The way the proposal and selection process is designed can put small firms at a real disadvantage. Here are some things funders can do differently that really help.

SECPI co-directors Carlisle Levine and Hippolyt Pul discussed sharing leadership within a team to form a “leader-full” team.

Pedro Paz from Responsive Evaluation Services shares how he has engaged in strong partnerships with evaluators, especially as a funder.

In this community resource spotlight we highlight The Eval Matrix from Strategic Learning Partners for Innovation. The terms around culturally responsive and equity-focused evaluations can be hard to navigate. The Eval Matrix is a free tool that can help.

Small, local evaluation firms bring something large firms often can't. In this post we highlight 6 things that make small local firms not just a viable choice, but often the best one.

This story is at the heart of why Hippolyt Pul and Carlisle Levine wrote their open letter to funders. Evaluators who come from — or have deep ties to — the communities they're working in can hear things that outside experts can't. Not because they use better methods, but because trust changes what people are willing to share.

During our March 2026 Gathering Space, Sara McGarraugh of the Improve Group shared the Improve Group’s experience using the Trust Triangle to strengthen relationships within a team and with clients.

Sara McGarraugh from The Improve Group shared how her team has used the Trust Triangle to strengthen relationships within their team.

During our February 2026 Gathering Space, Carlisle Levine and Hippolyt Pul of SECPI engaged Sonia Taddy-Sandino of Engage R+D in conversation about a practical tool for making authentic partnership more than just a good intention. This post captures our conversation. 

Sonia Taddy from Engage R+D shares how her team has used Before and After Action Reviews to deepen relationships and reflect on how a team is working together.

Read the highlights from our first Gathering Space on January 22, 2026.

Read the highlights from our first Gathering Space on December 4, 2025.

Read our lessons from our Strengthening Evaluation Contracting Partnerships Initiative's third webinar on making the case for partnering with small and solo proximate evaluation firms, which took place in May 2025.

In this webinar, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies share their journey toward fostering more effective partnerships with small community-based evaluation firms.

This checklist for evaluation commissioners provides guidance for designing and managing proposal requests, selection processes, contracts, and payments to better foster partnerships with small proximate or community-based evaluation firms.

In this article, we make the case for partnering with small and solo community-based evaluation firms and offer guidance for adjusting selection and contracting practices to foster these partnerships.

In this webinar, two funders and two small community-based evaluation firms describe the selection processes they are using to facilitate these partnerships and the benefits they are gaining from them.

In this webinar, three pairs of funders and small community-based evaluation firms describe the contracting practices they are using to facilitate these partnerships and the benefits they are gaining from them.

Read our contribution to AEA365’s Nonprofits and Foundations Topical Interest Group (NPFTIG) Week.

In this executive brief, we highlight key points from our case for partnering with small and solo community-based evaluation firms and provide guidance for adjusting selection and contracting practices to better foster these partnerships.