COMMUNITY-OWNED EVALUATION
We define ownership as a combination of the real ability to lead a process, with the real ability to claim its outputs.
For evaluations, that means: having real decision-making power over what is studied, how it is studied, how findings are interpreted, and how they are used.
Through a coordinated system of relational design tools, we support Affected Communities (the people directly impacted by a program, whether they actively participate or not) to safely make evaluation decisions, while yielding findings can be trusted and uses.
We want knowledge from every evaluation in the hands of the people who live it, honor it, and will use it to shape a more just future.
This service is available to nonprofits, social enterprises, and funders (e.g., donors and impact investors).
HOW WE APPROACH EVALUATION
1 - BUILD AND INVEST
Our work starts by building relationships with advocates, artists, organizations, and individuals through listening, activism, and participation.
2 - ALIGN and co-design
Using relational design tools we've created, we support collaborators to set learning priorities and develop sound evaluations.
3 - GATHER AND INTERPRET
We use creative and participant-centered methods to make data collection feel meaningful, and ideally, directly beneficial to those involved.
4 - RE/PRESENT
Findings are shared in ways that are inspiring and familiar, from art-based community events to modern digital reports designed for sharing.
5 - SUSTAIN
We continue advocacy and investment, while supporting collaborators to act on evaluation findings and continuously improve.
Let’s transform evaluation. Together.
what makes it work
Community-Owned Evaluation is rooted in fundamental expansions of: decision making power, understandings of whose knowledge and experience counts as expertise, and who holds the responsibility to act post evaluation. We make ownership possible through a coordinated system of tools and practices:
clear boundaries and safeguards
We start by clarifying what is possible, including constraints, ethical considerations, and what decisions can realistically be made by the Affected Community. We use this to conduct Readiness Reviews that ensure each decision is feasible, useful, and ethical.
Outcome: Confidence to share power without risking harm or credibility.
Structured decision-making
Collaborators co-create an Ownership Charter that defines roles, decision rights, and how decisions are finalized. This removes ambiguity and ensures power is shared clearly and intentionally.
Outcome: Clear, agreed rules for how decisions are made.
making involvement possible
We design participation to be practical and sustainable. Ownership Reflections allow us to continuously improve collaborators' experience, while compensation structures recognize their contributions. This better ensures people can contribute meaningfully.
Outcome: Real involvement that is supported, not extractive.
collective sensemaking and learning
We use structured facilitation, interactive activities, and training to support collaborators in sharing knowledge, making sense of data, and developing recommendations. This allows multiple forms of expertise to shape findings.
Outcome: The ability to act with confidence based on co-created findings and recommendations.
sustaining action and follow-through
We support collaborators beyond the evaluation with tools to track progress and communicate results. We also offer ongoing mentoring to Affected Community members so they can hold power to account. This helps ensure findings lead to action.
Outcome: Organizations have the tools they need to continue improving, while communities are able to hold and pass down new knowledge and the responsibility to act.
Learn more about the system we've built to steward community ownership in evaluations.
who's a good fit
Community-owned evaluation works best for projects and movements that:
- Want people affected by the work to shape decisions, instead of just providing input.
- Need findings that can stand up to scrutiny and drive action.
- Are taking place in complex or contested contexts.
- Have a posture of experimentation, ongoing learning, and iteration.
Interested in seeing what our approach looks like in your context? Book a discovery call! We'd love to chat with you.
© Eval Design Studio 2026