Rethinking Nonprofit Program Evaluation with Kayla Meyers

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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