Tribal Communities
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES
Community Priorities.
Stronger Futures.
Helping Tribal governments, educational institutions, and community organizations strengthen programs, secure funding, and plan for the future through research and evaluation.
Shaffer Evaluation Group partners with Tribal and Indigenous organizations to generate credible evidence, support informed decisions, and advance community-defined goals. Our work combines rigorous methods with respect for Tribal sovereignty, cultural knowledge, and local priorities.
OUR APPROACH
Research grounded in community priorities.
Tribal governments and organizations are working to strengthen educational opportunities, support families, preserve cultural knowledge, expand economic opportunities, and improve community well-being. These efforts require reliable information and planning approaches that reflect each community's priorities, circumstances, and vision for the future.
SEG works with Tribal governments, educational institutions, and community organizations to address these needs through applied research, program evaluation, grant development, and strategic planning.
We recognize that effective research begins with relationships. Our approach emphasizes listening, collaboration, and meaningful involvement of Tribal leadership, program staff, and community members. We work with our partners to identify relevant questions, develop appropriate methods, and interpret findings in ways that reflect local knowledge and cultural context.
Whether evaluating a federally funded initiative, studying community needs, or supporting long-term planning, our goal is to produce credible, useful evidence that strengthens programs and supports decisions guided by the communities we serve.
Tribal Services
RESEARCH & SPECIAL STUDIES
Find answers grounded in community knowledge.
We conduct applied research that helps Tribal governments and organizations better understand community needs, identify opportunities, and inform decisions. Our work includes needs assessments, community consultations, surveys, feasibility studies, and specialized research designed in collaboration with Tribal partners.
PROGRAM & GRANT EVALUATION
Understand progress. Strengthen results.
We design and conduct evaluations that help Tribal organizations assess implementation, measure outcomes, meet funding requirements, and improve programs. Working with our partners, we develop evaluation approaches that reflect community-defined goals and integrate quantitative evidence with the experiences and perspectives of participants and stakeholders.
GRANT DEVELOPMENT & WRITING
Turn community priorities into fundable initiatives.
We help Tribal governments and organizations develop competitive, evidence-informed grant applications. From needs assessments and program design to logic models, measurable objectives, and evaluation plans, we provide technical expertise that strengthens proposals while keeping community priorities at the center of the process.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
Build on community strengths. Plan for the future.
We facilitate planning processes that bring together leadership, staff, and community perspectives to establish priorities and develop actionable strategies. Through consultation, research, organizational assessment, and collaborative planning, we help Tribal partners translate their vision into practical steps for long-term progress.
OUR EXPERIENCE
Experience supporting Tribal priorities.
Every Tribal community has its own history, governance structures, resources, and goals. SEG brings research and consulting experience across a range of program settings, adapting our methods to the needs and circumstances of each partnership.
Areas in which we can support Tribal initiatives include:
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Education & Student Success: Evaluating initiatives that expand educational access, strengthen academic achievement, support students, and improve educational pathways.
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Workforce & Economic Development: Studying workforce needs, career and technical education, employment pathways, and programs designed to expand economic opportunity.
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Community Health & Well-Being: Assessing community needs and evaluating initiatives focused on individual and family well-being, access to services, and community support.
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Language, Culture & Heritage: Supporting research and evaluation of initiatives that sustain cultural knowledge, strengthen intergenerational learning, and expand opportunities for cultural participation.
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Youth & Family Programs: Examining the implementation and outcomes of programs that support youth development, family engagement, and community connections.
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Organizational Capacity & Grant-Funded Initiatives: Supporting program planning, performance measurement, grant development and evaluation, and organizational improvement to strengthen the effectiveness and sustainability of Tribal initiatives.
Across these areas, we tailor our approach to the priorities of our partners and the information needed to support meaningful decisions.
"I rate their work for our organization as excellent. Not only has their support and dedication allowed us to be incredibly successful at all project phases, but their expertise also continues to help us improve and refine our process."
— Director, Tribal government
Client Spotlight
ALEUT COMMUNITY OF ST. PAUL ISLAND TRIBAL GOVERNMENT
Consultant (2019-present)
SEG has an established working relationship with the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island Tribal Government, bringing research and evaluation expertise to initiatives serving this remote Alaska Native community. SEG has participated as a member of grantwriting teams and provided training and technical assistance to Tribal Government staff in addition to conducting evaluations of grant-funded projects.
OUR COMMITMENT
Respect for community knowledge. Rigor in research.
We believe effective research and evaluation must be grounded in trust, transparency, and a shared understanding of purpose.
In our work with Tribal partners, we recognize the importance of Tribal sovereignty, community knowledge, and local authority over research priorities and information. We approach each engagement as a partnership, working with Tribal leadership and program staff to develop methods that are appropriate to the community and responsive to its goals.
We also recognize that evidence can take many forms. Alongside quantitative measures, we value the perspectives, experiences, and knowledge that community members bring to understanding program effectiveness and meaningful change.
Our commitment is to provide technically rigorous, culturally responsive work that respects Tribal protocols, protects sensitive information, and produces findings that partners can use.
Above all, we seek to build lasting relationships in which research serves the communities whose experiences and aspirations it seeks to understand.
Let's strengthen what's working.
Whether you're evaluating a grant-funded initiative, exploring a research question, developing a funding proposal, or planning your institution's next chapter, SEG can help.
Bring us your questions. We'll help you find the evidence and develop a path forward.
Contact us today for a free 30-minute consultation.