Evaluation and Research

Evaluation is intended to be a practical craft.

If you don’t use it, you should lose it. That’s why we focus on designing a tailored evaluation to gather quality data you will actually use.

Our evaluations support continued learning about your priority populations, the processes you use to do your work, and the outcomes achieved to help guide decision-making.

Data are around us all the time and embedded in almost every decision we make – we will work with you as experts and partners to identify those data and use them to tell the story of your work.

What Happened Comes First, Then Outcomes

Too many evaluations rush straight to outcomes and impacts, without spending the time to document the elements of a project design that create the context for change to happen.

We’re working to change that – we want to tell the story of how and why you designed your project the way you did, and then what difference it made in the world.

Continuous Improvement

There’s no such thing as a perfect project, or a perfect evaluation.

We strive toward our potential and yours by intentionally guiding reflection, building capacity, and centering equity and inclusion throughout the evaluation partnership.

Hear from Our Amazing Clients:

Full-Circle Evaluation

Catalyst Consulting Group has taken our nonprofit full circle in our evaluation processes. They have created a comprehensive evaluation plan for our museum and education programs with easily scaffolded steps for us to implement, alter if needed, and include meaningful review points. They make us feel like we are their only client as they quickly respond to our questions and needs. We value the expertise that each person on their team brings to the meetings and therefore the products we have collaboratively made with them.

– Hilary Penner, Director of Program Development, Reef Environmental Education Foundation

Culturally Responsive Evaluation

Catalyst Consulting Group has taken our nonprofit full circle in our evaluation processes. They have created a comprehensive evaluation plan for our museum and education programs with easily scaffolded steps for us to implement, alter if needed, and include meaningful review points. They make us feel like we are their only client as they quickly respond to our questions and needs. We value the expertise that each person on their team brings to the meetings and therefore the products we have collaboratively made with them.

– Max Cawley, Director: Climate Research and Engagement, Museum of Life and Science

Clear Insights and Actionable Next Steps

Karen, Maren and the Catalyst Consulting team have been incredible partners in supporting project evaluation. They don’t flinch at project complexity — or unexpected curve balls (COVID threw us a doozie!). They bring years of research experience, practical expertise, and creativity to their evaluation design. The team always delivered on time, with clear insights, and actionable next steps. We think the research lens that the Catalyst team applies to their work as well as their deep commitment to improving outcomes across informal STEM education has created opportunities for our own team to level up and expand the impact of our work.

– Holly L. Menninger, Executive Director, Bell Museum

Ready to talk about your project?

We’d love to hear what you’re working on and think together about how our team might support your work. We will have lots of questions – want to see sample questions or reach out?

Learn More