Behavioral Science Research Institute

What Behavioral Science Research Institute does

Behavioral Science Research Institute (BSRI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 and repositioned in 2015 under new leadership to deliver mixed-methods evaluation, research, and data analytics services to public health and human services partners across South Florida. The organization operates as an independent evaluator for nonprofits, government agencies, healthcare providers, and foundations, with funding drawn from federal agencies (SAMHSA, CDC, Department of Education, HRSA, BJA), regional foundations (Miami Foundation, Children's Trust, Wells Fargo Foundation, Florida Housing Finance Corporation), and service fees on contracted projects. BSRI is proudly minority and women-led, headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida, with a team of 11-50 employees including a CEO (PhD), COO, Chief People Officer, Director of Data & Analytics (MSPH), and senior research staff with credentials spanning PhD, MSPH, MPH, MSW, and LCSW.

BSRI's core service offering is a unified evaluation and research practice built on three proprietary frameworks: the BSRI Model (a phased, rigorous approach to applied research), an Equity-Centered Evaluation Framework emphasizing co-creation and culturally responsive practice, and the 'Slowing Down the Scientific Method' framework developed with partner 1000 Feathers. The underlying technology is methodological rather than software-based, combining quantitative techniques (survey development, quasi-experimental design, statistical analysis) with qualitative methods (focus groups, stakeholder interviews, community listening sessions, site visits, fidelity checks, systems mapping, and community-based participatory approaches including photovoice). Supporting this practice is an Impact Hub publishing case studies, practical tools and resources, and reflective insights, plus a practicum/internship program hosted with Florida International University, University of Miami, Nova Southeastern University, and Barry University.

BSRI generates revenue through project-based professional services contracts, functioning as a grant-required independent evaluator for federal and foundation-funded programs. The go-to-market motion is community-led: engagements originate from existing relationships, referrals within the nonprofit and government sectors, and funder-mandated evaluation requirements. Distribution is regional (South Florida) with select multi-state engagements. Case studies span relationship education (READY4Life serving 2,243 youth across 35 sites), supportive housing (Coalition Lift pilot showing $27,292 average annual savings per person), drug court trauma-informed interventions, early childhood education (TCIT-U across 13 sites), and economic development (Miami Open for Business distributing $15.7 million to 476 small businesses).

Name

Behavioral Science Research Institute

Legal name

Behavioral Science Research Institute

Website

https://bsrinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Behavioral Science Research Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing mixed-methods evaluation, research, and data analytics services to nonprofits, government agencies, healthcare providers, and foundations in South Florida for federal and foundation grant compliance and program improvement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research & Evaluation Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Administration of Public Health Programs (923120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Program Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) (HLAJANAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Donor Coordination, Monitoring & Evaluation (MEL) Programs (BPADABAN)

Keywords

• Program evaluation services
• Mixed methods research
• Community based evaluation
• Grant compliance evaluation
• Public health research

Headquarters

HQ city

Coral Gables

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Federal Grant Evaluation Contracts: BSRI serves as an independent evaluator for organizations receiving federal funding from agencies including SAMHSA, CDC, DOE, HRSA, and BJA. Services include evaluation reporting that meets federal grant standards.
2. Foundation-Funded Evaluation: Contracted evaluation services for foundation-funded initiatives including programs from The Miami Foundation, The Children's Trust, and other regional foundations.
3. Program Evaluation Services: Comprehensive evaluation and research services for nonprofits, government agencies, and community organizations including evaluation reporting, pathway mapping, program strengthening, and data infrastructure building.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Behavioral Science Research Institute (BSRI) provides mixed-methods evaluation, research, and data analytics services for public health and community-focused programs. The organization serves as an independent evaluator for nonprofits, government agencies, and foundations, delivering evaluation reporting that meets federal grant standards, pathway mapping, program strengthening, and data infrastructure development. Its work is delivered through the proprietary BSRI Model, a phased methodology developed over a decade of community partnership.

Product overview

BSRI is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing evaluation and research services as a single unified offering. The core Evaluation and Research Services product encompasses evaluation reporting, program mapping, organizational strengthening, and data infrastructure building. Supporting this core are several sub-brands: the Impact Hub provides access to Case Studies (documented evaluation work across justice, housing, education, health, and equity), Tools & Resources (practical frameworks and templates for grant reporting and evaluation partnerships), and Inside BSRI (reflections from practice). The BSRI Model provides the methodological framework, and the Practicum/Internship Program builds pipeline talent. Together, these components form a comprehensive evaluation and research service organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Evaluation and Research Services Comprehensive mixed-methods evaluation and research services including evaluation reporting that meets federal grant standards, mapping pathways between organizational activities and intended impact, strengthening organizations to evaluate their own programs, building program and data infrastructure, and supporting funders with data-driven resource allocation. Designed for nonprofits, government agencies, and foundations.

