University of California, Davis researchers evaluated the Sierra Health Foundation's REACH Youth Development Program from 2007-2010. As the centerpiece of an $8 million youth development strategy, REACH engaged youth with adults in seven coalitions to plan and implement community change strategies. Interim and final evaluation reports helped inform ongoing foundation discussion about its youth grantmaking strategy. Evaluation team and foundation representatives discuss key factors that enabled a strong connection between the evaluation and strategy deliberations, including: 1) an evaluation design that included questions about foundation strategy; 2) extensive fieldwork that uncovered data relevant to strategy; 3) intentional efforts by the evaluators to pose strategy questions, rather than simply reporting outcomes; 4) evaluator knowledge of the regional context, and 5) a close working relationship between the evaluation team and foundation staff, facilitating adaptation both during and after the evaluation. #Non-ProfitsandFoundationsEvaluation #2011Conference #YouthFocusedEvaluation