Developing third-party evaluation has become a new means of social service and an important measure to promote service-oriented government, renovate social governance and strengthen social construction. Based on an analysis of the logical bases of third-party evaluation, this article examines the functions of and mechanisms behind the involvement of learned societies in third-party evaluation after they have assumed transferred governmental functions. The analysis aims to advance third-party evaluation. Noting developments in innovation, coordination, green awareness, openness and sharing, and targeting current problems, the article presents a path to improving the involvement of learned societies in third-party evaluation so as to improve China’s S&T management level.