaded as a PDF report, which enables a case to be made to funders as well as generating data-informed analyses to enhance community impact.

Community leaders can also use the maps, charts, and graphs to identify important indicators of community health and well-being. Additionally, MuseumStat provides researchers, advocates, and policymakers with important data to understand the potential reach of museums in communities.

Like much of our work, MuseumStat is open source and the source code is available on GitHub.

ImpactView Philadelphia

ImpactView Philadelphia is a web application that utilizes IRS nonprofit data and demographic information to enable custom analysis. This tool is aimed at helping nonprofit organizations, philanthropies, and community leaders identify needs and opportunities, explore areas of collaboration, and develop programs and services based on measures of community health.

This tool includes a map view and interactive data visualizations that update based on a custom area of interest. A user can search for a location or nonprofit name and choose an analysis buffer to visualize statistics on charts and graphs for the selected area. A user can also display demographic data like median income, poverty rate, percent children, or percent adults without high school diploma on the map.