The problem: High costs of gathering feedback

Supporting a local charity's community project, we encountered a common dilemma: how to prove that they are achieving their mission of making a positive impact without breaking the bank. Proving the effectiveness of their work is crucial for getting access to funding, and demonstrating tangible outcomes. This is where quantitative data comes in—hard numbers that can tell a compelling story about impact. It's just notoriously hard to show social capital or goodwill as a number.

Gathering this data isn’t always straightforward, especially when you’re operating on a tight budget. Commercial feedback tools like HappyOrNot offer convenient solutions, but they come with a pretty huge price tag, and ongoing monthly cost. It just didn't seem a viable route. So, they set us challenge, and we set about working on a way to make getting data a little easier.

What We Did: A Cost-Effective, Open-Source Solution

We developed a system that is low-cost, customisable, as well as easy to setup, maintain and use.

Here’s how it works:

1. User-friendly feedback collection

• Zigbee Buttons: We used inexpensive Zigbee buttons, placed on a picture frame. These buttons allow users to provide quick feedback with just a press, making it easy for participants to share their thoughts. The frame doubled as a place to hold a piece of paper with the question they wanted to survey for, something that can be easily cycled.

2. Efficient data processing

• Raspberry Pi: A Raspberry Pi—an affordable, credit-card-sized computer—collected button data. We programmed it to send this data directly to a Google Spreadsheet, ensuring the information is easily accessible and ready for analysis.

3. Flexible and free

• Open-Source Software: The entire system, from the button configuration to the Raspberry Pi software, is open-source. This means the setup is fully customisable to meet the specific needs of any charity, without the burden of licensing fees.

How it helped: Real impact, real savings

The solution we developed made a tangible difference for the community project. For less than £100—far less than the cost of commercial alternatives—they now have a reliable, easy-to-use system for gathering feedback. There are no recurring fees, no hidden costs, and the data they collect can directly inform their decisions and strategies.

This project not only saved money but also empowered the charity to better understand the needs and opinions of their community. With this data, they can refine their programs, apply for funding with stronger evidence of impact, and ultimately serve their community more effectively.

Looking for more challenges: Let’s innovate together

At DEV, we’re passionate about solving problems like these. We believe that every charity, regardless of budget, should have access to the tools they need to prove their impact and drive positive change. The solution we developed for this community project is just one example of how open-source technology and creative problem-solving can empower organisations.

Facing similar (or other!) challenges?

If your charity faces similar challenges or has a unique problem that needs an innovative solution, we’d love to hear from you. Whether it’s finding new ways to collect data, improving your digital presence, or something entirely different, we’re ready to help.

Let’s work together to create solutions that make a real difference—for your organisation and the communities you serve. Contact us to explore the possibilities!