Upstream learning for downstream impact
Upstream Learning + Evaluation’s is a boutique social impact consultancy rooted in relationships, responsiveness, resourcefulness, and resonance—elevating insights that ripple outward to generate lasting change throughout organizations and communities. Upstream brings learning alive by gathering insights at the source, cultivating a dynamic, nuanced understanding of numbers and stories that amplifies informed action and impact.
Evaluation doesn't have to be a sterile parade of charts drowning in lifeless text that talks at you rather than with you. Upstream reimagines the experience by centering what those most impacted think is working and what could be strengthened, illuminating the potential for change in visually and conceptually engaging, accessible, and actionable ways that empower organizations and communities to chart their own course forward.
By embedding experiential and evidence-informed learning where change begins, programs and initiatives evolve, strategies sharpen, and diverse perspectives get the space they deserve. Approaching discovery in this way is a powerful tool to build more impactful programs, more resilient organizations, and ultimately more empowered communities.
Upstream believes in wonder, curiosity, openness, and the profound power that comes from asking who, what, when, where, why, and how in ways that honor context and community to spark collective learning and drive meaningful change.
The Why: About Upstream
When she's not weaving together stories and numbers, Mary enjoys being a mother (to two awesome kids and a very spoiled dog), wife, daughter, sister, auntie, and friend, taking long walks on the beach (she truly does), impromptu dance parties, getting swept up in a good book, and nurturing her garden—perhaps not surprising for someone who believes in cultivating growth wherever she finds it.
Mary holds a PhD and MA in Social Psychology from Boston College and dual BAs in Psychology and Sociology from UC Santa Barbara. Based in Southern California, she partners with organizations nationwide.
The Who: Project Leadership
Mary Gray, PhD is the heart behind Upstream Learning + Evaluation. What drives Mary isn't just data or methodologies—it's the deeply held belief that when organizations truly understand their impact, they can create ripples of change that transform communities.
Since 2003, Mary has been gathering insights at the source, working alongside foundations, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies focused on parent and child development, education, housing, economic mobility, youth justice, community health, and organizational resiliency.
Mary's career path has traversed across a range of different landscapes. She's been a team member and leader within nonprofit, academia, government, and private sector organizations in Boston, London, and California—experiences that have enriched her understanding that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to how organizations learn and change. This ecosystem-spanning perspective fuels her passion for innovative evaluation approaches that embrace both rigorous methods and lived experience creating space for all voices to be heard and honored.
Collaborative Partners
When projects call for additional capacity or specialized expertise, Mary collaborates with a carefully curated network of researchers, evaluators, and strategists who share Upstream's commitment to relationships, responsiveness, resourcefulness, and resonance. This collective approach allows Upstream to match each project with the right combination of skills and perspectives, ensuring that diverse voices are centered and complex challenges are met with nuanced understanding and thoughtful consideration.
Because lasting change for the future we’re collectively building requires all of us bringing our best to the work that matters most.
The What and The How: Services and Specialities
Upstream offers three interconnected service areas designed to generate upstream learning that flows into downstream impact through agile, strategic action and sustainable change. Whether you need an evaluative deep dive, enhanced internal capabilities, or strategic direction, Upstream’s collaborative approach ensures each engagement is tailored to your unique context and goals.
Research and Evaluation
Centering on the principle that all voices matter, Upstream designs and conducts bespoke research and evaluations using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods.
Upstream’s evaluative toolkit encompasses a wide spectrum of methodologies meeting organizations where they are with formative, summative, and developmental evaluation approaches—whether they need real-time course corrections, want to explore the impact of a current or past program, or are navigating uncharted territory at the launch of an initiative or program.
A strong emphasis is placed on learning as a continuous and dynamic process to inform decision-making. Emergent insights are regularly shared to provide an intentional opportunity to reflect on where we’ve been, where we’re at, and where we’re going.
How Learning is Shared and Unpacked
What sets Upstream apart is bringing learning to life through vibrant visuals and compelling storytelling coupled with skillful facilitation and collaborative reflection that transforms information into inspiration and shared insights into action. Using diverse communication methods—reports, slide documents, data summaries, case studies, and photo and video narratives—Upstream creates compelling materials that authentically capture participants' experiences while addressing each audience's specific learning needs. To see examples of work completed to date, please see LinkedIn or fill out the contact form below.
Capacity Building and Technical Assistance
Upstream serves as a trusted advisor, partnering with organizations to strengthen their analytical capabilities and build organizational resiliency. Whether helping newly launched organizations establish foundational data, evaluation, and measurement practices or supporting established entities in enhancing their capacity to collect, analyze, and apply insights from both quantitative and qualitative data, Upstream provides expertise and guidance throughout every phase of organizational growth and development.
Upstream transforms how clients approach learning and evaluation through interactive experiences including training sessions and tailored technical support. Providing responsive and adaptive support empowers organizations to develop greater confidence and enduring proficiency in their data collection and analysis practices.
Connect
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and Mary will be in touch shortly. Looking forward to hearing from you and exploring what impact we can make together!
In the meantime, please check out the latest and greatest on LinkedIn.
