About Us
Research and strategy for better futures
Kohli+Associates helps nonprofits and foundations make better decisions about complex social challenges. We bring PhD-level research, systems thinking, and participatory design to the questions that matter most.
How We Work
Research first. Strategy with purpose. Learning throughout.
We start by understanding the context, examining evidence, and listening to the people closest to the issue. We then work collaboratively with clients and stakeholders to translate those insights into practical strategies, program designs, and evaluation approaches.
Our work is designed to help organizations move beyond isolated activities toward informed decisions, continuous learning, and stronger outcomes.
What Guides Our Work
Research with rigor.
We bring scholarly depth, critical thinking, and evidence-based methods to complex social challenges. We believe better decisions begin with asking the right questions, examining assumptions, and understanding what the evidence reveals.
Think in systems.
Social challenges rarely exist in isolation. We look at the relationships among people, programs, organizations, and broader systems to understand what shapes outcomes and where change can make a difference.
Design with people, not just for them.
The people closest to a challenge hold essential knowledge about its causes and potential solutions. We use participatory approaches that make space for diverse perspectives, encourage shared ownership, and strengthen collective decision-making.
Turn insight into action.
Research matters when it informs decisions and improves practice. We work collaboratively to translate complex findings into practical strategies, stronger programs, and meaningful opportunities for learning and adaptation.
Our Team
Scholarship Meets Practice
Kohli+Associates brings together scholarly inquiry and practical experience to help mission-driven organizations navigate complex challenges. Our work draws on experience in higher education, nonprofit leadership, international education and accreditation, program development, and organizational learning.
We apply the research methods, analytical depth, and critical thinking associated with doctoral-level scholarship to real-world organizational questions. This means looking beyond surface-level symptoms, examining the evidence, understanding the broader context, and developing strategies grounded in the realities organizations face.
Our interdisciplinary background allows us to connect research with strategy, program design, evaluation, and learning. We partner with clients to make sense of complex information, build shared understanding, and identify actionable paths forward.
President & Principal Consultant
Research, Strategy & Grants
Kristina Knowles, PhD
Contract Consultant
Research & Grants