Quantifiable outcome

• $27,292 average annual savings per person to publicly funded systems
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Miami FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Lead evaluation partner for Miami Open for Business, a $20 million initiative to build generational wealth among historically underinvested small businesses. BSRI co-designed an equity-informed, developmental evaluation strategy with The Miami Foundation and developed metrics infrastructure, data collection tools, and biannual learning briefs.
• MathematicaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch organization partnered on READY4Life evaluation alongside BSRI for Hope for Miami's five-year program serving 2,243 youth across Miami-Dade.
• Sostento, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperational lead for HelplineSOS, partnering with BSRI as evaluation partner to design and evaluate a decentralized telephonic triage system across charitable clinics in Georgia, Texas, and Minnesota.
• Citrus Health Network, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead organization for TCIT-U implementation, partnering with BSRI as research partner to evaluate whether Teacher-Child Interaction Training-Universal was effective in Miami-Dade's diverse early learning settings.
• University of South Florida Policy & Services Research Data CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner providing data center resources and research expertise for Coalition Lift evaluation analyzing cost and outcome data.
• Jackson Health SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare system partner providing data and analysis for Coalition Lift evaluation measuring health cost savings from permanent supportive housing.
• National Center for State CourtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization partnered on drug court evaluation, sharing resulting publications nationally and internationally as a model for trauma-informed justice innovation alongside SAMHSA.
• Miami-Dade County Adult Drug CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient and partner for trauma-informed interventions pilot evaluation. Findings helped secure and sustain the court's third consecutive five-year funding cycle through 2029.
• Better Way MiamiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTreatment provider partner in the Miami-Dade Adult Drug Court trauma-informed interventions pilot.
• Miami-Dade County Community Action and Human Services (DATP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner in the Miami-Dade Adult Drug Court trauma-informed interventions pilot.
• 1000 FeathersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored 'Slowing Down the Scientific Method' white paper with BSRI, exploring how slowing down the scientific method can better support equity-centered evaluation and participatory practice in community settings.
• Partner for Self EmploymentminorOthersTechnical assistance provider partner in Miami Open for Business initiative, providing hands-on guidance and business development support to small businesses alongside financial products.
• Miami-Dade County Homeless TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner in Coalition Lift Permanent Supportive Housing pilot, contributing to multi-agency governance overseeing implementation.
• Hope for MiamicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit client and partner for five-year READY4Life evaluation, serving 2,243 young people ages 14-24 across 35 Miami-Dade sites with relationship education programming.
• Thriving Minds of South FloridaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner providing data and expertise for Coalition Lift evaluation.
• Small Business Owners and Nonprofits (Miami-Dade)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram participants in Miami Open for Business, providing feedback through interviews, focus groups, and Photovoice storytelling processes that informed evaluation findings.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• RAND Corporation: RAND is a major nonprofit research institution conducting policy analysis and program evaluation across health, education, justice, and social policy. Its public health and social program evaluation practice competes for many of the same federal contracts as BSRI, though at substantially larger scale.
• RTI International: RTI International is a large nonprofit research institute providing science-based research, evaluation, and technical services to government and commercial clients. Its social sciences, health, and education evaluation practice serves many of the same federal funders as BSRI.
• Urban Institute: Urban Institute is a major Washington, D.C.-based research organization that studies social and economic policy, including health, housing, and community development programs. It conducts large-scale program evaluations for federal, state, and foundation clients that overlap with BSRI's housing, health, and economic equity portfolio.
• Westat: Westat is a large employee-owned research firm that provides statistical research, evaluation, and survey services to federal, state, and foundation clients. Its program evaluation and survey research capabilities in health and social services directly overlap with BSRI's portfolio.
• NORC at the University of Chicago: NORC is an independent research organization affiliated with the University of Chicago conducting program evaluation, survey research, and policy analysis for federal agencies and foundations. Its health and social services evaluation work competes directly with BSRI on federal grant evaluations.
• American Institutes for Research (AIR): AIR is one of the largest U.S. behavioral and social science research organizations, conducting program evaluation and policy research for federal agencies, foundations, and states. Its portfolio in education, health, and justice mirrors BSRI's multi-sector evaluation work, though at much larger scale.
• Mathematica: Mathematica is a large national research and evaluation firm conducting social policy, health, education, and program evaluations for federal agencies and foundations. It directly competed alongside BSRI on the READY4Life evaluation and operates as the leading independent evaluator for major federal social programs.

Direct peers

• Equal Measure: Equal Measure is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit evaluation and research firm that provides program evaluation, research, and learning services to foundations, nonprofits, and government agencies. Like BSRI, it focuses on equity-centered, mixed-methods evaluation for community-serving programs and operates as an independent evaluator for grant-funded initiatives.
• Cohort ESJ: Cohort ESJ is a small evaluation and consulting firm specializing in equity, social justice, and community-based program evaluation for nonprofits and government agencies. Its mission and methodology closely mirror BSRI's equity-centered, mixed-methods approach to serving mission-driven clients.
• The Improve Group: The Improve Group is an independent evaluation and research firm based in Minneapolis that provides evaluation, research, and consulting services to nonprofits, foundations, and government agencies. It shares BSRI's mixed-methods, equity-focused, community-engaged approach and serves as an independent evaluator for grant-funded programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Behavioral Science Research Institute