What We Do

We act as partners with community organizations, not-for-profits, foundations, and government agencies in a research process that illuminates how programs and policies actually work. ActKnowledge uses social science theory and lessons from the field to inform social action, increase the knowledge base, and enable everyone involved to clearly understand the efforts and expectations of community initiatives.  It is our goal to use this action research approach to inform public policy, which seldom benefits from the knowledge and experience of the people it most affects.

ActKnowledge has developed a methodology for social sector planning, evaluation, and implementation tracking that is scientifically rigorous but gives organizations the participatory input and flexibility they need to work happily and effectively.  Our methodology is designed to the end that organizations become outcomes-based—that is, they organize their work around the outcomes they expect to achieve.  Our methodology comprises the following three related elements:

• Theory of Change
• Evaluation
• Capacity-building

• provides a framework for credible and relevant evaluation,
• communicates an organization’s work to the field, and
• instills ownership of the initiative in all stakeholders.

In ActKnowledge’s methodology, evaluation forms the cornerstone of an organization’s ability to track progress on its Theory of Change.  ActKnowledge works with organizations undertaking Theory of Change to design evaluative implementation-tracking systems into their ongoing work.  ActKnowledge has a well-developed practice in evaluation of programs and initiatives.  Our evaluation work is theory-based—that is, it begins with a theory of change that articulates what the program or initiative is expected to achieve.  ActKnowledge is skilled in combining qualitative and quantitative methods in evaluation and in designing both summative and formative evaluation capability.  We seek to conduct evaluation research that can inform practice and reveal lessons for the field.  Through working with organizations over long periods we not only do specific evaluations but help organizations design and implement efficient and sustainable evaluation systems to track their impact in the world.  We actively pursue using cumulative evaluation research to move fields of practice and influence policy through participation in practitioner and research networks, meta-analysis and policy papers.

The third step in aligning social change work around outcomes lies in building the capacity of grantees and partners to collect and engage with outcomes-related data. We stand fully behind the position that social change initiatives will be more effective and efficient when organizations at all levels can collect and interpret data on the implementation and effectiveness of their programs and other efforts.  ActKnowledge helps organizations to use technology for Theory of Change, evaluation, for sustaining an outcomes-based organizational structure, and for meetings.

 to the on-the-ground work of social change comes from a strong base in social science research and theory. We see research and social change practice as parallel processes of knowledge production, each informing the other. As environmental psychologists, we strive to capture the social, historical, political and spatial/physical environments in which problems are embedded and solutions are to be found.  ActKnowledge works closely with stakeholders in community initiatives to understand their work and the context in which their work occurs. We evaluate the results of social change endeavors through a systematic analysis that enables our clients and partner organizations to refine and improve their tools and strategies. We also strive to apply the lessons learned to the broader field of action research for social change.