In 2026, Rekindle engaged SSRS to design and implement its first program evaluation.

Before developing the evaluation framework, we recognized that Rekindle Fellow Alumni were uniquely positioned to help define what success should look like. Rather than limiting participant involvement to surveys and interviews later in the process, we intentionally incorporated a small group of Fellows into nearly every stage of the evaluation design.

Discovery

First, SSRS partnered with Rekindle to identify a small advisory group of Fellows who would be asked to provide feedback throughout the evaluation process. The group participated in a structured Discovery Session designed to identify the short-, intermediate-, and long-term indicators of success from the Fellows’ perspective.

Theory of Change and Logic Model

Insights from this session directly informed the program’s Theory of Change and logic model, which became the foundation of the evaluation. SSRS then engaged the advisory group to review and refine these materials before they were finalized.

Assessment Tools

The Theory of Change and logic model guided the development of both the quantitative survey and qualitative online bulletin board used for the outcome evaluation. The advisory group was asked to pilot test these instruments, helping ensure that the questions accurately reflected participants’ experiences, perspectives, and intended actions.

Insights

SSRS invited the advisory group to attend a webinar presenting the findings from the evaluation. Closing the loop in this way demonstrated how their contributions shaped the evaluation and reinforced that their time and efforts had meaningful impact on the evaluation and Rekindle’s future.

Throughout the evaluation, Fellows’ voices and lived experiences were essential to defining what meaningful program success looked like. From the outset, the evaluation timeline included dedicated time to recruit advisory Fellows, communicate how their feedback would be used, and report back on the results. Participant involvement was not an add-on to the evaluation design but rather an intentional and integral part of it.

Bottom Line: Meaningful Participant Engagement Matters

Meaningful participant engagement is not about involving participants at every stage, it’s about involving them at the right stages, in ways that genuinely improve the evaluation and respect the value of their time and input.

At SSRS, we work with clients to determine the level of participant engagement that best supports each program evaluation’s objectives. Our goal is always the same: to design evaluations that are rigorous, practical, and tailored to the realities of each program so that clients can make informed choices with confidence.