Data You Can Use
Data You Can Use is a Milwaukee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit data intermediary that builds free GIS-based neighborhood-level maps, dashboards, and reports for community organizations, policymakers, foundations, and residents across 27 Milwaukee neighborhoods.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersMilwaukee, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Data You Can Use does
Data You Can Use (DYCU) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operating as the city's designated site in the Urban Institute's National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (one of 31 sites nationally). The organization's core function is serving as a community data intermediary: it produces and publishes free, neighborhood-level GIS maps, dashboards, and analytical reports that translate federal survey data (primarily the American Community Survey) and partner-collected data into accessible tools for community organizations, planners, policymakers, foundations, and residents. Its product portfolio spans 12+ interactive maps (MKE Indicators, HMDA Data Explorer, Milwaukee Food Environment Map, Bank On Financial Inclusion Map, Air Quality Dashboard, Property Reference Map, Homebuyer Counseling Map, Bridge Project Map, COVID-19 Health Map, Neighborhood Dashboard, Neighborhood Change Over Time reports, and 27 Neighborhood Portraits) plus flagship publications including the Milwaukee Wealth Index (2024), the 2024 Housing Conditions Report (35,094 properties surveyed across 17 neighborhoods), and the Milwaukee Air Quality Report.
The underlying technology platform is built on Esri's ArcGIS ecosystem, including ArcGIS Hub for raw data distribution and ArcGIS Experience Builder for interactive mapping applications. DYCU does not charge for any of its tools, reports, or resources — all products are freely accessible via its website. Revenue derives entirely from philanthropic sources: foundation grants from Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Zilber Family Foundation, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, MGIC, JP Morgan Chase, LISC Milwaukee, and others, supplemented by individual donations through its Qgiv donation portal. Go-to-market is event-driven and partnership-mediated rather than sales-driven: DYCU reaches stakeholders through its annual Data Day conference (400+ attendees in 2024), quarterly MKE Data Dive community forums, social media, and an embedded partner network of 10+ named community organizations across housing, fair housing, food systems, environmental health, financial inclusion, and healthcare verticals. The organization employs approximately 8 staff members including an Executive Director, three Program Managers, an Operations Manager, a Development/Communications Coordinator, a Trinity Fellow, and a GIS Intern, supported by a board chaired by the Senior Director of Civic Engagement at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.
Data You Can Use firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Data You Can Use
- Legal name
- Data You Can Use, Inc.
- Website
- https://datayoucanuse.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Data You Can Use is a Milwaukee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit data intermediary that builds free GIS-based neighborhood-level maps, dashboards, and reports for community organizations, policymakers, foundations, and residents across 27 Milwaukee neighborhoods.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Data You Can Use industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Data Intermediary / Nonprofit Data Services
- NAICS
- Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (519290), Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (541370)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Health GIS, Geospatial & Environmental Exposure Analytics (HLAJAJAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Health Information Exchange & Public Health Data Integration (HLAJAJAD), Environmental Monitoring, Data & Reporting (Air/Water/Soil) (BPAIAMAC)
Keywords
Where Data You Can Use is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milwaukee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Data You Can Use business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Foundation Grants and Philanthropic Funding: Primary revenue source from foundations including Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Zilber Family Foundation, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, MGIC, JP Morgan Chase, LISC Milwaukee, and others who support their mission of democratizing data access
- Donations: Individual and organizational donations through their website donation portal to support ongoing operations and free data tool provision
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free Access - All Resources |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Data You Can Use product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Data You Can Use is a Milwaukee-based nonprofit data intermediary that provides free, neighborhood-level data tools, interactive maps, reports, and community engagement resources for 27 Milwaukee neighborhoods. The organization produces interactive ArcGIS-based maps, Neighborhood Portraits using American Community Survey data, reports such as the Wealth in Milwaukee Report and Housing Condition Report, and operates the DYCU Hub platform for raw data access. All tools, reports, and resources are provided at no cost to community members, planners, policymakers, and nonprofits.
Product overview
Data You Can Use is a nonprofit data intermediary offering a portfolio of data tools, reports, and community programs focused on Milwaukee neighborhoods. The core offerings include Neighborhood Portraits (ACS data reports on 27 neighborhoods), MKE Indicators (interactive indicator maps), and multiple Interactive Maps (HMDA Data Explorer, Food Environment Map, Air Quality Dashboard, Property Reference Map, Homebuyer Counseling Map, Bridge Project Map, COVID-19 Health Map). Supporting products include the DYCU Hub for raw data access, published reports (Wealth in Milwaukee, Housing Condition, Air Quality), the Guide to Data Chats resource, and event programs (Data Day annual conference, MKE Data Dive forum, Data Dream award program). The organization operates as Milwaukee's representative to the Urban Institute's National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Neighborhood Portraits Data reports using American Community Survey data to describe population, households, and housing characteristics of Milwaukee neighborhoods, covering 27 neighborhoods. Targets community members, planners, policymakers, and neighborhood organizations.
