Faced with siloed systems and inconsistent definitions, AmeriCorps needed a cohesive data strategy to support its nationwide programs.
AmeriCorps—an agency whose staff and grantees serve local communities across every U.S. state and territory—recognized that aging platforms and fragmented data practices limited visibility into its impact on education, disaster response, and senior services. In response, AmeriCorps appointed Andrea Gibbons as its first Chief Data Officer (CDO) to build data management capacity and foster a shared culture of trusted information.
AmeriCorps turned to AEM for support based on demonstrated success in federal data governance. Rather than imposing top-down rules, AEM worked alongside the CDO to create a bottom-up governance model that balanced AmeriCorps’ mission-driven ethos with the need for consistent data standards.
Collaborative Working Groups (CWGs) brought program offices together to align on definitions, build a unified business glossary, and identify trusted data for reliable reporting. Using Microsoft Purview, the team has cataloged curated data products and linked hundreds of terms in a dynamic glossary. Automated workflows now ensure ongoing consistency and transparency.
With a shared data practice in place, AmeriCorps has laid the foundation for greater analytics, insights, and cross-program collaboration. As the agency extends its data strategy, staff and grantees can more effectively measure results, refine processes, and amplify AmeriCorps’ impact on the communities it serves.
