Today, as difficult as it is for large institutions to keep software and hardware up-to-date, the challenge and expense of keeping up is only amplified for smaller colleges and universities. In the area of data-driven decision-making (DDD), the challenge can be even greater. Because smaller schools are pressed for time and resources on nearly all fronts, the ability to afford the often high-end tools necessary to collect good data--and use those data effectively--can be all but out of reach for small, independent institutions. Such software can include sophisticated enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, online course management systems, and, of course, data warehouses. The expense of hiring and training staff who understand how to analyze and present data effectively can also be prohibitive to these institutions. The author discusses how smaller institutions of higher education are discovering that sharing software, data management, and expertise through a consortium or coalition is key to DDD success. The consortium or coalition is a little-discussed but hugely effective solution in which member schools (usually small, independent institutions) pool dollars and expertise to create a larger entity with greater purchasing power and increased ability to drive campus-wide decision-making for its members. Although consortium members seldom allow other members access to their raw data, they do share software and expertise, and may also pool more general data that help them gauge how they are doing in comparison to other members. The returns from such arrangements, say consortium advocates, can be immense.