Rethinking Nonprofit Program Evaluation with Kayla Meyers

Rethinking Nonprofit Program Evaluation with Kayla Meyers

34:49 Oct 21, 2025
About this episode
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   Be in Touch: ?? Subscribe to Carol's newsletter at Grace Social Sector Consulting and receive the Common Mistakes Nonprofits Make In Strategic Planning And How To Avoid Them ?Find the books referred to on Nonprofit Mission: Impact ? Like what you heard
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