A Landscape Overview of Integrated Data Systems Funding and Staffing Models Across the U.S

Area of Science:

• Public Policy
• Data Science
• Social Science Research

Background:

• Funding and staffing for Integrated Data Systems (IDS) in the U.S. lack standardized recommendations for resource allocation.
• The development of IDS is crucial for effective data sharing and integration across various sectors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand the funding and staffing evolution of Integrated Data Systems (IDS).
• To provide practical guidance for establishing and expanding integrated data efforts for practitioners, policymakers, and academics.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of biennial network survey results from 2023 and 2025.
• Qualitative interviews with 24 Integrated Data System (IDS) sites conducted in 2024.
• Leveraging insights from Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy's (AISP) network of over 40 U.S. sites since 2008.

Main Results:

• Three categories of IDS were identified based on budget and staffing: small ($250K-$500K, 2-3 staff), medium ($500K-$1M, 3-6 staff), and large (>$1M, up to 40 staff).
• Funding sources are diverse, including federal, state, local, philanthropic, and fee-for-service.
• Personnel costs constitute the largest portion of IDS budgets, significantly outweighing technology and infrastructure investments.

Conclusions:

• Personnel expenses are consistently the primary cost across all IDS efforts, irrespective of budget size or funding model.
• Successful IDS prioritize initial investments in partnership development and data governance over technical infrastructure.
• Diversifying funding streams over time is a key strategy for the sustainability and expansion of Integrated Data Systems (IDS).