Our team has a deep desire to help organizations use research to drive impact. We leverage our combined decades of experience in academic and public policy research, qualitative and quantitative social science methods, and applied work to design and implement research that yields actionable insights. We have a particular interest in work that surfaces the lived experiences of overlooked and marginalized communities.

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Impact Models

‍Research-informed social and economic models that help quantify impacts and improve the prioritization of resources

Measuring impact in complex social and economic systems can be challenging. We use current research and validated approaches to produce models that not only quantify impact but also empower organizations to understand how their work impacts communities and inform decisions about the future. Just as important, we work with organizations to understand how impact models can be used to tell the story of their impact.

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Landscape Analysis

Sophisticated investigation into what’s already out there to identify trends and opportunities for your organization

According to 2018 data from the National Science Foundation, there are over 120,000 social science papers published every year. Add to that policy briefs, industry and trade publications, and the seemingly simple task of finding out “what we know” can quickly become overwhelming. We have years of experience sifting through this sea of research to identify relevant findings and synthesizing research findings from multiple fields to inform specific problems.

We helped staff at the Center for Public Partnerships and Research identify opportunities for innovation in the practice of community health needs assessment.

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Program Evaluation

We specialize in the evaluation of new and developing programs that address complex problems.

We leverage our experience in research, cohort learning, and leadership training to evaluate programs in the early stages of development. We focus especially on programs aimed at addressing complex problems through systems change efforts. Evaluating such programs requires not only objective metrics and scientific rigor but also processes to promote real-time learning and adaptive leadership.

In Missouri, we are using a Developmental Evaluation approach to support and evaluate a cohort of seven organizations funded by Missouri Foundation for Health to develop and implement programs to reduce firearm suicides in the state.

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Surveys + GIS

Mapping and spatial analysis

Maps and spatial analysis are powerful tools for exploring patterns in data and communicating impact. We use a range of tools to design, analyze, and map data, and we create interactive tools that let our clients do the same.

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Community Voice

Understand the opinions and lived experiences of the communities you serve.  

For our client Capita, we conducted a survey of child care business owners and focus groups with child care providers in Tarrant County, TX to better understand barriers to providing high-quality childcare in the county.

‍Our research draws upon our data and systems intelligence work, and informs our strategy planning. We thrive on taking your ideas and using our research tools to turn ideas into informed plans. Contact us and let us start listening to your ideas.

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