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The Toronto Data for Good Chapter

Data For Good is a collective of do gooders, who want to use their powers for good, and not evil, to help make our communities better through data.

We help other not for profit, and non-governmental, organizations harness the power of their data to make more informed and better decisions in their quest to make their communities flourish.

How we can help

With a plethora of data scientists, data analysts and developers in Canada’s largest city and and abundance of tech enthusiasts, our collective of experienced volunteers come with not only a lot of grit, but expertise across industries. From tech to consulting to banking and even academia, our volunteers have a passion to go beyond their 9 to 5 and use their skills for good.

We also partner with some of the largest companies in Canada who sponsor their space, food and time to help our cause. Just in 2019, we’ve partnered with Paytm, Intelliware, CAPCO, Terminal and East-End United Church and worked with Youth Without Shelter, Stories and Storefronts, Kids Help Phone, East-End United, TRIEC and United Way. Looking into 2020, we are expanding not only our team but our scope by hosting DataNights and day-long Datathons to help NFPs of all sizes, with a diversity of missions and range of datasets.

If you have the passion as a sponsor, NFP or volunteer we would love to hear more from you.

Community

Community is at the heart of Data for Good, whether through in the people who create and manage not-for-profit and non-governmental organizations, in supporting the people that such organizations serve, or in our own team who simply want to do some good. Data for Good Toronto is happy to share the knowledge throughout the community and host speaking events to discuss the value of data.

Data Work

You don’t need degrees or certifications to start working with data! With some patience and open-mindedness, anyone can pick up the tools to start collecting and dissecting the multitudes of different data that are so essential to day-to-day operations. For organizations that may be overwhelmed with the amount of data to sift through and don’t know where to start, Data for Good is here.

Chapter Leads

Deepika Anandakrishnan

Chapter Lead

As the Toronto Chapter Lead, I work towards fostering a community in Toronto that is more data-literate, data-conscious and data-responsible. With the general goal of increasing awareness about using data for doing social good, I am also looking forward to creating a space for data enthusiasts and evangelists from different fields to come together and work towards the greater good.

Eunice Lo

Community Growth Lead

As the Community Growth Lead, I am so excited to see the DFG community blossom, building a community of passionate do gooders and data scientists, strategizing with NFPs on how they can leverage data for strategic insights and initiatives and partnering with the booming corporations in Toronto.

Jeff Gignac

Partner Lead

Jeff Gignac, founder and President of JMG Solutions, is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and has worked with over 700 hundred local, national and international nonprofits. As an official Blackbaud Partner, Jeff brings a diverse portfolio of skills and insights to line up fundraising and accounting needs with technology to produce superior outcomes for Canadian nonprofits.

Claire Gao

Datathon Lead

Finding insights from data and making actionable suggestions are both a career goal and my personal passion. What also inspires me in life is to help communities and people in need through NFP organizations! I hope to bring both my technical and communication skills as the Datathon Lead with Data For Good and help our clients reach their objectives and thus make a difference in their communities in the long term.

Jake Daniels

Community Outreach Manager

I am thrilled to help NFPs across Ontario learn more from their spreadsheets. I focus on eye-catching visuals, like interactive dashboards and animated charts, because I want your data to tell a story your customers will understand and want to share.

Anam Mazhar

Events Lead

I am passionate about bringing people together to work towards a common good. With D4G, I hope to foster a community where individual contributions translate into meaningful conversations and valuable results for our Non Profit Partners.

Linde Chen

Data Cleansing Co-Lead

I am passionate about using data science to solve social and business problems. As the Data Cleansing Co-Lead, I am excited to uncover key relationships through data engineering and statistical inference, with the broader goal of helping every NFP organization place data-driven insights at the forefront of its decision making process.

Ashalatha Bettegowda

Data Cleansing Co-Lead

I’m excited to use my data expertise to contribute to the community via Data for Good. My hope is to use my passion to tend to the data needs of NFP organisations and provide strategic insights, which will help them flourish.

Chapter Leads

Jeff Gignac

Partner Lead

Jeff Gignac, founder and President of JMG Solutions, is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and has worked with over 700 hundred local, national and international nonprofits. As an official Blackbaud Partner, Jeff brings a diverse portfolio of skills and insights to line up fundraising and accounting needs with technology to produce superior outcomes for Canadian nonprofits.

Rita Tse

YYZ Chapter Co-Lead

Rita Tse is a Financial Services Professional with broad experience in Operations, Data Operations and Data Governance. She holds an Hon. BA in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Toronto and lives North of the GTA with her husband, 2 girls and her dog. Rita is learning Spanish in the coming year and her hobbies include baking and hiking – her most recent adventure was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. As Data for Good Toronto Chapter Co-Lead, she is looking forward to participating in DfG Toronto projects with a team of talented data experts to drive positive change in our local communities.

