CUOC Now Accepting Proposals: Evaluation Partner for The Changemaker Fund

The Connecticut Urban Opportunity Collaborative (CUOC) is seeking a research and evaluation partner to help deepen our understanding of what happens when residents—not programs—direct their own financial decisions.

We’re launching a formal evaluation of The Changemaker Fund, a three-year direct cash assistance pilot providing flexible monthly support to 120 residents across Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven. This work goes beyond measuring outputs; it asks bigger, structural questions about stability, agency, economic mobility, and the conditions that help families thrive.

What We’re Looking For

CUOC is inviting proposals from teams with:

• Strong qualitative research expertise
• Experience with community-driven or participatory evaluation
• A demonstrated ability to translate findings into real-world policy and systems recommendations
• If your team prioritizes lived experience, values collaborative learning, and knows how to turn insights into action, we want to hear from you.

Submission Deadline:
November 25, 2025, by 5:00 PM EST

Learn More & Apply
Click here to download the full RFQ and submission details.

Additional Resources

• Example of a similar evaluation
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Overview of The Changemaker Fund

This evaluation is an opportunity to help shape a future where financial power sits with people and communities—not systems.

The Connecticut Urban Opportunity Collaborative (CUOC) is a partnership between Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.