Rachel Silbermann Consulting

Using social science methods to help nonprofits increase impact and ease.

Services

There are several ways we could work together to incorporate research and data into your work.

Get in touch to learn more.

Data & Measurement Strategy

Dig into your data needs. Develop unburdensome systems to increase and illustrate impact.

Here are some ways we can incorporate data into your work to improve learning, increase impact, and make your work lives easier.

Impact mapping: Understanding and visualizing the problems you’re trying to solve, how you’re solving them, what impacts you can currently measure, and what impacts you would like to be able to measure.

Planning: Discussing your current workflow and the needs of your team so that we can incorporate data collection in a way that is easy and useful.

Developing tools and systems to collect and organize data and information

Sample Projects:

  • User-friendly impact tracking database for public policy advocacy organization

  • Planning and development of public policy library for state leaders

Research and Program Evaluation

Conduct social science research on topics related to your mission and evaluate your programs. Come away with actionable recommendations and new ideas for paths forward.

The best research projects produce useful learning, no matter the outcome. Research and program evaluation can help illustrate the impact you’re already having, suggest ways to increase your impact, and point to new programs and strategies. Research methods can include: randomized controlled trials (RCTs), data analysis, qualitative research strategies like in-depth interviews (IDIs), and others.

Sample Projects:

  • Comprehensive reviews of academic and applied literature about private equity, workforce development policy, and other topics

  • In-depth interviews of practitioners and program participants

  • Randomized controlled trial (RCT) of civic engagement tactics

  • Multi-method research project about state legislative elections

Data, Writing, and Advocacy

Develop data visualization and written content to advocate for progressive policy priorities

Research shows that people can be persuaded by new information (i.e., data), particularly when it comes to topics they know little about. Incorporating trustworthy data visualization and data writing into legislative advocacy efforts may help persuade legislators and stakeholders to champion or support your policy priorities.

Sample Project:

  • Data & narrative webpage about housing crisis for state advocacy group to help push for affordable housing legislation that then passed.

What people are saying

“Rachel’s work for our policy team on the state demographic changes, private equity issues and other projects has made our jobs easier and more productive. She has expanded our capacity as an available additional team member who can quickly understand the context of our work and provide focused and detailed attention in critical areas that would otherwise be neglected. This consulting relationship is particularly effective thanks to Rachel’s exceptional skills in organizing and communicating complex information.”

— Dana Naimark, The Impact Project

"I just wanted to reach out and express our appreciation for all your help on the data project! We published it yesterday and have gotten a ton of people saying how cool it is. We've already had a bunch of legislators check it out and engage with our social media about it"

— Austin Blumenfeld, Centennial State Prosperity

About

I’m Rachel Silbermann.

My approach is open and collaborative, and I love working with and learning from diverse teams of people with varied interests and expertise. My mission is to develop well-designed systems and uncover research-backed strategies that make impact work easier, more sustainable, and ultimately more fulfilling.

For over a decade, I’ve been helping nonprofits incorporate research and data into their work to increase their impact and make their lives easier.

A political scientist by training, I am fascinated by how people get together to create change in the world, the barriers we face in doing so, and how to alleviate these barriers. My academic research focused on gender and politics, and I have researched and written about a wide variety of topics, from political campaigns to to perceptions of flood risk. I have a PhD in Political Science from Yale University and a BA in History from Brown University.

Please email rachel@silbermann.works if you’re interested in working together - I’d love to hear from you.