Theory of Change
& Logic Model
Design
Toni Wiley and Tanya A. Hills
Capacity Building Program
Three-Day Training
February 18-20, 2015
Orlando, Florida
Benefits of Use
Clear, concise and consistent communication with
staff, BOD, donors, media outlets and the
community
More clearly express the mission of NJTL
Establish alignment between staff and BOD
Establish community buy-in for NJTL as a youth
development program – not just tennis.
3
Theory of Change
A Theory of Change
is a specific and
measurable
description of a
social change
initiative that forms
the basis for
strategic planning,
on-going decisionmaking and
evaluation.
-Center for Theory of Change, 2013
4
Theory of Change
Assumption: there is a condition we want to
change/achieve
For example:
Low literacy levels among adults
Hunger in our community
Significant pedestrian accidents
Etc.
5
Theory of Change
Our Starting Assumptions:
NJTL participants will have better
graduation rates because…
NJTL participants will be better
prepared for success in
school/college/life because…
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Social Change is a Process
Turning a ship, not flipping a switch
Example:
Literacy rates will not improve overnight.
We ask:
What is my starting point?
What steps do I take to move my
community towards literacy?
How do I know these steps will/are working?
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Social Change is a Process
Turning a ship, not flipping a switch
To improve literacy rates in young adults,
we could:
Focus on young adults
Start with high school students
Intervene in middle school
Create a family based initiative, etc.
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Sportsman’s
“Using tennis as a vehicle to open doors
of opportunity for inner city youth.”
How?
This is not a theory of change, it’s a
slogan.
Theory of Change
Building blocks
required to bring about
a long-term goal.
A causal pathway from
here to there
What you want to
achieve (TOC)vs. what
you are doing
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Sportsman’s
“Using tennis as a vehicle to open doors of
opportunity for inner city youth.”
How?
Character
Education
Graduation
Health
NJTL Theory of Change
Building blocks required
to bring about a longterm goal: Tennis,
Health, Education and
Life Skills
A causal pathway from
here to there
Graduation, College,
etc.
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Sportsmen’s Theory of Change
Low-Income youth and young
adults who reside or attend school
in STC neighborhoods
Sportsmen’s
Tennis Club
PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY
THROUGH
TENNIS
ACADEMIC
ENRICHMENT
&
SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
TOOLS
Structured, small group instruction;
Trained staff; Teaching styles that
match learning styles; Skill
inventories; Fun
ENVIRONMENT/CULTURE
Belief in all students’ ability to
learn & improve; High
expectations; Sense of
community; Abundance of role
models
GUIDANCE
Coach/tutor/mentor/ teacher
relationship; Learning how to
learn; Emphasis on
improvement; Relationship with
others in small group
Complete
High School
Pursue Post
Secondary
Education
Live Healthy,
Active Lifestyles
Be contributing
members of
their community
When to Use a TOC
Choosing your program offerings. Programs should help
you execute your theory of change.
Secure funding and partners. If a funder supports
education, you can’t ask for funding for tennis.
Develop a plan for success.
Evaluate outcomes at the appropriate time and in the
right sequence. How do you prove along the way that
you’re on track.
Identify or explain exactly why an initiative was successful
or unsuccessful. Poor plan, or poor execution?
-Clark and Anderson, 2004
TOC Model
-Clark and Anderson, 2004
TOC Example
http://www.theoryofchange.org/wpcontent/uploads/toco_library/pdf/Fiver
ChildrensFoundationTheoryofChangea
ndNarrative.pdf
-Center for Theory of Change, 2013
Questions
TOC Elevator Speech
Similarities Summary
Summarize a complex theory or program into
basic parts
Illustrate your work; make it tangible
Communicate with a diverse range of audiences
Build buy-in for your organization or program
Show the impact of your organization
Differences Summary
Theories of Change
Starts with “What do we want to
achieve”
Broad
Organization Level
Strategic Thinking
Illustration of “How” and “Why”
Change Occurs
Explanatory: Requires Justification
Evidence or Indicators of Success are
Defined
Logic Models
Starts with “ What do we do”
Specific
Programmatic Level
List of Components
Illustration of Program Components
Descriptive: Identifies Program
Components
No Evidence or Indicators of Success
are Required
Logic Model
Graphic illustration of
the key components of
a program
What you do, how you
do it and why you do it
What you are doing vs.
what you want to
achieve
When to Use a Logic Model
Describe a program or initiative at a glance; give
someone a basic understanding of your program or
initiative
Demonstrate you have identified the basic
components of your program/initiative
Provide details on the inputs, outputs and
outcomes for your work
-Clark and Anderson, 2004
Capacity Building Program
Logic Model
What we are doing:
community assessments
targeted training and technical assistance
promising tennis and education programs
curricula
capacity building grants
What we want to achieve:
deliver results-based tennis and education programs
serve a greater number of constituents
achieve higher levels of saturation
reach a broader more diverse population
attain sustainability
efficiently and effectively achieve their mission
Logic Model Example
Questions
Logic Model Elevator Speech
Activity One
As a table:
Describe the benefits of having/using a
Theory of Change and a Logic Model
Describe the different audiences that they
can be used with
Are the benefits to each audience
different, the same or a bit of both?
Activity Two
Make a list of the different
components of a logic model in
your workbook
Define/describe each component
as a table
Activity Three
In your workbook, make a list of the
types of information you need in order
to develop your logic model
In your workbook, make a list of the
individuals that will be included in the
development of your logic model(s);
how will they inform the process?
Discuss your lists and rational in pairs
Activity Four
In your workbook, develop a list of
specific local organization and
individuals you will share your logic
model with
In pairs, discuss which components
of the model you will emphasize for
each organization/individual
Develop a Draft Logic Model
Presentations
In three minutes or less:
Define a Logic Model: what it is, the
process, who is involved, etc.
Present your draft logic model
Describe a key take away from this
course
Deliverable
Due June 1, 2015:
Internalize the logic model within your
organization
Incorporate Theory of Change language
into grants, mission statement, etc.
Submit to your to Tanya A. Hills a draft
logic model for your organization
Questions
References
Clark, H. & Anderson, A. (2004) Theories of Change and Logic Models:
Telling Them Apart, http://www.theoryofchange.org/wpcontent/uploads/toco_library/pdf/TOCs_and_Logic_Models_forAEA
.pdf
Theory of Change Center, Inc., 2013, http://www.theoryofchange.org/