About Mighty Crow

What is Mighty Crow?

Technically, Mighty Crow is an Evaluation and Research company offering a wide suite of services meant to support and address the needs our evaluations reveal. We work with nonprofits, government organizations, and other entities to secure funding if needed, and then help them use what funds they have to do the most social good in the most efficient and effective ways.

But, a better way to put it is this: We help people who help other people.  And we try to help them in the ways they need it most. There’s never a one-size-fits-all answer. Cookie-cutter solutions are good for only one thing: cookies. After working with over 75 clients since 2012, we’ve learned that the best way to work is to slow down and understand everything we can about each client’s needs, capabilities, strengths, weaknesses, and ambitions. It’s rare for us to be “one and done” too. Usually, our first encounter leads to a multi-year collaboration on multiple projects.  

So yes, while our work centers on Evaluation Services, it seldom ends there. Whatever needs an evaluation reveals, we can help either directly or by referring you someone who can.  Either way, you’re never left confused and wondering at any stage. Crows would never leave the flock when they’re needed most; crows are loyal. That’s just how we roll.

Walking our Talk

It would be easy to just STATE our core values, but at Mighty Crow, we actually live them. Our team has worked in many of the fields we serve, giving us on-the-ground experience with those we are trying to help. Our flock also includes people who are in recovery from mental health and/or substance use disorders, people who identify as LGBTQ+, and people with lived experience in trauma and trauma survivorship. These experiences inform our interactions with others, the projects we undertake, and the work we do.   

In addition, we practice what we preach inside the company, the same way we do for clients. Our people (who we actually call “Crows”!) are our family: literally, in some cases. Our CEO Gretchen’s husband, mother, sister, and longtime friends and students comprise much of the flock. You can get to know more about the “flock” here.

We’re not just paying lip service to the idea of bonding and loyalty. While we’re taking care of our clients, we take good care of our own people, too. Our Crows work hard but are never over-worked — with flexible schedules, an extensive wellness program, and a constant vigilance to best align our team’s goals and passions with the work we do. 

Watch our blog and our social media for specific examples of what Mighty Crow culture entails and why this is such a great place to work! Plus, stay tuned for updates as we seek to become a Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace and a certified B-Corp.

In Flight Since 2011

When we started in a garage office in 2011, Mighty Crow initially provided grant writing and project management services to non-profits. Through experience, research, and no small amount of trial and error, we developed insightful processes for turning data into wisdom — which set us on the flight path to becoming the company we are today. 

In the years since, our team, skills, and client list have grown. Our “flock” now includes fourteen professionals with a wide a range of skills, all who share a goal of helping those who help others. Our team has expertise in social work, pharmacy, city and regional planning, information technology, data science, and communications. We’re led by three Ph.D.-level social workers, and our team of experts brings over 200 years of combined professional experience in our areas of focus.

Mighty Crow works across Ohio and Michigan, with further geographic expansion on the horizon. We provide program evaluation and research support, grant services, teaching and training services, project management, strategic planning, and more.   Our typical clients are state-level public organizations, county and city-level government agencies, non-profit organizations, and other entities.

In early 2024, we moved into our new “nest” - an office space designed to fit the needs of our growing and evolving team.

Why Crows?

One of the first questions we’re always asked is: Why did you name yourselves “Mighty Crow”?  

There are two answers. The first comes from our CFO, Jake Hammond, who saw a ship’s “crow’s nest” as the perfect metaphor for a holistic view: a vantage point able to consider the whole of a complex situation (like a grant-funded project) instead of just its parts.

The second is from a poem written by one of our flock, Michael Kocinski II, which features a character named “Keigh the Mighty Crow.” Jake, an avid birder, saw alignment with real crows and what the company already stood for. The two ideas combined, and the rest was history.  

Here are some things most people don’t know about crows:  

  • Crows are smart and can recognize faces, make and use tools, and navigate complicated situations. 

  • Crows are loyal and typically only have one mate their entire lives. 

  • Crows are very social. They often help one another. 

  • And tying into the “crow’s nest” metaphor, crows think holistically: they soar high in the air to see the big picture, then forage on the ground for details (and also bugs). 

At Mighty Crow, we like what we see in those smart black birds, so our work reflects many of their same characteristics. We build strong and trusting relationships with our clients, collaborate and cooperate rather than siloing our parts of the project away from the clients’ parts, and although we always work with “the big picture” in mind, we’re extremely capable with nuts-and-bolts, boots-on-the-ground work as well.  

Mighty Crow exists to reduce barriers for those who work to have a positive impact on their community. Too often great ideas are obstructed by red tape, a lack of resources, or a general misunderstanding about the world of social services. Our goal is to help organizations eliminate these impediments and focus on the important work that they do.