Initial Data

We recommend an iterative approach to preparing data for publication - pull together a small file of 10-100 grants and just the 360Giving minimum fields, and then adding some more data each time, so that the work to do each iteration is managable.

In order to prepare your initial data, download the spreadsheet template and have the standard documentation to hand. This is where details matter - in order for your data to use the standard, you need to be exact in matching the requirements of the standard with your data. Capitalisation, formats and errant spaces matter here!

For each of the fields that you’re planning to publish, work out how to make the data that you’ve got fit into the standard template. Make notes of anything that you do - for example, if you have to reformat a date or separate out a value field into an amount and a currency. These notes will form the basis of any publication process or data storage changes that you might make.

Once you’ve prepared your initial data, upload it to the Data Quality Tool. The DQT brings together structural checks on the standard that affect technical iteroperability of your data with the experience of the 360Giving team to make recomemndations of how you can improve your data. This will give you feedback on your data, including how well it uses the 360Giving standard, and suggestions for improvements. For now, you’re mostly interested in validation results, although the quality checks will also give you helpful insight into how your data can be improved, as well as areas that it’s already doing well in.