17: Crossroads of Influence: Equitable Evaluation in 2025

We are in a time when evaluators’ ethical and professional standards are being significantly tested. Good evaluation practices call us to work that will advance the common good, including addressing historic and systemic inequities. Evaluators are being tested by requests to censor or rework language, reframe system or structural contexts, and ignore differences in experiences among groups of people. We want to talk with colleagues about how we are responding to this moment: When do we stay engaged and try to influence? When is some reframing acceptable and when is it not? When should we refuse to continue and what are the ripple effects of that decision? Evaluators exist in a position of power, interfacing with public agencies and funders who have influence. In this session, we want to share perspectives and strategies that acknowledge this power, our choice points, and how we uphold our professional standards in this climate.