Data.gov
Data.gov is the United States government’s open data site. Open data is data that can be freely used, re-used, and redistributed by anyone - subject only, at most, to the requirement to attribute and sharealike. Unlike many other open data catalogs, you can find and download data quickly and visualize it. This is a great place to find data to show the need for your organization’s services and the problems you and your colleagues are working to address.
Data Visualisation Catalogue
It’s simply a list of chart types with definitions. You can use it like you would a bird guide: you come across a chart you’ve never seen before in the wild and want to know more about it. Or you can use it like you would a menu: you want a chart but are not sure what your options are.
Our World in Data
Our World in Data is a collection of charts and articles on “the world’s largest problems”. They believe making knowledge, which “is often stored in inaccessible databases, locked away behind paywalls and buried under jargon in academic papers” more accessible to foster progress. Their charts and articles help to correct our misperceptions that all global living conditions are getting worse. In their words, “historical data and research shows that it is possible to change the world.”
Tableau Tim
Tableau Tim and Tableau Tim You Tube are treasure troves of videos on Tableau, a powerful tool for visualizing data in the form of interactive charts, graphs, and maps. These collections include how-tos, introductions to new functions in Tableau, quick tips, etc. It’s for anyone interested in learning more about Tableau, from the absolute beginner to the absolute veteran.
USAFacts
USAFacts is dedicated to making government data more accessible. The idea is to help people understand where their tax dollars are going and to help those working on issues of concern in the philanthropic, nonprofit, and public sectors to easily access information to inform their decisions. It’s free. They only ask that you credit USAFacts when using their curated material. Most of their data is visualized and all of it is well-documented. Charts can be easily downloaded in an image format or embedded into your website using an embed code.
Visual Capitalist
Visual Capitalist is an on-line publisher of data visualizations. Their aim is to make the world’s data more discoverable. As the name suggests, the visualizations primarily focus on markets, technology, energy, and the global economy but also on education, healthcare, and the environment. The visualizations can be quite engaging with high production values, and you can share them on social media for free.
We All Count
We All Count is a project to increase equity in data science. The site has some great tools for nonprofits concerned about using data more equitably including a Data Jargon Decoder. We All Count is focused on practical solutions to knotty data equity issues. They don’t just complain. They offer up real-world solutions to issues such as how to collect demographic data on surveys.