What We Do
Increasingly public and nonprofit agencies are asked to do more with fewer resources. We are there to help you. We provide tailored consulting services to mission-driven organizations. Our team has helped hundreds of clients including early childhood education providers, K-12 schools and districts, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, and city agencies. We work with you to design, implement, evaluate, fund and sustain quality programs. We customize our approach for each client to best address their individual needs and support their long-term capacity.
Listed below are some of our service areas.
Grant Writing & Resource Development
With more than 15 years’ experience in designing highly competitive grants, we can complete this process in a cost effective and efficient manner. Our team has developed successful proposals resulting in nearly $37 million for our clients. Our understanding of program design and evaluation also allows us to develop proposals that can be implemented and are sustainable. We provide a range of services, from basic technical assistance - working with teams to identify possible funding sources and understanding the requirements, to drafting complex proposals including comprehensive logic models. Our specialty is developing local partnerships to create sustained impact over time. Our proposals have included K-12 STEAM and STEM education; literacy and writing programs; arts initiatives; dual language programming; community schools; teacher recruitment; and expansion of early childhood education programs.
Strategic Planning & Communications
Our team has designed three year plans; facilitated community outreach; and developed protocols for engagement to support stakeholder involvement. As an external agency, we can conduct focus groups, key informant interviews, and other activities that provide insight and new perspective. We have particular expertise in sharing data and findings to families, school boards, and committees, including as part of district Local Control and Accountability Plans. We have presented to nonprofit boards, civic agencies, and at conferences and convenings. Our team includes two specialists certified in facilitation. We can work with you to design agendas to enable you to accomplish your team planning goals or manage the meetings ourselves. Our team also includes individuals who have designed promotional films and documentaries, versed in social media, as well as in more formal case studies, and proposals. We can work with you to tell your story in ways that your stakeholders can understand.
EVALUATION & Research
Our team has been recognized by both the California and the US Department of Education for outstanding quality and significant results. Experienced in qualitative and quantitative methods, we design and implement protocols that meet Institutional Review Board standards and utilize best practices to safeguard participant privacy. We have been invited to present to local foundations, civic agencies, and grantees on how to conduct internal and external evaluations. We have conducted evaluations of National Science Foundation and K-12 Math and Science Partnership grants, a $29 million Race to the Top District grant, school district accountability plans, and early childhood education programs. We have worked with teams to identify the best tools to evaluate student progress in literacy, science, math, STEM, and social-emotional development. We are familiar with a range of instruments for program and policy evaluation including the District Assistance Survey; Local Control Accountability Plans; the Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) for early education; the DIBELS: Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills; the SRI: Scholastic Reading Inventory; the NWEA math and literacy assessments; and the DRDP: Desired Results Developmental Profile to examine children’s progress in social and emotional development.
Our Approach
With all of our clients, we approach our work, applying these core organizational values.
COLLABORATIVE: We tailor our services and approach to our clients’ needs.
RESEARCH-BASED: We incorporate evidence-based practices and latest research.
CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE & INCLUSIVE: We seek to provide services that demonstrate cultural competence, support equity, and engage diverse stakeholders.
ASSET-BASED FOCUS: We build on existing organizational strengths.
SUSTAINABLE: We think ahead and past our engagement to ensure our work is sustainable.