The Improve Group is a woman-owned, full-service evaluation, research, and strategic planning consulting firm based in St. Paul, Minnesota. We are committed to helping local, national, and international organizations make the most of information, navigate complexity, and ensure their investments lead to meaningful, sustained impact. That commitment is connected to our vision, which is that mission-driven organizations will effectively develop more resilient, equitable, and thriving communities.
We have served as an external evaluator of complex intervention programs for 20 years. In that time, we have worked with hundreds of local and state governments, nonprofits, foundations, and businesses—and provided them with crucial and credible information to inform strategic decisions, improve program design and implementation, and deepen their work toward healthy and just communities. We leverage the power of a project team with exceptional research rigor; of innovative evaluation techniques that explore and explain program outcomes; and an approach that is culturally competent and designed specifically to meet the needs of the most diverse communities. In addition, we emphasize capacity building, and work to provide our clients and their grantees with the tools needed to monitor and evaluate programs long after formal evaluations are complete.
Philosophy/Approach: Through our work in evaluation, we support efforts to create a more inclusive, supportive environment in which all people—but particularly those from vulnerable or underserved communities—can flourish. To do this, we empower community members—those who have the most at stake—to take a leadership role in the evaluation process. We developed and practice a Community-Responsive ApproachSM in our practice that seeks to amplify the voices of underrepresented community stakeholders—and ensure findings and recommended actions reflect and align with authentic community reflections and needs.
Types of clients: Private foundations, Community foundations, Small to mid-size nonprofits, Major nonprofits, Universities
Issues/Focus: Arts & Culture, Civic, Education, Health, Social
Specialization: Program evaluation, strategic planning, facilitation and planning, community needs and assets assessments, research, community engagement, policy research and analysis, Design.
I just wanted to let you know how valuable an asset The Improve Group is to our mission. I just finished a work session with the team. They made a daunting task into a very simple 1 hour activity that will help with a successful evaluation of our groups activities. They put the Logic Model and Evaluation Plan into simple terms by asking the right questions! Their efforts helped created an easy and manageable map to follow. Without a doubt this group knows how to work with people (like me) that sometimes are overwhelmed by "filling in the boxes!"
I have worked with at least three other evaluators in my various careers and this group are the BEST I have worked with!
Thank you for finding such a helpful, professional and committed group of people. I would certainly recommend this group to anyone who needs to set up a strategic plan, logic model, evaluation and progress plan. If you utilize this group from the beginning of the next Cohort, you certainly will have a top notch TEAM!!