Creative Evaluation & Engagement Consulting

Published on 12 March 2026 by Inspire to Change

Creative Evaluation and Engagement is adaptive and context-specific. As such, the “right” method is determined by need and context. This approach draws inspiration, methods, and learning from multiple disciplines, including organizational development, traditional evaluation, research, social psychology, the arts, neuroaesthetics, and community development.

If the last two years have taught us anything, it's that humans are terrible at predicting the future. Since we cannot predict or control people, organizations, or communities, Inspire to Change does not predict our evaluations step by step. We can discuss our methods and practices in general terms and hope that you can see exciting and impactful possibilities for our partnership. We understand that not having a detailed outline of what will occur can be a risk, but this work is emergent and complex--by definition, this means that the path forward is uncertain

We facilitate learning, evaluation, and research processes so you can learn what matters in real-time, and maximize your contribution to a whole, beautiful, and just world. Inspire to Change and the Creative Evaluation and Engagement process supports changemakers personally and professionally as well as teams, organizations, and initiatives that want to engage in principles-driven learning and evaluation. We have worked locally, nationally, and globally with nonprofits, school districts, museums, foundations, and cross-sector initiatives. All of our partners share one thing in common–they are committed to co-creating a whole,

Strategic Planning

Storytelling

This phase is focused on aligning mission, vision, assumptions, values, context, guiding principles, and learning purpose–rooted in place–with attention to language, power, and perspectives. This work is a critical first step in evaluation and engagement, as we need to know where we’re going before we assess the extent to which we have arrived

A healthy board is critical to a healthy, thriving organization. Board members will walk away with a better understanding of their actual roles versus assumed roles as a nonprofit board members, and feel empowered about their decisions to volunteer their time. Our Board Development facilitation includes large group and small breakout groups. It is targeted to those who are new to a nonprofit board but could also serve as a refresher for those who have had a lapse in serving.

What sets Inspire to Change apart is our commitment to infusing arts-based methodologies into our facilitation work. By melding artistic forms and creative expressions to traditional facilitation techniques, we’ve found that we’re better able to explore, understand, represent, and even challenge human experiences. Arts-based methods, when presented in a safe and non-threatening manner, both broaden the invitation for participation and allow space for non-verbal, non-Western ways of knowing and being

Our evaluation services are ideal for organizations, initiatives, and leaders who are cohesive and resourced sufficiently to achieve their intended outcomes, and want to learn as they go. Evaluation and research efforts might focus on the meaningfulness and effectiveness of principles, the implementation and/or impact of the work, and analysis and sensemaking to identify pre-determined and emergent context and concepts. Not sure what to evaluate, how to evaluate, or who to involve? We recommend starting with a smaller evaluation planning contract. Want to build your team’s capacity to do your own evaluation? We recommend evaluation coaching, where we meet with you to facilitate the process, but your team does the on-the-ground work of collecting data. Overwhelmed and want to off-board all parts of the evaluation process? We recommend partnering with us to conduct a full-service evaluation for your organization

Data Collection

If you don’t want to do a full evaluation but just need help collecting data in a way that promotes healing, we recommend working with us to design and implement data collection methods. Data Collection methods may include: 1) Quantitative (e.g., surveys, psychographic segmentation), 2) Qualitative (e.g., focus groups, in-depth interviews, ethnographic, user experience), and/or Arts-based (e.g., photovoice, visual matrix, quilting, poetry, etc.)

Evaluation and evaluators have a long history of weaponizing data to marginalize and exclude minority, indigenous, and queer people and communities, often fueled by philanthropic interests which value impact over building relationships with the communities they serve. Part of our work has been learning and unlearning definitions of data. Many evaluators, organizations, and programs embed systemic and implicit biases into what they consider “valid” data. This service is designed to assist people in decreasing bias in the work, and expanding ideas regarding validity, fidelity, accountability, and findings by including the arts and indigenous and culturally-specific ways of knowing and being into systemic change work

When you partner with us to embed equity, we will walk you through the stages of aligning, learning, adapting, and embodying with the goal of centering your work's immediate ecosystem on equity. In this work, we meet people where they are on their equity journey. We unpack their assumptions, lived experiences, and aspirations around equity and inclusion, and then help them practice self-calibration and self-awareness. We ask organizations to stop thinking of equity as an addition or lens and begin thinking of it as a foundational and mission-critical aspect of their work. We set the bar for success higher than increased diversity and inclusion and work towards dismantling oppressive practices and beliefs and learning new, liberatory ways of working and being

Evocative Facilitation for Transformation means embodying the commitment to full-sensory knowing, relationships, and care. As part of this work, we evoke, relate, and care. We do this by representing what we have done together in well-told stories, evocative case studies, astute selection and juxtaposition of quotes and observations, and powerful, captivating, and accurate visual representations. It is often not good enough to know something–people need to hear, taste, smell, and touch it. In other words, we aren't just trying to change knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors; we're also trying to change hearts, minds, spirits, and relationships

