Since MDRC’s founding more than 50 years ago, evidence-building and data-driven technical assistance (TA) have been a crucial part of its work. MDRC is now launching a comprehensive and innovative approach to TA, to ensure that effective service strategies reach more people and improve lives.

MDRC’s approach to technical assistance leverages the organization’s years of on-the-ground experience to help nonprofits and government agencies build new evidence, use existing evidence, and harness data to advance their goals. The approach centers on technical assistance informed by data and evidence, underscored by empathy, curiosity, humility, and respect for the views of participants and program staff.

In this episode, Leigh Parise talks with John Martinez, MDRC’s first Vice President for Evidence to Practice. The two dive into the history of technical assistance at MDRC (fun fact: MDRC’s TA predates its randomized controlled trials!) and then explore the new Evidence to Practice initiative and what sets MDRC’s TA apart.