- MKE Indicators Interactive indicator maps across five categories (Equitable Housing, Equity & Access, Population, Health, Market Value) providing neighborhood-level data to help community members, planners, and policymakers explore key information.
- MKE HMDA Data Explorer Interactive map displaying Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data by census tract for Milwaukee County, showing mortgage application actions (approved, denied, incomplete) to understand distribution of mortgage investment.
- Bank On Greater Milwaukee Financial Inclusion Map Mapping portal showing locations of financial institutions and Bank On certified accounts to support financial health and banking access for Milwaukee residents.
- Milwaukee Food Environment Map Interactive map displaying emergency food locations (food banks, pantries, meal sites) and food access points (grocery stores, farmers markets, convenience stores) across Milwaukee County.
- Milwaukee Air Quality Dashboard Dashboard displaying real-time air quality data from sensors deployed by MKE FreshAir Collective across Milwaukee neighborhoods for 2023-2024.
- Community Development Alliance Homebuyer Counseling Data Map Interactive map tracking individuals entering homebuyer counseling through partner agencies and those who purchased homes, with selectable boundaries by district and neighborhood.
- Milwaukee Property Reference Map Property map showing vacant lots, property sales, acquisition fund, and new construction homes in the City of Milwaukee with selectable layers and boundaries.
- The Bridge Project Participant Map Participant map tracking progress of Milwaukee's first unconditional cash program for pregnant individuals, created in partnership with Zilber Family Foundation.
- Milwaukee COVID-19 Health Conditions Map Interactive map showing health conditions signaling greater COVID-19 caution by census tract across Milwaukee, created with CDC 500 Cities Project data.
- Neighborhood Dashboard Dashboard tool supporting community conversations about neighborhood topics and issues, with links to Guide to Data Chats for facilitation.
- Neighborhood Change Over Time Reports Reports using American Community Survey data showing population, households, and housing changes in Milwaukee neighborhoods across multiple time periods (2010-2014, 2015-2019, 2020-2024).
- Wealth in Milwaukee Report First-of-its-kind report examining wealth distribution in the Milwaukee metro area, analyzing racial and ethnic disparities affecting housing, education, and economic security, created with The Data Center and WillBridge.
- Milwaukee Housing Condition Report Report exposing housing disrepair in Milwaukee based on exterior condition surveys of properties, produced in partnership with Reclaiming Our Neighborhoods (RON) Coalition.
- Guide to Data Chats A facilitation guide for leading community conversations about neighborhood issues, providing an engaging way to draw resident perspectives and build long-term relationships, co-authored with Urban Institute.
- Milwaukee Air Quality Report Report analyzing air quality trends at the neighborhood level using data from MKE FreshAir Collective's air quality sensors.
- DYCU Hub ArcGIS Hub-based platform providing access to raw datasets for advanced users to download and analyze community data.
- Data Day Annual educational conference bringing together researchers, practitioners, advocates, and community leaders to learn about data tools and how to use data to advance equitable policy in neighborhoods.
- MKE Data Dive Community forum (formerly Health Data Users Group/HUG) for Milwaukee data enthusiasts to share knowledge, connect, and learn about using data to improve neighborhood conditions.
- Data Dream Award Program Program awarding community organizations $10k of pro bono data support over 6-8 months to enhance their capacity to collect, analyze, and use data for their missions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 35,094 properties surveyed across 17 neighborhoods in 2024 Housing Conditions Report
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Data You Can Use
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Data You Can Use technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Data You Can Use partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership (NNIP) / Urban InstitutecoreDYCU serves as Milwaukee's representative to the Urban Institute's National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership. As a partner, they work to democratize data by building local capacity, sharing best practices, and helping users sort through data to surface, explain, and address issues of concern. This is one of 31 NNIP sites nationwide.
- Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing CouncilcoreCollaboration on the MKE HMDA Data Explorer, which displays Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data by census tract for Milwaukee to understand mortgage lending patterns and fair housing issues.
- Community Development Alliance (CDA)coreOngoing data partnership supporting CDA's homebuyer counseling programs and property reference mapping. DYCU tracks progress in advancing homeownership in Milwaukee through interactive mapping tools.
- Bank On Greater MilwaukeesecondaryPartnership to create the Bank On Greater Milwaukee Financial Inclusion Map showing locations of financial institutions offering Bank On certified accounts, with support from Urban Economic Development Association and City of Milwaukee CDBG funds.
- Zilber Family FoundationcoreData partner for The Bridge Project, Milwaukee's first unconditional cash transfer program focused on pregnant individuals. Created participant tracking map for the innovative program.