When you partner with us to develop or refine your guiding principles, we will walk you through the process of determining what values-based principles will best guide your work. A well-written guiding principle statement is grounded in values about what matters and provides direction rather than a rigid or detailed prescription (Patton, 2017). Guiding principle statements intentionally work in complexity rather than in binaries like black/white, good/bad, or right/wrong, and must be interpreted and applied contextually. They act as a rudder during the work, pointing people in the right direction when working in complex adaptive systems by articulating both the what (outcomes and impacts) and the how (values). They also identify what is most useful and meaningful. They lift up distinct concepts and examine how each principle interacts with and shapes the others. Taken together, principles provide a cohesive framework that guides meaningful work from hyper-local to global settings

We facilitate conversations that are restorative and foster a sense of listening and hearing from each participant, allowing grace, empathy, and understanding to permeate the space. This process allows for healing and understanding in the group. Participants experience the following: 1) conversations where everyone has the opportunity to hear and be heard; 2) a process of discovering what can be jointly believed and understood to be true; 3) going beyond disconnections to make connections and reconnections; and 4) illuminated possibilities for a path forward

Even with the best strategic plan, people, organizations, and initiatives need to continuously reassess and adapt in order to stay relevant, nimble, creative, and viable. We assist with this by helping clients to take a strategic, journey-oriented approach to adaptation. Journey orientation at Inspire to Change is based on the belief that the past, present, and future are interconnected. Our past and present are shaped by our experiences, trauma, growth, and relationships. Our future is comprised of our hopes and dreams for ourselves, our relationships, and the people we care about. Our past, present, and future intersect—physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Our understanding of the past, present, and future continually evolve as interrelated parts shape each other and new meanings emerge. As we reach new understandings, we help you to make decisions, act, and move into new possibilities

We recognize that multiple perspectives, experiences, and practices are mission-critical for solving difficult problems. Our consultants will walk with your organization's team to assist in building a stronger, smarter, and more resilient organization, with equity at its center. This includes facilitating strategic visioning and board development processes that bring roots, mission, vision, principles, strategies, and policies into alignment. We weave arts-based practices and attention to wellbeing throughout this work

Theory of Change Development

Theories of Change emerge from evaluation's early project mentality: the idea that projects and programs are sufficiently powerful and effective at getting people and systems to change. Theories of change assume control. They're command and control thinking. They are based mainly on linear causality, where you have predetermined outcomes and causal paths for getting there.

Principles are a substitute, and an alternative, to theories of change. Rather than outlining a step-by-step road map, they are crafted to be responsive to and effective in complex adaptive systems. High-quality guiding principles act as anchors, rudders, and north stars, allowing people to make their way through complexity while remembering where they've been, where they're going, and why. Rather than a theory of change, they are a theory of engagement.

We help you develop a principles-driven theory of change…or, even better, transformation! Why principles-driven? Michael Quinn Patton explains:

Inspire to Change helps organizations tell stories that matter. Through data, we chart the passion, purpose, and strategies of organizations along their change journeys. Telling data stories in narrative helps us understand past events, predict future trends, and develop sustainable strategies for change.

Capacity Building & Coaching

Inspire to Change offers tailored coaching and capacity-building services for individuals and teams seeking to deepen their learning and evaluation practices. Our approach is not prescriptive; instead, we walk alongside you to co-design processes that honor your context, values, and existing wisdom. Whether you are new to creative evaluation or looking to refine your approach, we provide guidance, tools, and reflective space to strengthen your internal capacity.

Coaching engagements are flexible and can focus on a range of topics, including evaluation planning, data collection design, arts-based methods, and sensemaking. We meet you where you are, offering just-in-time support and thought partnership. This service is ideal for organizations that want to build sustainable evaluation muscle without outsourcing the entire process.

One-on-one or team coaching sessions
Evaluation design clinics
Arts-based method training
Facilitation skill-building
Reflective practice and peer learning circles

Community Engagement & Participatory Processes

Meaningful engagement is at the heart of our work. We design and facilitate participatory processes that center the voices of those most affected by your work. Using a blend of dialogue, creative expression, and collaborative inquiry, we help you build trust, surface diverse perspectives, and co-create knowledge with community members and stakeholders.

Our participatory processes are not one-off events; they are carefully sequenced to foster genuine ownership and shared understanding. We pay close attention to power dynamics, accessibility, and cultural relevance, ensuring that all participants can contribute in ways that feel authentic and safe.

Arts-Based Facilitation & Creative Methods

We believe that creativity opens doors to deeper learning and connection. Our arts-based facilitation services integrate visual art, storytelling, movement, poetry, and other expressive forms into meetings, retreats, and evaluation activities. These methods are not about making art for art's sake; they are structured to elicit insights, challenge assumptions, and honor multiple ways of knowing.

We work with you to select and adapt creative methods that fit your goals and group dynamics. No artistic experience is required—only a willingness to engage differently. Our facilitators create a supportive environment where participants can explore complex ideas through metaphor, imagery, and embodied expression.

Strategic Learning & Sensemaking

Data alone does not lead to change; it is the meaning we make together that drives action. Our strategic learning and sensemaking services help you turn information into insight. We facilitate collaborative analysis sessions where stakeholders examine findings, identify patterns, and generate actionable recommendations.

Using a mix of structured protocols and creative techniques, we guide groups through the often messy process of interpreting data. This work strengthens collective understanding, surfaces hidden assumptions, and builds alignment around next steps. It is particularly valuable after a data collection phase or at key inflection points in your work.