Petrel Research works with institutions, funders, and partners at every stage — from building the case for a grant to evaluating whether a program delivered on its promise.
"Every engagement starts with a question worth asking — and ends with an answer someone can actually use."
Competitive federal and foundation grants require more than strong ideas — they require proposals that speak the language of reviewers, align with funder priorities, and make a credible case for impact. Petrel Research brings deep familiarity with education and workforce programs, policies, and research through a variety of funding mechanisms.
Original research grounded in the questions practitioners and policymakers actually need answered. Petrel Research specializes in mixed-methods approaches that produce findings accessible to diverse audiences — from academic journals to practitioner briefs to funder reports — without sacrificing rigor.
Rigorous evaluation that goes beyond compliance — asking not just whether a program was implemented as designed, but whether it moved the needle for the people it served. Petrel Research brings experience evaluating programs for foundation, state, and federal grants and a commitment to findings that are honest, useful, and actionable.
Strategic thinking grounded in evidence — for institutions designing new programs, funders building portfolios, and technology partners entering the education and workforce space. Petrel Research brings a researcher's rigor and a practitioner's pragmatism to questions of program design, market positioning, and systems change.
Grant development, program evaluation, and research for institutions building workforce and career pathways.
Research and evaluation support for federal, state, and local agencies investing in education and career pathways.
Portfolio research, grantee evaluation, and landscape analysis for philanthropies focused on education and workforce equity.
Research and strategy for edtech organizations building tools and platforms at the education-to-career intersection.
Research and advisory for employers and intermediaries designing work-based learning and career pathway programs.
Collaborative research partnerships with think tanks, university centers, and policy organizations working in this space.
Every engagement begins with a conversation to understand your goals, timeline, and context — no templates, no assumptions. Every scope is built from scratch.
A clear scope of work with defined deliverables, timeline, and engagement structure.
Research and strategy delivered in formats built for your audience — whether that's a funding agency, a board, a practitioner team, or the public.
Share your grant opportunity, research question, or strategic challenge — and Sara will tell you honestly whether and how Petrel Research can help.
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