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YYZ Chapter Co-Lead

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Claire Gao

Datathon Lead

Finding insights from data and making actionable suggestions are both a career goal and my personal passion. What also inspires me in life is to help communities and people in need through NFP organizations! I hope to bring both my technical and communication skills as the Datathon Lead with Data For Good and help our clients reach their objectives and thus make a difference in their communities in the long term.

Jeff Gignac

Partner Lead

Jeff Gignac, founder and President of JMG Solutions, is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and has worked with over 700 hundred local, national and international nonprofits. As an official Blackbaud Partner, Jeff brings a diverse portfolio of skills and insights to line up fundraising and accounting needs with technology to produce superior outcomes for Canadian nonprofits.

Eva Tere

YYZ Partnership Co-Lead

Eva Tere is a Project Manager at Craib Design & Communications, a Toronto-based design agency. She holds a BTech in Graphic Communications Management specializing in Packaging Design from Toronto Metropolitan University. Outside of her work, you’ll find her testing out new cuisines, investigating the mews of pop culture, and indulging in creative outlets. Eva is interested in the anatomy of thriving communities and is deeply inspired by changemakers who are engaged in local initiatives. At DfG Toronto, she is one of two YYZ Chapter Partnership Co-Leads managing the collaborative relationships with external organizations to leverage combined expertise for positive impact.

Chandni Somaiya

YYZ Partnership Co-Lead

Chandni Somaiya is a Senior Analytics Manager for a major US sports league focusing on the enhancement of their fan engagement programs. With over eight years experience in customer analytics and data science, Chandni has a deep passion for analyzing consumer behavior and crafting strategies that enhance user experiences. In her free time, Chandni enjoys playing tennis, doing CrossFit, visiting boutique workout studios, reading non-fiction books, and spending peaceful moments at the waterfront park. She is excited to join the DfG YYZ Chapter as one of two Partnerships Co-Leads and is eager to leverage her skills to amplify the role of data in serving the community. She holds a Master’s degree in BI & Data Analytics from the University of Texas and currently resides in Toronto with her husband and their dog, Ozzie.

Claire Gao

Datathon Lead

Finding insights from data and making actionable suggestions are both a career goal and my personal passion. What also inspires me in life is to help communities and people in need through NFP organizations! I hope to bring both my technical and communication skills as the Datathon Lead with Data For Good and help our clients reach their objectives and thus make a difference in their communities in the long term.

Jeff Gignac

Partner Lead

Jeff Gignac, founder and President of JMG Solutions, is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and has worked with over 700 hundred local, national and international nonprofits. As an official Blackbaud Partner, Jeff brings a diverse portfolio of skills and insights to line up fundraising and accounting needs with technology to produce superior outcomes for Canadian nonprofits.

Kevin Aviles

YYZ Operations Co-Lead

Kevin Aviles is a Data Architect with a strong passion for data projects that make a real impact. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and a Postgraduate degree in Business Analytics, along with a certification in Data Analysis. Residing in Toronto with his fiancée, Kevin is fluent in English and Spanish. In his spare time, he enjoys going to the gym, playing tennis, sleeping, and experimenting with making soups. As a DfG-YYZ Operations Co-Lead for Toronto’s Data for Good Chapter, Kevin is excited to leverage his expertise to support initiatives that drive positive social change within the local community.

Janine Holanda

YYZ Operations Co-Lead

Janine Holanda is a passionate technology enthusiast dedicated to applying her knowledge to solve real-world problems. With a Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronic Engineering, a certificate in Supply Chain Management from Seneca College, and a background in software implementation, she is well-equipped to make a difference within a team. Living in Toronto with her partner and dog, Luke, Janine speaks Brazilian Portuguese and seeks out thrilling adventures whenever she’s not expanding her professional expertise. Whether biking on Ontario trails, camping, hiking, or kayaking, she embraces every opportunity to be outside enjoying nature. As a YYZ Toronto Operations Co-Lead at Data for Good (DFG), Janine is excited to collaborate with brilliant experts to make a meaningful impact in the community.

Claire Gao

Datathon Lead

Finding insights from data and making actionable suggestions are both a career goal and my personal passion. What also inspires me in life is to help communities and people in need through NFP organizations! I hope to bring both my technical and communication skills as the Datathon Lead with Data For Good and help our clients reach their objectives and thus make a difference in their communities in the long term.

Jeff Gignac

Partner Lead

Jeff Gignac, founder and President of JMG Solutions, is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and has worked with over 700 hundred local, national and international nonprofits. As an official Blackbaud Partner, Jeff brings a diverse portfolio of skills and insights to line up fundraising and accounting needs with technology to produce superior outcomes for Canadian nonprofits.

