Unlock the secrets to building a truly data-driven culture by learning from the strategic, multi-year journey of the Iowa State University Foundation. This article outlines a successful, multi-layered approach that moved the organization beyond subjective impressions toward quantifiable, data-informed decision-making. Discover the four key phases: from establishing an executive-level vision and declaring a "Year of Data," to creating a reporting blueprint that aligns organizational structure with analytical needs, inspiring adoption through key leaders, and operationalizing broad needs with standardized dashboards and unified terminology to foster data literacy at every level.