_edited_edited.jpg)
Knowledge Guides Improvement
Grounded in evidence.
Focused on people.
We partner with mission-driven organizations to design and conduct evaluations that generate real insight and real change.
Our Services
From data collection through final reporting, we manage the full evaluation process with you.
Rigorous research
that investigates effectiveness, informs decisions, and contributes to the field.
We meet you where you are, building your team’s understanding of evaluation from the ground up.
DELIVERING EXPERT EVALUATIONS SINCE 2008
120+
PROJECTS
40+
COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
20+
CURRICULUM STUDIES
Since 2008, we have helped clients secure more than $190,000,000 in external grant funding.
$190,000,000+
Since 2008, we have helped clients secure more than $190,000,000 in external grant funding
Areas of Expertise
Latest Announcements
Congratulations to Our Newly Funded SIP Grantees
Cobblestone congratulates our client institutions that were recently awarded Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grants from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and U.S. Department of Labor. These awards reflect thoughtful planning by each campus team, and we are proud to have supported their proposals as the external evaluation partner.
October 7, 2026
From Our Blog
Gratitude, Rigor, and 250 Years
There's a particular kind of gratitude that comes from doing work you believe in, alongside people who believe in it too. This month, as our country marks 250 years since its founding, we find ourselves thinking about that kind of gratitude — the everyday kind, built up contract by contract, project by project, over almost two decades.
July 8, 2026
What Our Clients Say
“It has been an absolute pleasure working with the Cobblestone team on the PURSUE project for the past 10 years. Your expert advice significantly improved our assessment plan and helped us to define the scope of our work... I can honestly say that our project would not be what it is today without your contributions.”
Cindy Bukach, Ph.D.
Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience & Director of PURSUE
University of Richmond
“Cobblestone is very professional and we have been working with them for over 10 years with our projects and grants. No other companies can beat what they have to offer. I appreciate their attention to details and all communications. They are wonderful to work with."
Mai Tran
Senior Program Manager
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
"Cobblestone provided high-quality, effective evaluation by encouraging our project members to actively participate in the evaluative process. They seamlessly became part of our team... If you aspire to achieve the highest quality professional evaluation do not hesitate to use Cobblestone."
Terry Rizzo, Ph.D.
Professor of Kinesiology & Principal Investigator of Coyote First STEP
California State University, San Bernardino
FAQs
Program evaluation is the systematic process of assessing whether a program is working and how well. Using social science research methods, evaluators collect and analyze data to determine a program's merit, track its implementation, and measure outcomes. For organizations running funded programs, evaluation provides the evidence base needed to improve services, satisfy funder requirements, and make the case for continuation or expansion.
An external evaluator brings methodological expertise and, critically, independence from your program. Federal funders and many private foundations require or strongly prefer external evaluation precisely because findings from an independent party carry more credibility than self-assessments. An experienced evaluator also handles the technical burden and has the expertise to implement the work (e.g., study design, IRB processes, instrument development, data analysis), freeing up your staff to focus on program delivery.
Cobblestone is a boutique firm that has focused exclusively on education evaluation and applied research for nearly two decades. That means every project is led by senior evaluators with deep subject matter knowledge. We work primarily with education-focused organizations, community colleges, universities, and federally funded programs, which means we understand the specific accountability requirements, stakeholder dynamics, and reporting expectations you are navigating. We bring the rigor of larger firms with the responsiveness of a close, dedicated partner.
