Joyful Accountability For Real Impact

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In this episode, Pieta Blakely, Managing Principal at Rojas Blakely Associates, unpacks her concept of “joyful accountability”—a refreshing, motivating approach to program evaluation in the nonprofit sector. Drawing from her experience in workforce development and economic mobility, Pieta shares how she moved from the classroom into evaluation after seeing the need for clarity, data, and mission alignment. She explains how nonprofits can identify what truly matters to measure, avoid becoming overwhelmed by the scale of the issues they tackle, and stay energized by recognizing small wins along the way. The conversation explores building a practical theory of change, selecting meaningful metrics, navigating funder expectations, partnering effectively across organizations, and weaving together narrative and data to tell a fuller story of impact. It’s a thoughtful look at how evaluation—when done well—can inspire collaboration, focus, and celebration within mission-driven work.

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