David Phillips

YYZ Community Co-Lead

David Phillips currently helps start-ups grow their digital presence through website and app design. With a background in sales and a passion for data, his goal is to support the thriving professional data community in Toronto. David stays involved in the world of data through organizing events and creating side-projects for himself, most of which are related to sports analytics. In his free time, David enjoys going to the gym, playing a variety of sports (soccer / football, hockey, volleyball), and listening to music (RnB, Soul, Hip-Hop, Rock). He’s excited to bring together data professionals in Toronto to create positive social change as a DfG YYZ Community Co-Lead.

Sandy Yang

YYZ Community Co-Lead

Sandy Yang is a data enthusiast who holds a BBA degree in Economics from the University of Toronto. She is currently running her own tea business. Sandy lives in the North York neighbourhood with her partner. In her spare time, she enjoys planting succulents, doing pilates, and trying out different restaurants. As a Community Co-Lead for DfG’s Toronto Chapter, Sandy is excited to connect with volunteers from diverse backgrounds and create a warm, positive and productive data community.

Claire Gao

Datathon Lead

Finding insights from data and making actionable suggestions are both a career goal and my personal passion. What also inspires me in life is to help communities and people in need through NFP organizations! I hope to bring both my technical and communication skills as the Datathon Lead with Data For Good and help our clients reach their objectives and thus make a difference in their communities in the long term.

Emma Miska

Community Outreach Manager

I am thrilled to help NFPs across Ontario learn more from their spreadsheets. I focus on eye-catching visuals, like interactive dashboards and animated charts, because I want your data to tell a story your customers will understand and want to share.

Aishwarya Gopal

Events Lead

I am passionate about bringing people together to work towards a common good. With D4G, I hope to foster a community where individual contributions translate into meaningful conversations and valuable results for our Non Profit Partners.

Jonathan Gruber-Benaich

Data Cleansing Co-Lead

I am passionate about using data science to solve social and business problems. As the Data Cleansing Co-Lead, I am excited to uncover key relationships through data engineering and statistical inference, with the broader goal of helping every NFP organization place data-driven insights at the forefront of its decision making process.

Amy Tang

Data Cleansing Co-Lead

I’m excited to use my data expertise to contribute to the community via Data for Good. My hope is to use my passion to tend to the data needs of NFP organisations and provide strategic insights, which will help them flourish.

Are you a Not-For-Profit or an Non-Governmental Organization with a need for help with a data project?

We are always on the lookout for a new challenge. Drop us a note to see if we can help.

 

Upcoming Data for Good Events in Toronto

Want to participate in a Data for Good event and hone your data gathering skills? Stay up to date with upcoming events and register to join!

Meetup: Data Stuff

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Some of Our Work in Toronto

A sample of some of the organizations we’ve helped in the past.

Nellie’s Shelter

East End United Regional Ministry

DataNight: A Greener Future

Youth Without Shelter

Click the button below to get started on your journey as a Data For Good volunteer!

Want to learn more about the organizations that we’ve helped? Click here to see our case studies.

Want to be part of the fun? You don’t need to be a data scientist or a PHD, there’s lots of ways that you can get involved with Data for Good.

Interested in Volunteering to Help
One of These Organizations?

We’ve worked with a cross section of not for profits and non-governmental organizations that have come in all shapes and sizes.

Nellie’s Shelter

East End United Regional Ministry

DataNight: A Greener Future

Youth Without Shelter

Our Community People

KODY ROGERS
Community Lead

ARNAV JATUKARAN
Data Viz Lead

HEIDI ABRAMYK
Communications Lead

Are you a Not-For-Profit or a
Non-Governmental Organization with a need for
help with a data project?

We are always on the lookout for a new challenge.

Drop us a note here to see if we can help.

Stay Connected with Data For Good!

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Our Community Speaks

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John Deo, CEO

Condimentum non leo ac, consectetur luctus ex Sed nunc purus, aenean porta eros sed risus rutrum efficitur. Faucibus quis sapien in, gravida condimentum ante. Aenean porta eros sed risus rutrum efficitur. Faucibus quis sapien in, gravida condimentum ante.

John Deo, CEO

Condimentum non leo ac, consectetur luctus ex Sed nunc purus, aenean porta eros sed risus rutrum efficitur. Faucibus quis sapien in, gravida condimentum ante. Aenean porta eros sed risus rutrum efficitur. Faucibus quis sapien in, gravida condimentum ante.

John Deo, CEO

Forms

Want to be part of the fun? You don’t need to be a data scientist or a PhD, there’s lots of ways that you can get involved with Data for Good.

In Toronto, we love to host big events but we also find it hard to fit all the enthusiasm in one room. If you have space to share with more than 100 passionate do gooders, we would be ecstatic to partner with you as our sponsor.

Get Involved with Data for Good

Want to be part of the fun? You don’t need to be a data scientist or a PhD, there’s lots of ways that you can get involved with Data for Good.

In Toronto, we love to host big events but we also find it hard to fit all the enthusiasm in one room. If you have space to share with more than 100 passionate do gooders, we would be ecstatic to partner with you as our sponsor.