What we do and how we do it makes a difference to our clients. The focus of the Berman Center’s evaluation work is to provide our clients (funders, program providers, central agencies for Jewish education, and Jewish federations) with specific, utilization-focused data in accessible formats that facilitate organizational learning at all levels. For the Berman Center, every evaluation is a new project with a unique set of challenges and opportunities. For every client, the Berman Center draws upon its knowledge and experience, applies its expertise, and partners with the client to generate a tailored approach that meets the client’s evaluation learning goals.

From short-term assessments and consultations to multi-year, long-term evaluation projects, the Berman Center employs a range of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies (e.g., outcomes clarification, environmental scans, surveys, focus groups, interviews, observations, and literature and document review). In addition, the Berman Center provides clients with valuable, actionable, user-friendly evaluation reports in a variety of formats that respond to specific learning goals and research questions and that help the client communicate findings confidently to key stakeholders. Our three primary lines of service are:

1. Evaluation Studies: We Can Do It For You

The Berman Center evaluation team provides evaluation studies focused on the implementation and/or impact of a client’s programs and services. The results of these formative and summative evaluation studies help our clients better understand and make more informed choices about their work at any point in the life of their programs and services. Our evaluation team works closely with clients to assess their needs, plan for evaluation, collect and analyze data, draw conclusions, and, most importantly, to make recommendations to enhance program implementation and impact.

2. Evaluation Consulting/Capacity-Building: We Can Teach You/Coach You to Do It Yourself

The Berman Center is an effective and creative partner for organizations seeking to expand their evaluation capacities and capabilities. Its team members are accomplished evaluation teachers, offering one-on-one and team coaching, training, and professional development in evaluation in a variety of settings most convenient for our clients, both in person and using technology (e.g., phone, internet, etc.). Through this coaching and consultation, we help our clients understand the need for accountability in the nonprofit arena and meet the challenges of demonstrating impact. We help our clients further define their desired outcomes; facilitate their ability to plan for and assess the design of their programs; and develop their internal capacity to design, gather, manage, and interpret meaningful evaluation data.

3. Basic Issues Research: We Always are Learning to Serve You Better

Periodically, the Berman Center is commissioned to conduct non-evaluative research and systematic reviews of research done by others about a particular aspect of Jewish education. Gathering and digesting data through publication projects, literature reviews and environmental scans for our clients, and other endeavors enriches the quality of our work. It also increases the utility of our final products for our clients and, by extension, for the Jewish educational and communal service sector. To increase evaluation knowledge and skills across the field, Berman Center staff also share their accumulated wisdom and expertise directly with philanthropists, program providers, educators, researchers, and others. You will find Berman Center staff at Jewish education conferences, annual research association meetings, and national gatherings of Jewish education practitioners and funders.


To learn more about how JESNA's Berman Center for Research and Evaluation can help you maximize the effectiveness of your Jewish educational and communal service initiatives, contact Dr. Renae Cohen, Director of the Berman Center, at 212-284-6516 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .