A Tool for Organizational Planning: The Business Model Canvas

A business model can help local data intermediaries organize operations and understand one’s clients, revenue and value and the streams and products that connect them. Business models should be revised and refined over time as an organization’s activities, capacity, and reputation develop, and the local funding environment evolves. Despite its importance, there is no one prescribed format to develop a business model and the process can often be overwhelming for staff. In this short brief, we introduce the Business Model Canvas, one available tool to facilitate a participatory, rapid design process for business models.

See the accompanying brief, “The Business of a Local Data Intermediary” for guidance on business and sustainability strategies for local data intermediaries.

This brief was developed under the federally-supported "Community Health Data Project Services" project. The project team provided technical assistance for organizations seeking to serve as local data intermediaries and ultimately support institutions and residents in addressing racial inequities in quality of life and public health. The project team produced an additional brief titled "Lessons on Data Managment Practices for Local Data Intermediaries" to encourage improved extract, transform, and load processes.