About River City Research

Mason Burley, PhD, MPA — Founder and Principal

Mason Burley, PhD, MPA, has spent more than 25 years across the public, philanthropic, and technology sectors, leading and supporting multi-sector initiatives where evidence meets decisions. At the Washington State Institute for Public Policy, he produced the research that legislators use to weigh policy options. As Director of Research at Innovia Foundation, he saw from the funder’s side how evidence shapes grantmaking and community investment. As CEO of the civic research nonprofit Urbanova, he built data partnerships across public agencies, businesses, and community organizations. Across all three roles, the work has been the same: helping organizations use evidence not just to report results, but to learn, adapt, and collaborate more effectively.

Mason founded River City Research to help mission-driven organizations turn complex data into clear, actionable insight. He partners with nonprofits, public and tribal agencies, and funders on program evaluation, outcomes reporting, and the data systems behind them. He is especially focused on multi-year evidence building for funded and collaborative initiatives, where many partners need a shared, credible picture of what’s working.