Populi

See our work

the Social Sector .

Talk to a MEL advisor

Data and Evidence for

Build the data and evidence you need to learn, scale, and showcase your impact.

Building structured

systems that support

effective monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL)

We are a development advisory firm that partners with foundations, donors, and mission-driven organisations to strengthen the effectiveness of social impact initiatives.

We specialize in building data and evidence systems that power decision-making, surface what works, and support real-time course correction.

our Clients

case study

How Saturday Art Class strengthened evidence for Arts-Based SEL

Populi partnered with Saturday Art Class to evaluate the impact of its arts-based Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program. Through a mixed-methods study including performance tasks, observations, interviews, and student work analysis, we documented meaningful shifts in students’ confidence, emotional awareness, collaboration, and classroom engagement. An evidence-map and literature review built a strong advocacy narrative for arts education. The insights enabled SArC to refine its program design, and communicate its impact to funders and stakeholders with greater clarity and credibility.

Read the Impact report

Review our learnings

Find out what we do

Discover our range of services from strategic planning to evaluation expertise. We offer tailored solutions empowering your cause for lasting impact.

Meet our team

Get to know the individuals driving our firm, each bringing expertise and a shared commitment to creating meaningful impact.

Explore our work

Discover our impactful projects, showcasing our collaboration with organizations to create lasting change in communities.

Our values

What sets us apart

Systems perspective

We understand the intricate dynamics of social change. Our approach integrates programs within broader systems, ensuring strategies are impactful, scalable and system- aware.

Evidence that is actionable

We translate data into real-time learning, decision-making, and strategic pivots for organizations. We specialize in designing evaluations that spark decisions.

Lean and right-sized for every organization

We meet our partners where they are and embark on a journey of growth together. Whether it’s a grassroots nonprofit or a large CSR team, Populi builds stage-appropriate, lean M&E systems that they can confidently use.

Collaborative partnership

We offer more than expertise; we bring a committed thought partnership to the table. Our human-centered and equity-driven approach respects context, values local knowledge, and builds strong ownership within client teams.

our services

Wherever you are on your journey towards meaningful impact, we will meet you there.

Monitoring And Evaluation Systems

MEL Framework Design
Theory of Change Development
Outcome Frameworks
Monitoring System Design
Data Collection Tools
Real-time Feedback Loops

Evaluation And Insights

Impact Evaluations
Process Evaluations
Developmental Evaluations
Portfolio Evaluations
Data Analysis & Interpretation
Data Visualization
Learning Agendas

Strategic Guidance & Design

Needs Assessments
Evidence Reviews
Context Analysis
Strategic Data Use
Grantmaking Strategy
Program Design

Fractional M&E Head

Populi’s Fractional M&E Head model gives nonprofits access to senior MEL leadership without the cost or complexity of a full-time hire. Through a flexible engagement of 12–20 hours per month, we help organisations

Build clarity on outcomes
Strengthen MEL systems
Develop indicators and logframes
Streamline data processes
Facilitate learning reviews
Build team capacity.

Ideal for organisations seeking to improve program quality, strengthen evidence for fundraising, or enter new geographies, this model offers strategic MEL expertise that integrates seamlessly into your existing team and supports you in embedding a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

Testimonials: Hear What Others Have to Say

“ Working with Populi was a game-changer for Saturday Art Class. We partnered with them to conduct an independent impact assessment of our flagship Art Labs program, and the experience exceeded our expectations. From the very beginning, the Populi team brought a deep understanding of both the education landscape and the nuances of arts-based interventions. Their evaluation expertise and rigorous oversight ensured that every step was grounded in integrity, quality, and contextual sensitivity. What stood out most was their ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights. The team was thoughtful, collaborative, and deeply invested in understanding our goals. Thanks to Populi, we now have a compelling case for why art belongs in every Indian classroom backed by rigorous evidence and real stories from the ground. I would wholeheartedly recommend Populi to any organization looking to understand their impact, sharpen their strategy, or build stronger data and evidence systems.”

CEO, Saturday Art Class

Manasi Mehan

Working with Populi on our fundraising program evaluation was a great experience. They invested significant time to understand our context and needs and worked actively with us to ensure that the final report was a fair and authentic reflection of our work. We particularly appreciated their openness to feedback and commitment to delivering the best quality at all stages of the project. We’re confident this report will have a lasting impact on our Centre of Excellence for Fundraising and strengthen our work with fundraisers across the Indian nonprofit sector. We highly recommend Populi for their professionalism, expertise, and dedication.

ILSS Centre of Excellence- Fundraising

Nikita Gupta,Lead

Populi's exceptional services have played a vital role in optimizing Educate Girls' performance and impact. Populi has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence in every aspect of their work. What truly sets Populi apart is their collaborative mindset and willingness to go the extra mile.

Foundation to Educate Girls Globally

Maharshi Vaishnav, CEO

We really appreciate the diligence and comprehensiveness with which Populi approached our impact study. The documentation was authentic and gave a lot of insights for us to celebrate and act upon in the future. Highly recommend Populi for their research and impact assessment work .

i-Saksham Education and Learning Foundation

Ravi Dhanuka, Co-Founder and Director,

our team

Uniting for meaningful impact

Our diverse and dedicated team brings together a wealth of expertise, passion, and innovation. Committed to the core values of excellence, collaboration, and integrity, each member plays a vital role in our mission to empower organizations for meaningful impact.

Payal Jain

Co-Founder and CEO

Ronak Jain

Co-Founder and COO

Varna Sri Raman

Senior Consultant

Sidhi Goyal

MEL Consultant

OUR ADVISORS

Santana Khurana

Chief Advisor

Dhwani Shah

Advisor

Prajna Hegde