Illustrating your Theory of Change:
Templates & Worksheet
A theory of change diagram is a type of logic model that explicitly illustrates the causal
pathways between activities, outputs, outcomes, and objectives. There is no one way
to go about illustrating your theory of change. Theory of change diagrams may be
simple or complex, may be drawn on a flip chart, developed using sticky notes and
arrow stickers, or may be developed in a Word document. They may be horizontal,
vertical or circular.
The templates provided here may, however, provide a starting point for your team as
you begin the process of illustrating, and thereby clarifying, the theories of change
underlying your project or program. Because theory of change diagrams can be used
to develop logframes and/or indicator matrices as part of M&E plans, these templates
include 6 main components: inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and goals.
More complex theory of change diagrams may also include text boxes of different colors
and shapes that contain assumptions that should be monitored, notes related to
evidence or data that supports the rationale behind the project, or indicators (what the
team will measure to know that the objective, outcome, or output has been achieved).
The worksheet provided on Page 4 and META’s Tips for Developing Theories of
Change and Strong Proposals and are additional tools to support you in the process of
developing clear and useful theories of change. For more on logic models, see META’s
Tips for Using Logic Models to Improve Project Design, Monitoring and Evaluation.
META is funded through the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and
Families, Grant # 90RB0051-01-01. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views
or policies of the funders, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products or organizations imply
endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This resource may be duplicated
for noncommercial use without permission.
Theory of Change Diagram Template: Example 1
Inputs
ESL curriculum
2 staff with ESL certification
Activities
What are the main
things the project will
do/provide?
ESL training program
Classroom rental and
materials
Evidence-based, 6 session
job search training
curriculum
Job search skill training
program
Outputs
What sort of quantifiable,
immediate results will be
achieved?
Outcomes
What will occur as a direct
result of the activities &
immediate results?
60 employable male and
female refugee clients
attend the 12 session ESL
course with an attendance
rate of 75% or higher
1. Employable male and
female refugee clients
demonstrate English
language proficiency at the
low-intermediate level or
higher. (Target: 60)
60 male and female
graduates of the ESL
program complete job
search skills training
sessions with an
attendance rate of 83% or
higher.
2. Employable male and
female refugee clients have
basic job search skills.
(Target: 60)
Objectives
What results should follow
from the initial outcomes?
What do you ultimately
want to achieve within the
scope of your project?
Employable male and
female refugee clients have
stable employment earning
10$ per/hr. or more with
health benefits. (Target: 60)
Goal
What overall goal does
your project contribute to?
Refugees are self-sufficient
and integrated into their
communities
Theory of Change Diagram Template: Example 2
Goal: Refugees are economically self-sufficient
Inputs
Activities
Outputs
Short-Term
Outcomes
What are the main
things the project will
do/provide?
How many and what sort of
observable/ tangible results
will be achieved?
What will occur as a direct
result of the activities &
outputs? (typically, changes
in knowledge, skills,
attitudes)
ESL training program
60 male and female
refugee clients attend the
12 session ESL course with
an attendance rate of 75%
or higher
Employable male and
female refugee clients
demonstrate ESL
proficiency at the lowintermediate level or higher.
60 male and female
graduates of the ESL
program complete job
search skills training
sessions with an
attendance rate of 83% or
higher.
Employable male and
female refugee clients
demonstrate basic job
search skills.
Mid-Term
Outcomes
What results should follow
from the initial outcomes?
(typically changes in
behavior, policies, practice)
Evidence-based ESL
curriculum
2 staff with ESL certification
Classroom rental and
materials
Evidence-based, 6 session
job search training
curriculum
Job search skill training
program
Employable male and
female refugee clients
apply for jobs.
Objectives
What results should follow
from the initial outcomes?
(typically, changes in
broader conditions). What
do you ultimately want to
achieve within the scope of
your project?
Employable male and
female refugee clients have
stable employment earning
10$ per/hr. or more with
benefits
Theory of Change Diagram Template: Example 3
Goal
Refugees are economically self-sufficient
Employable male and
female refugee clients have
stable employment earning
10$ per/hr. or more with
health benefits.
Objectives
Outcomes
Employable male and
female refugee clients
demonstrate ESL
proficiency at the lowintermediate level or higher.
Employable male and
female refugee clients
demonstrate basic job
search skills.
Outputs
60 male and female
refugee clients attend the
12 session ESL course with
an attendance rate of 75%
or higher
60 male and female
graduates of the ESL
program complete job
search skills training
sessions with an
attendance rate of 83% or
higher.
Activities
ESL training program
Job search skill training
program
Worksheet to guide review of the project’s theory of change and support
development of M&E plans, project descriptions, and budgets:
1. What evidence or data is there that supports the need for this intervention or that provides
rationale for this approach?
2. Are any assumptions being made that if not met could derail the project and prevent us from
achieving the results we hope to see? If yes, what activities could we do to prevent this from
happening? Revise your theory of change diagram accordingly.
☐
☐
YES
NO
3. Is the project’s objective achievable within the timeframe and resources available for this project?
If not, revise the objective.
☐
☐
YES
NO
4. Summarize the project’s theory of change:
5. Is the project’s logic sound? If not, make the necessary revisions and test it again.
☐
☐
YES
NO
6.
What do we want to learn from this project? (Use your answers to guide your development of
your M&E plans, including your logframes and/or indicator matrices)
☐
Is the project on track and being implemented as planned?
☐
Are services delivered within the expected timeframe?
☐
Are services meeting the needs of clients?
☐
Are services accessible, including to women and girls?
☐
Is the program reaching the intended target population?
☐
Is the project achieving desired outputs, outcomes, and objectives?
☐
Are there any differences in outcomes for different populations (e.g women, girls, elderly,
people from particular nationalities or ethnic groups)?
☐
What is the impact of the project?
☐
Other: