About Us

It’s a critical time for innovation. Challenges abound, and they have been more fully exposed by unprecedented pandemic and protest.

Yet across North Carolina, communities are still eager to take big leaps forward in the quality and kinds of services and programs delivered to improve the lives of their residents.

The ncIMPACT Initiative (ncIMPACT) is a statewide initiative launched by the UNC School of Government in 2017 to help local communities use data and evidence to improve conditions and inform decision-making.

Vision

Over the next 10 years, ncIMPACT will touch tens of thousands of lives across North Carolina, some in every one of the state’s 100 counties. Our fingerprint will be found in the expanded capacities, and program and policy innovations, of civic leaders who will use new strategies and tools to better meet their community needs. We aim to be the go-to place in North Carolina for trusted tools that bridge policy and practice in response to complex challenges. Tools provided include data analysis, research, convening, facilitation, and coaching.

Strategies

Experiment deeply in communities with sound data, high-quality research, and rigorous analysis of pressing challenges.
Widely share knowledge about evidence-based insights and creative policy options for responding to the most important questions communities face.
Help create a high-impact culture of innovation in NC communities by supporting relevant practices and their actors.

Audience

We work to support civic leaders across the State. These are the elected and appointed (managers and department heads) local government officials, the nonprofit leaders, and their business sector counterparts who are working every day on collaborations that improve their communities.