About
Moxie Research is dedicated to examining arts and cultural programs, assessing their impact on the people and communities they serve.
Our analyses give nonprofits much-needed insights to become more impactful and inclusive, take full advantage of community resources, work closely with granting and partner organizations, strategically tweak programs to make them even more effective, and fulfill their missions.
Measurement is one of the most important things humans do. We measure to delineate, clarify, and validate. We measure to confirm where we are now and where we are going. We measure to better understand the world around us.
But it is often challenging to precisely measure our environment when we consider experiences, emotions, and creative ideas. In addition, arts organizations must be culturally responsive to properly serve their diverse communities. Moxie provides a sophisticated toolbox to make sense of this complexity.
Our work is built on data, diverse points of view, and the lived human experience. As a result, we approach every project with humility, respect, and a sincere desire to learn from you and your community. Inclusivity is the single most direct path to success.
For nearly 20 years, Moxie has been a trusted partner, helping arts and culture organizations work smarter, more thoughtfully, and more efficiently. We exalt the arts and are driven to help them thrive.
We are client-focused and collaborative. We are active listeners. Learning is a two-way street, and we want to know what you’re up to.
Moxie Research is a woman-owned business and a California-certified Micro Business. We are small but mighty!
Moxie
/ˈmäksē/ noun
1. Energy
2. Determination
3. Know-how
— Merriam-Webster
Leadership
Patti Saraniero, EdD
I founded Moxie Research in 2004 to help arts organizations better understand their impact and effectiveness. Before that, I ran educational programs for La Jolla Playhouse and The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California. I started out in stage management, specializing in new play development at regional and off-Broadway theatres.
My deep knowledge and experience inside arts organizations give me insights into the many challenges they face. In addition, my national arts and culture network keeps me abreast of new trends, policies, and methods. I weave these together to meet each organization’s unique needs.
I have a doctorate in leadership studies from the University of San Diego, a master’s in child and family development, with a focus on the development of creativity in early adolescence, from San Diego State University and attended the Yale School of Drama.
Moxie Research recognizes that this is the ancestral and unceded territory of the Kumeyaay Nation, who have stewarded the land since time immemorial.