Policy Evaluation & Design
We conduct rigorous assessments and develop innovative policy frameworks to address complex socioeconomic challenges and create practical pathways that improve access, enhance opportunity for all, and generate sustainable community outcomes.
The Knight Foundation engaged HR&A to evaluate their philanthropic investments in downtown revitalization across nine U.S. cities. Through comprehensive data collection and analysis, HR&A assessed the effectiveness of the Foundation’s priority grants, investigated the sustainability of supported organizations, and identified critical revitalization levers that could be applied to any city. This evaluation provided Knight Foundation with essential insights to guide future investment decisions and promote equitable economic development.
HR&A worked with the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation to analyze how population decline was affecting the Borough of Wilkinsburg and develop strategies to attract new development. Our fiscal analysis and recommendations informed critical consolidation discussions between the Borough and the City of Pittsburgh.
HR&A partnered with the Trinity Park Conservancy to develop an Equitable Development Toolkit that transforms a $150 million investment in Dallas's Harold Simmons Park into a catalyst for community opportunity. Through comprehensive analysis and stakeholder engagement, we created implementable strategies to ensure the 200-acre park connecting Downtown Dallas, West Dallas, and Oak Cliff strengthens neighborhoods while addressing systemic inequities.
