In episode 134 of Nonprofit Mission: Impact, host Carol Hamilton welcomes guest Kayla Meyers, founder of Bridgepoint Evaluation, for a conversation about reimagining program evaluation in nonprofits. 

They discuss:

• Why evaluation is not an audit or judgment as it has sometimes been in the past

• It should be a collaborative, curiosity-driven process that opens communication, supports learning, and improves impact. 

• How to create right-sized, useful evaluation practices rooted in strategy and driven by purpose. 

• How evaluation can be a force for good—helping organizations tell fuller, more meaningful stories about their work and the communities they serve.

 

Episode highlights:

🚩 Evaluation's Troubled History - [00:08:10 ]

❌ From Punitive to Collaborative - [00:13:10 ]

💡 Why Smaller Orgs Should Evaluate - [00:16:10 ]

🛠️ Start with Strategy - [00:19:10 ]

🔁 Formalizing Feedback Loops - [00:20:40 ]

🍽️ Make It Make Sense - [00:22:10 ]

🗣️ Turning Data Into Stories - [00:26:10 ]

❓The One Question Nonprofit Leaders Should Ask - [00:31:50 ]

 

Guest Bio:

Kayla (Mueller) Meyers is a seasoned program evaluator with over a decade of experience in assessing and improving programs for nonprofits and public organizations. She specializes in evaluation capacity building and mixed-methods program evaluation, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her clients

Important Links and Resources:

Kayla Meyers

Bridgepoint Evaluation

Bridgepoint Evaluation Newsletter

Humphrey School of Public Affairs

 

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