Who We Are

The RISE Team has supported community-engaged evaluation, strategy, and implementation for over a decade. We work with government agencies, community organizations, schools, early care & education programs, Tribal partners, and more—anchored by long-running partnerships across our focus areas. Our team has also helped shape national evaluation infrastructure, contributing to USDA frameworks and tools adopted by peer programs across the country.

What sets our work apart is how we do it. We center community knowledge and context in the evaluations we design. We use mixed methods to capture what's working, what isn't, and what matters most to the people we serve. And we deliver findings that partners can actually use — practical, accessible, and grounded in the realities of community life. 

Our Guiding Principles

Our work is guided by five core principles, adapted from the American Evaluation Association's Guiding Principles for Evaluators:

Systematic Inquiry. Conduct thorough, methodical inquiry that is contextually relevant and yields trustworthy findings.

Competence. Provide skilled professional services grounded in our expertise and experience.

Integrity. Engage honestly and transparently with partners, participants, funders, and communities.

Respect for People. Honor the dignity, well-being, and contributions of those we work with, recognizing the influence of culture within and across groups.

Common Good and Service. Contribute to the common good and the advancement of a just society.

Meet Our Team

Want to learn more or explore a partnership? Please contact us.

We're accepting new projects and we'd love to work with you—even if your work bridges topics or doesn't fit an area above. Contact us to start a conversation