- Milwaukee Food CouncilsecondaryAwarded Data Dream to create the Milwaukee Food Environment Map showing emergency food resources and food access points across Milwaukee County, in collaboration with UWM Institute for Systems Change and Peacebuilding.
- The Data Center (New Orleans)coreCollaboration on the Wealth in Milwaukee Report, using The Data Center's expertise in local wealth measurement to create the first-ever Milwaukee Wealth Index examining wealth distribution along racial and ethnic lines.
- MKE FreshAir CollectivesecondaryCreated the Milwaukee Air Quality Dashboard displaying data from 20+ outdoor air quality sensors deployed around Milwaukee, helping residents understand air quality at the neighborhood level.
- Children's Health Alliance of Wisconsin - FoodCare CoalitionsecondaryServes as data partner evaluating the FoodCare Coalition's progress in building relationships between food banks, food pantries, and primary care clinics to increase food security and health of children and youth.
- Reclaiming Our Neighborhoods (RON) CoalitioncoreData partner for RON's housing survey initiative covering 17 Milwaukee neighborhoods. Conducted exterior housing condition surveys of 35,094 properties and produced the 2024 Housing Conditions Report revealing widespread disrepair and investment needs.
- Urban Economic Development AssociationsecondaryPartner in creating the Bank On Greater Milwaukee Financial Inclusion Map, with funding from City of Milwaukee Community Development Block Grant funds.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Data You Can Use competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Data Center (New Orleans): A fellow NNIP local data intermediary serving the New Orleans metro; collaborated directly with DYCU on the Milwaukee Wealth Index, making it a near-identical model peer in a different city.
- Data Driven Detroit (D3): NNIP-affiliated nonprofit providing neighborhood-level data, mapping, and analysis for metro Detroit, mirroring DYCU's community data intermediary role.
- Neighborhood Nexus: Atlanta-region data intermediary and NNIP partner providing GIS-based community indicators and technical assistance, closely aligned with DYCU.
- Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance (BNIA): NNIP partner delivering neighborhood indicator data and interactive maps for Baltimore, matching DYCU's mission and methodology.
- DataHaven: Connecticut nonprofit producing community indicators, neighborhood profiles, and data tools for local decision-making, directly comparable to DYCU's offerings.
Others
- Esri (ArcGIS): The GIS platform vendor whose ArcGIS Hub underpins DYCU's interactive maps; an enabling infrastructure provider rather than a competitor.
- PolicyMap: A national online mapping and data platform aggregating housing, demographic, and economic data; overlaps on interactive geospatial data delivery but operates as a commercial subscription tool rather than a local nonprofit.
Broad incumbents
- Urban Institute (NNIP): National research institution that coordinates the NNIP network and co-authored DYCU's Guide to Data Chats; a broad incumbent providing data and policy research across many domains.
Regional players
- Boston Indicators: Research and civic-data arm of the Boston Foundation producing regional indicators and equity-focused reports, similar in function but serving Greater Boston.
- Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT): Chicago-based nonprofit using data and mapping tools for urban housing, transportation, and environmental analysis, overlapping with DYCU's community analytics focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Data You Can Use social profiles
Digital presenceData You Can Use financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Data You Can Use leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Data You Can Use funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Data You Can Use M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Data You Can Use
What does Data You Can Use do?
Data You Can Use is a Milwaukee-based nonprofit data intermediary that provides free, neighborhood-level data tools, interactive maps, reports, and community engagement resources for 27 Milwaukee neighborhoods. The organization produces interactive ArcGIS-based maps, Neighborhood Portraits using American Community Survey data, reports such as the Wealth in Milwaukee Report and Housing Condition Report, and operates the DYCU Hub platform for raw data access. All tools, reports, and resources are provided at no cost to community members, planners, policymakers, and nonprofits.
Is Data You Can Use a public or private company?
Data You Can Use is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Data You Can Use founded?
Data You Can Use was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Data You Can Use based?
Data You Can Use is headquartered in Milwaukee, United States, in the North America region.
How does Data You Can Use make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Foundation Grants and Philanthropic Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations.
Who are Data You Can Use's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Data Center (New Orleans), Data Driven Detroit (D3), Neighborhood Nexus, Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance (BNIA) and DataHaven. Others are Esri (ArcGIS) and PolicyMap. Urban Institute (NNIP) is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Boston Indicators and Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT).
Does Data You Can Use have an API?
No public API is recorded for Data You Can Use.
What industry is Data You Can Use in?
Data You Can Use's product category is Community Data Intermediary / Nonprofit Data Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAJAJAJ, Public Health GIS, Geospatial & Environmental Exposure Analytics, with a secondary code of HLAJAJAD, Health Information Exchange & Public Health Data Integration. Its NAICS code is 519290 and its SIC code is 7370.