Clarity / Credibility / ConfidencE

Evaluation and strategy support for mission-driven organizations

Our Approach

We believe every impactful mission deserves a clear path.

A&O’s evaluation, strategy, and facilitation services bring clarity, credibility, and organizational direction to teams in education, government, philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector. We listen closely, think holistically, and build confidence by delivering actionable, evidence-based solutions.

/ OUR
SERVICES

Our services are designed to give mission-driven teams a trusted partner in complex moments. Whether evaluating a program, planning for the future, or preparing for your next big grant, we  support your work with insight, structure, and care.

  • Understand what’s working, why, and and where to go from here.

  • Build practical roadmaps that align vision with action.

  • Strengthen your internal systems, decision making,  and evaluation skills.

  • Identify community needs and align opportunities to make a stronger case.

  • Move through complex conversations with clarity and connection.

/ Why A&O?

Our team of experts has been in your shoes—as teachers, nonprofit leaders, public administrators, and program managers. That means we don’t just analyze your challenges, we understand them and propose practical solutions that truly address your needs. We are proud to be a certified Women Owned Business Enterprise, supporting professionals like yourself to improve accountability and expand impact.

We listen first, translate complexity into direction, and deliver insights you can use. Our clients trust us because we work with care, flexibility, and a deep respect for the work they do.

Let’s talk about how we can support your mission.

  • "A&O brought us crucial data and creative suggestions for program improvement. They truly helped us to better serve our children and families .... and we can't recommend them highly enough!"

    Phil Memmer / District Executive Director for Arts and Education / YMCA of Central New York

  • “Proven professionals with significant nonprofit experience, the A&O team demonstrated a perfect balance of relating and achieving, guiding us to creating a vision and plan that will take Paige’s Butterfly Run to the next level.”

    Ralph L. Simone / President of the Board / Paige’s Butterfly Run

  • “A&O has been an exceptional evaluation partner for our school district for many years. Their collaborative, inclusive approach to data analysis and stakeholder engagement has strengthened both our understanding and use of evaluation findings. We deeply value their professionalism, adherence to timelines, and clear, practical guidance. A&O’s insights are consistently integrated into our program planning, and their findings have directly informed meaningful program improvements. Their expertise has been instrumental in demonstrating the effectiveness and impact of our work. I highly recommend A&O!”

    Tiona Rockett / Program Supervisor / Syracuse City School District

  • “Your guidance through the 21st CCLC requirements was invaluable—you kept me on my toes, ensuring I stayed compliant with grant requirements while navigating complex timelines, reports, and deadlines. Your detailed feedback on all submissions helped refine my work, and your practical suggestions on program operations elevated its effectiveness. Your dedication and expertise were evident in every interaction.”

    Renee Murray / Director of After School and Summer Programs / Wescott Community Center

  • “Working with A&O is an amazing experience - they have demonstrated a deep understanding of educational best practices and brought a balanced perspective that encouraged thoughtful reflection. The feedback provided was clear, actionable, and rooted in both data and experience. It was evident that they genuinely cared about supporting our growth and celebrating our strengths.”

    Marguerite Mitchell / Director of Education / Red House Arts Center

  • “I have worked with A&O services on strategic planning, community needs assessments, and program assessment. In each instance, A&O produced work products that inspired innovation and improvement.”

    Todd Goehle / Vice President of Operations and Strategy / PEACE, Inc.

  • “A&O’s approach is collaborative and thoughtful—they listen closely, tailor their methods to fit our goals, and help us make sense of complex data. Their findings have not only met reporting requirements for our funders but have directly informed program improvements and ongoing planning. We deeply value their expertise and commitment to our mission.”

    Jessica Ellis / Child Care Quality Improvement Initiative & PEDALS CNY Hub Director / Child Care Solutions

  • "They’re not just skilled at collecting and analyzing data—they help us make sense of it in ways that improve our practice and support our students. Their thoughtful, collaborative approach makes them a true partner in this work. I’ve come to rely on their insights, responsiveness, and professionalism, and I highly recommend them to any organization seeking a meaningful, results-focused evaluation partner."

    Laurie Black / Community Education Director / Book Buddies

  • "Working with A&O as our external evaluator has been a highly collaborative and valuable experience. Their structured evaluation approach, clear communication, and thoughtful insights have helped us stay aligned with our goals and continuously improve our Noyce program. Their development of a comprehensive logic model and evaluation plan helped clarify our program’s intended outcomes and provided a strong foundation for continuous improvement. We especially appreciate their commitment to fidelity, transparency, and partnership throughout this multi-year engagement. "

    Dr. Chetna Patel / NSF Noyce Grant Principal Investigator and Chair in Science and Mathematics / Aurora University

  • "We engaged Apter & O’Connor for our strategic planning process. Their team was wonderful to work with. We benefited greatly from their experience and guidance, and they were very receptive to our preferences and goals throughout the process. Through surveys, stakeholder interviews, document review, planning meetings and a well-facilitated retreat, they led a process that clarified our priorities and charted a clear path forward. The result was a strategic plan that feels both ambitious and achievable. The credibility of the process, A&O’s strong engagement with our board and the solidity of the resulting plan brought strong buy-in from our board and staff. I would happily recommend A&O to any organization looking for expert guidance and meaningful results."

    Steven Scheinman / Board President / Skaneateles Music Festival

  • A&O has been foundational to our growth, our strategy, and our impact . . . they have been true thought partners — pushing us to ask the right questions, align our goals, and operate with more intentionality. Their evaluation work has provided the data and storytelling we need to share our successes . . . Their insights have helped shape the direction of City’s First Readers, making us more effective as a citywide initiative and more responsive to the needs of families.

    Emmanuel Novy, Chief of Strategic Initiatives, Literacy in Community (LINC), Director, City's First Readers