Wilder Research is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit research and evaluation groups dedicated to practical research in the field of human services.

From our offices in Saint Paul, Minnesota, we work with more than 100 organizations each year to study the effectiveness of their services and to understand trends and issues that affect their work.

We gather and interpret facts and trends in order to help families and communities thrive, get at the core of community concerns, and raise issues that are overlooked or poorly understood.

We work with organizations at the local, state, national, and international levels.

Our clients share a dedication to the health and well-being of people and communities. They include:

• Nonprofit agencies and service providers
• Local, state, and national government agencies
• Foundations and other funders
• Policy-making and advocacy organizations

We help organizations set realistic goals, measure immediate and long-term results, get meaningful feedback from participants, and put the evaluation to practical use.

Wilder Research evaluates programs of all sizes – from a neighborhood outreach program to a national or international initiative.

Examples:

• Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency Program, Saint Paul Public Housing Agency, Joanne Arnold, Sheila Romero, Craig Helmstetter
• Rochester Hand-in-Hand Program, Dan Mueller, Jennifer Lee Schultz
• Two Feathers Endowment Scholarship Program, Program evaluation, Sandi Pierce

Wilder Research helps government and nonprofit groups test innovative ideas to see how they compare to “business as usual.” These studies use rigorous scientific methods to compare the results of alternative ways to approach the same goal.

Examples:

• Cargill Scholars, Cheryl Holm-Hansen
• McKnight Families Forward initiative, Ellen Shelton, Nicole Martin, Ben Shardlow, Greg Owen, Thalia Cooper and Karen Ulstad
• Summary evaluation of the Montana Faith-Health Demonstration Project, A Compassion Capital Fund Project, Greg Owen, Karen Ulstad, Thalia Cooper

We can provide expert coaching or take responsibility for specific parts of your inhouse research or evaluation project.

For example, we can help your staff:

• Develop or update logic models
• Choose measurable short-term and long-term goals
• Create or refine a survey questionnaire
• Conduct interviews
• Set up systems to collect evaluation data
• Analyze data you have collected, and report the results
• Create action plans for using research results

Examples:

• How to build a logic model, Tips for conducting program evaluation, Cheryl Holm-Hansen
• Perspectives of dentists and enrollees on dental care under Minnesota health care programs, Minnesota Department of Human Services, Data collection completed by Wilder Research

Wilder Research conducts research to gain insight into a specific group of people and their experiences, strengths, and needs. This could be a cultural group, an age group, a geographic community, or a group with shared experiences (such as recent immigrants, people experiencing homelessness, or parents who use child care).

Examples:

• Mental Wellness Campaign for Anoka County, Cheryl Holm-Hansen, Laura Martell Kelly
• Metro Trend Watch
• Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe housing needs assessment, Nicole Martin, Greg Owen
• St. Croix Valley survey: Assessment of needs and quality of life in Chisago, Washington, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix Counties, Richard Chase, Laura McLain

Economic studies provide an important perspective on the current and future costs and benefits of different policies and services. Cost-benefit analysis can add substantial value to a comprehensive program evaluation.

Examples:

• The economic value of open space, Paul Anton
• Metropolitan Airports Commission, Economic analysis of the reliever airport system, Paul Anton, Nicole Behling

Our in-house data collection center features skilled interviewers who work regularly with sensitive topics and with groups often missed in mainstream research. We are experienced in translating and conducting interviews in multiple languages (including Cambodian, Hmong, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese) and with diverse cultures. Our methods include telephone and face-to-face interviews, web surveys, mailed questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions.

Examples:

• Child Care Workforce in Minnesota Richard Chase, Christopher Moore, Sandi Pierce, Joanne Arnold
• Speaking for themselves: A survey of Hispanic, Hmong, Russian, and Somali immigrants in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Paul Mattessich
• Critical learning: Bicultural community health workers' views on prospective training opportunities, Results of qualitative research for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, Michelle Decker Gerrard

We sift through previous research to find the most reliable and relevant studies, and summarize the results in a clear, practical way.

Examples:

• Effectiveness of programs to improve postsecondary education enrollment and success of underrepresented youth: A literature review , Dan Mueller, Jennifer Lee Schultz
• Family involvement to promote student achievement: A "best practices" literature review, Edith Gozali-Lee
• Severely troubled children and youth: What everyone needs to know, Paul Mattessich, Cheryl Holm-Hansen
• Tackling the achievement gap head on: A background and discussion paper on the Wilder Foundation's School Success focus area, Dan Mueller

Audience Polling System (interactive voting technology)

Logic models (creating, updating)
Evaluation training (for program staff, groups of grantees, etc.)
Mapping and geographic analysis
Census and demographic research
Policy analysis
Communication support (news releases, fact sheets, presentations, etc.)