What progress have you made since your last update?

We've evaluated our work so far:

From mid-2023 to 2024, we worked with 27 organizations: 19 organizations received short-term support (up to 3 months) and 8 organizations received longer-term support (4+ months).

Together with the organizations, we've completed 31 MEL deliverables, including theories of change, monitoring frameworks, and data collection tools.

We have found that organizations will make meaningful changes based on MEL insights when they have adequate support and tools.

Among nine organizations we worked with extensively, we tracked 16 implemented changes to processes and programs and 13 changes that are still in progress:

• One group completely redesigned their meat reduction program after data showed their target audience was unlikely to change. This led to focusing on more receptive demographics.

• Another organization shifted significant resources to outreach after their theory of change analysis revealed it was a neglected but crucial component of their strategy.

• A third group eliminated leafleting from their program after reviewing evidence of its effectiveness.

Organizations reported that The Mission Motor’s hands-on guidance in data collection and interpretation helped enable these changes. As one of the supported organizations mentioned “MEL has been something we’ve wanted to do for a long time. The tailored, personal support from The Mission Motor has been huge. Having an expert's input at the start saved us so much time and helped us avoid reinventing the wheel.”

What are your next steps?

As next steps, we will try to tackle two main challenges identified:
1. MEL is perceived as complex and time consuming
2. Sustained impact will require systematic integration

Over 2025, we will invest in understanding these key challenges better. We'll be

• simplifying our MEL tools to make them more accessible while maintaining their effectiveness.

• exploring how AI can assist in streamlining our work.

• improving our internal MEL system to ensure consistent, high-quality support.

• developing a measurement tool to better track organizations' MEL development.

Is there anything others could help you with?
As we wrapped up some larger projects, we have capacity to support new animal advocacy organizations. Please check our website to see if what we offer matches your needs.

For 2025 almost two-third of our budget is filled. As we aim to support approximately 50 organizations with ad hoc requests (providing feedback and resources), and 42 organizations to develop MEL tools or (part of) a MEL system, we would welcome donations to fill our current funding gap, up to USD 116k.