program evaluation

Let’s improve the programs, organizations and systems that people need to thrive.

Together we can use the tools of research and evaluation to ask and answer questions that increase social impact. And we can do it without losing our humanity in a sea of numbers, charts, and jargon!

How I can make your work better

I practice equity-driven, human-centered evaluation that supports learning and impact for foundations, nonprofits and consultants.

For foundations

Foundations are uniquely positioned to contribute to positive change.

I understand what it is like to work within philanthropy and I have a thick playbook to draw from to help foundations shift toward more trust-based and equity-driven practices (grounded in the Equitable Evaluation Framework (TM)) to support learning and understand impact.

Foundation offerings

Development or co-creation of equity-driven research, evaluation and learning systems and processes
Research and evaluation that boosts organizational learning, and helps drive positive change
Strategic thought partnership and supplemental people-power for internal teams or partners working on strategy or evaluation

I value how Kim approaches her work from a community-centered framing. She brings curiosity to the conversation, which has helped me think more deeply about what I want to learn. She has helped me design better questions to help collect information that results in giving that is more intentional and community-centered.

Kim is the kind of thought-partner you dream of when you’re working in philanthropy and trying to deepen your approach to equitable evaluation. She understands the sector, is committed to her communities, and embraces challenging considerations and situations with great care and openness.

Kim has an unbelievable ability to work with ideas, analyses and data, explain them and help others use them to improve and grow their work. It has been such a pleasure to work with her, and I am grateful for all the ways she’s helped the Education Program learn and evolve in our ability to have positive impacts alongside our partners.

Mission-driven nonprofit organizations play vital roles in supporting their communities.

I know how important it is that evaluation be practical and aligned with organizational mission, and recognize the pressure many nonprofits face to produce results. I believe nonprofits can use evaluation to not only improve programs but also work toward the broader change that is necessary to advance equity.

Nonprofit offerings

Relevant, useful, and practical evaluation processes and tools (developed for or, ideally, with you)
Evaluation plans that bridge funder expectations and what is most meaningful and useful to your organization
Evaluations that result in learning your program and organization can use to improve
Group or individual training or coaching that grows evaluation and organizational learning skill and comfort

Kim is hands down the most wonderful, supportive, encouraging, and empowering evaluation lead I've ever worked with. She humanized the process in a way that felt exciting and accessible. I know anyone who works with Kim will benefit from her great work, brilliant mind, and warm heart.

Our entire team has enjoyed and valued working with Kim Leonard. She brings thoughtfulness, equity, and inclusivity into her evaluation work. I would highly recommend Kim Leonard for your organization.

Kim is an attentive listener, brilliant strategist and masterful facilitator who also happens to be an absolute delight of a human. Kim Leonard brought something much more valuable to our organization than all the right answers. She brought all the right questions and worked with our leadership team to create a sustainability plan that makes the most impactful use of our limited resources. We are a stronger, more focused organization because of her.

Consultants provide important services for foundations and nonprofits alike.

I’m at my best when partnering with others, and enjoy working with solo practitioners and teams as a thought partner, co-conspirator and collaborator. Let’s see what we can accomplish together!

Consultant offerings

Coaching that stretches your practice through application of the Equitable Evaluation Framework (TM)
Consultation and thought partnership that supports your team in understanding the needs, practices, and expectations of foundation partners
Collaborative partnership or leadership for project evaluations and teams

I have had the opportunity and pleasure of working with Kim for 8 years now and she has been a true ally to us, Latinx and multiracial identifying colleagues. We treasure her for her capability to hold large evaluation endeavors - from conceptualizing to implementation and her veritable dedication to fairness in process and just representation of data. You are in good hands.

Kim is a great thought-partner. She is clearly deeply knowledgeable about technical aspects of evaluation, but her approach is very collaborative and she trusts the wisdom of participants and staff.

Kim is a knowledgeable, versatile, and responsive evaluator with deep expertise in mixed methods and principles focused evaluation. What really sets her apart is her ability to listen deeply, to co-create solutions with others, and to maintain strong and joy-filled relationships. Groups that work with her will deepen their evaluative practice, lean into their values, and laugh along the way.

I center relationships and collaborate.

I have served as a partner, collaborator with colleagues inside foundations, nonprofits, and with fellow evaluators. I walk alongside clients as partners to build trusting relationships and support shared learning.

My support is flexible and scalable.

As an independent consultant I am efficient and flexible. I can easily take on either small or big projects. I can customize and adapt to meet you where you are. And I can also pull in subject-matter expert partners when needed.

I understand the potential and challenges of equity-driven work.

I have experience shifting teams and projects toward equity-driven practice, using the Equitable Evaluation Framework (TM). This is powerful, hard work, but we can find joy in practicing together.

You’ll benefit from my expertise, contacts and resources.

I’ve been working in philanthropy for almost 10 years and in research, learning and evaluation for over 15. When we work together, my expertise, contacts and resources become a shared asset.