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Actionable Insights, LLC
Location
San Jose, CA
Type
Program Design & Impact Evaluation
Languages
English, Spanish
Diverse Business Classification
Employees
4
Experience (years)
10
Experience (years) with Nonprofits
10
About
Actionable Insights, LLC helps nonprofit organizations discover and act on data-driven insights. Co-founded by Melanie Espino and Jen van Stelle, Ph.D., the firm specializes in professional research including community health assessments, program evaluation, data analysis, and strategic planning. We are known for our collaborative, client-centric, and practical approach.
Racial Equity Approach / Expertise
Actionable Insights is committed to advancing equity through inclusive, respectful, and community-centered research practices. We recognize the importance of cultural competence, fairness, and trust, particularly in communities historically excluded from research. Our key strategies include:
- Community Engagement: Build trust through warm introductions, active listening, and collaboration that centers community voices.
- Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness: Engage culturally competent staff and native speakers for translation and facilitation.
- Tailored Approaches: Partner with trusted community leaders to adapt methods and logistics to meet specific cultural needs.
- Inclusive Practices: Provide consent materials in preferred languages, offer appropriate incentives (e.g., cash, food, childcare), and share findings transparently.
- Equity Expertise: Leverage team members’ lived experience and formal equity training; use tools to identify and reduce bias in data.
- Actionable Outcomes: Collaborate with partners to address systemic issues like housing and food insecurity and support equity-driven community initiatives
This plan ensures that Actionable Insights conducts research that is equitable, respectful, and responsive to the needs of marginalized communities.
Pricing Details
Actionable Insights uses fee-based billing. Fee-based billing ensures that our clients
Client Examples or Testimonials
“Melanie and Jen are a pleasure to work with! Both women have extensive experience in research and data analysis, as well as helping organizations' make data-driven decisions. Their work crosses multiple sectors and services, from criminal justice, early education, veterans, seniors and health care. They are an asset to any organization.” Mariel Caballero, Violence Reduction Services Program Manager, Santa Clara County Juvenile Probation
“Melanie and Jen, the team at Actionable Insights, have been outstanding consultants and partners to work with. They have been valuable thought partners who always deliver high quality products but also have the confidence and conviction to push back when they believe the work would be better served through a different strategy. I greatly appreciate their rigor, thoroughness, warmth and patience and am thrilled to be working with them as they start their own consulting firm.” Dana Williamson, Community Health Impact, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
“Words that come to mind when I think about Actionable Insights include professional, responsive, quality and expert. Jen and Melanie know the right questions to ask to help the client gain clarity about their project ensuring an effortless process and exceptional deliverables." Sharon Keating-Beauregard, Stanford Health Care
“Actionable Insights are the most talented evaluators around. Jen worked diligently to tailor an evaluation plan that met our needs and fit our budget. She took care of everything from crafting the survey and assessment tools to collecting the data. Her ability to design, implement, and analyze data is beyond spectacular. Jen’s reports clearly lay out what we can do to improve, and because of this our internship program … has become better every summer. I have never met anyone who puts so much thoughtfulness and detail into their work. Jen is extremely organized, innovative and communicative. I would recommend her services highly to anyone and everyone looking for a competent evaluator.” Shannon Noonan, Gladstone Institutes