Who we are
We care about you, those you serve, and the success of your project!
Meet Our Team
Our combined expertise provides added value to your program evaluation or grant-funded work.
Lauren McClain, Ph.D.
Co-Owner, CEO, and Principal Consultant
Angelika Gulbis, Ph.D.
Co-Owner and Principal Consultant
Dr. Lauren McClain and Dr. Angelika Gulbis stand at the intersection of education and social impact, with the goal of supporting educational and workforce development for all to create a better society.
Drs. McClain and Gulbis are the co-founders of Grantibly. They are members of the American Evaluation Association and have expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods and data analysis, IRB leadership, and program evaluation. Both have a strong commitment to customer service and building trusting and collaborative relationships with clients. They have worked to evaluate projects in the areas of K-12 education, higher education, workforce development, and health through funders such as the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, state governments, nonprofits, and private foundations.
They are passionate leaders determined to make a significant impact. Their unique blend of experience in higher education and evaluation and research skills ensures that our company is uniquely positioned to help our clients “do MORE good” for those they serve.
Dr. McClain spent 14 years as a faculty member, first at Savannah State University and then at Western Kentucky University. Her tenure in academia was marked by significant achievements, including teaching over 50 social research method courses, mentoring over 21 thesis and dissertation committees, leading service learning projects, and serving on three Institutional Review Boards. These experiences have equipped her with unparalleled insights into the practical applications of research and evaluation in real-world settings. For her efforts, she has earned numerous awards.
Dr. Gulbis is a faculty member at Madison Area Technical College with expertise in family studies, healthy relationships, and leadership. She is dedicated to fostering an educational environment helps to prepare students for their futures and teaches them to engage thoughtfully about the world they live in.
Drs. McClain and Gulbis’s dual expertise as educators and entrepreneurs are guided by the vision to empower individuals and organizations to create opportunities for bright and prosperous futures for all.
We'd love to hear from you!
How We Are Different
Building a supportive relationship with our clients is our main goal. We want to earn your trust and we want you to know that we have your best interest at heart.
Your experience with us is shaped by you. We can offer hands-off support where we work independently and contact you as needed or we can provide a more personal experience, with support and coaching from the grant writing stage until you’ve finished your funding period…and just about anything in between!
Our Combined Experience and Skills
- Creativity in project design
- Expertise and experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods and analysis
- Experience with the grant funding and peer review publication processes
- Evaluations of university, community college programs, and non-profit organizations or programs
- Strong customer service skills with a focus on collaboration
- University and Community College teaching experience
We bring a variety of experience, skills, and expertise to your project, with a personal, caring touch.
"As an educator known for being overly critical of my own work, what I appreciated the most about Grantibly was having an outsider's perspective of Life Literacy's pilot program. The constructive criticism provided by Grantibly is what made it possible for me to modify the program and get it ready for the full launch in September of 2023. I am more confident about my own program now than when I first started."
Audie Wood, Founder and CEO of Life Literacy Education