Alana R. Kinarsky, PhD

Alana R.
Kinarsky, PhD

Social Science Researcher & Evaluator

UCLA School of Education  ·  ARK Evaluation

Dr. Alana Kinarsky is a social science researcher and evaluator specializing in youth development, faith-based initiatives, and organizational learning. Based in Portland, OR, she brings expertise in evaluating programs across diverse religious and cultural contexts.

She works as a research data analyst at UCLA's School of Education while running ARK Evaluation, her independent consultancy founded in 2015. She earned her doctorate in Social Research Methodology from UCLA, specializing in Program Evaluation.

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Citations
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Publications
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Scholarship

Research

My work sits at the intersection of evaluation policy, philanthropic practice, and social science. I focus on how evaluation shapes organizations and communities.

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Evaluation Policy

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Philanthropy & Foundations

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Youth Development & Social Services

Below I list my published research. For a full list, visit my Google Scholar page. Happy to provide copies of any work — just email me.

Evaluation Policy
  • 2023 Kinarsky, A. R., & Christie, C. A. The intent and influence of evaluation policies and strategies in the philanthropic sector. Evaluation and Program Planning, 100, 102343.
  • 2022 Kinarsky, A. R., & Christie, C. A. Analysis of evaluation policies in the philanthropic sector. American Journal of Evaluation, 43(2), 175–192.
  • 2022 Fierro, L. A., Kinarsky, A. R., Echeverria-Estrada, C., Sabat Bass, N., & Christie, C. A. The importance of implementation: Putting evaluation policy to work. New Directions for Evaluation, 2022(173), 49–62.
  • 2019 Kinarsky, A. R., Alkin, M. C., & Christie, C. A. What have we learned? New Directions for Evaluation, 2019(163), 83–93.
  • 2019 Kinarsky, A. An analysis of evaluation policy in the philanthropic sector (Doctoral dissertation). University of California, Los Angeles.
Philanthropy & Foundations
  • 2018 Kinarsky, A. R. The evaluation landscape: US foundation spending on evaluation. New Directions for Evaluation, 2018(160), 81–96.
  • 2018 Lemire, S., Fierro, L. A., Kinarsky, A. R., Fujita-Conrads, E., & Christie, C. A. The US federal evaluation market. New Directions for Evaluation, 2018(160), 63–80.
Evaluation Theory & Other
  • 2023 Kinarsky, A. R., & Fujita-Conrads, E. Evaluation theory synopses. Evaluation Roots: Theory Influencing Practice, 255.
  • 2019 Dillman, L., Scott, C., & Kinarsky, A. R. The case study: The women affirming motherhood program. New Directions for Evaluation, 2019(163), 19–26.
  • 2017 Kinarsky, A. R. Fostering success: Understanding the experience of foster youth undergraduates. Children and Youth Services Review, 81, 220–228.
Past Work

Projects

A selection of completed research and evaluation projects across nonprofit and philanthropic sectors.

Mixed Methods

Strength, Stress, and Support

A study of nearly 2,500 American Jewish teens conducted in partnership with Stanford and JFNA, examining wellbeing, stress, and sources of support.

Completed 2025  ·  BeWell

Program Evaluation

Campus Commons Pilot Year

Lead evaluator for the pilot year of the Bronfman Fellowship's Campus Commons program, assessing implementation and early outcomes.

Completed 2025  ·  Bronfman Fellowship

Related Work

Evaluation Policy

Evaluation policies shape how organizations understand, plan, and use evaluation. They are essential for managing program evaluations effectively, especially at scale.

The Evaluation Policy Research Hub collects resources to help practitioners and scholars understand existing evaluation policies and write new ones. It covers government, foundations, and emerging research.

Visit the Evaluation Policy Hub ↗

Government

Resources and guidance on evaluation policies for government agencies and programs.

Foundations

Research on evaluation policies in philanthropic organizations and recommendations for writing new ones.

Emerging Research

Scholarly publications on evaluation policy and emerging practices across sectors.

Get in Touch

Contact

Interested in collaborating, requesting a copy of a publication, or learning more about my work? Reach out.

I welcome inquiries from researchers, nonprofit leaders, foundation staff, and others interested in evaluation and applied social science. I am happy to share copies of published work.

alanakinarsky@gmail.com LinkedIn Google Scholar evaluationpolicy.com