Social Impact Squared is an evaluation consultancy with a special focus on impact measurement, developmental evaluation, and evaluating efforts to build sustainable livelihoods. We use a principles-focused, asset-oriented, and equitable approach to evaluating social programs. We work with our clients and their communities to bring their expertise and experience to the foreground as we collaborate to understand, measure, communicate, and improve their social impact.
Social Impact Squared’s clients work in a wide range of sectors, including education, crime prevention, employment, youth development, and health. Paul’s focus on the Sustainable Livelihood Framework looks at how supports help people build a holistic and interdependent set of supportive assets: including physical and mental health, money and finances, social supports and connections, identity and goals, basic needs, and skills and employability.
Through our focus on evaluation training and coaching, we can translate technical evaluation terms into plain-language and engaging reports. We are guided by the Common Approach to Impact Measurement, but use our expertise to identify the approach (i.e., developmental, formative, summative, Sustainable Livelihoods, principles-focused, equitable, etc.) that best meets our clients’ needs and context.
Founder and principal consultant Paul Bakker works with a number of associates to bring thoughtful, well-designed evaluation projects to life. Paul’s evaluation and impact measurement expertise includes:
- A Master Degree in Sociology, with a specialization in Program and Policy Evaluation.
- Around 100 research and evaluation projects since 2008, working with non-profit, social enterprise, and government clients of all sizes.
- Being a Credentialed Evaluator, as recognized by the Canadian Evaluation Society (CES).
- Providing evaluation workshops through CES, post-secondary institutions, non-profits, and Social Impact Squared.
- Regularly presenting at Canadian Evaluation Society conferences and elsewhere.
- Monthly evaluation coaching to United Way Halton Hamilton agencies.
- Organizing and hosting Evaluation Café Toronto/Ontario events since 2011.
- Director of Evaluation for Endeavour Volunteer Consulting for Nonprofits (from 2013-2016)
- Board Member for the Canadian Evaluation Society – Ontario Chapter (from 2017-2020).
Paul has trained and supported staff on how to create and use logic models, theories of change, evaluation questions, outcome indicators, data collection methods, analysis plans, and evaluation matrixes.