Theories of Change

A theory of change describes a process of planned social change, from the assumptions that guide its design to the long-term goals it seeks to achieve. Grant makers who have created theories of change explain that having a theory helps them and their grantees draw logical connections between activities and outcomes. It helps them to articulate exactly what propositions and assumptions their work is testing — and therefore what they should be assessing in their evaluation plan.

This Content Collection features guides and examples for family foundations and others seeking to create a Theory of Change for their philanthropic strategies.

Please see the NCFP Content Collections on Systems Change and Strategic Philanthropy  for related information and resources.

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Mapping Change: Using a Theory of Change to Guide Planning and Evaluation

Report

This brief guide explains why grantmakers use theories of change to guide their questioning, unearth assumptions that underlie their work, establish common language, and develop strong action plans. Contributors to the guide also describe how a theory of change sets the stage for evaluation by clarifying goals, strategies, and milestones.

Theory of Change, Monitoring, and Evaluation: Understanding an Organization’s Activities, Outcomes, and Impact

Tool

Learn how to evaluate a nonprofit’s theory of change, or develop your own. Understanding an organization’s theory of change helps you make your own assessment of whether an organization has sound strategies for achieving your shared objectives. Whether or not an organization uses any particular term is unimportant. What matters…

Making Change Happen: Creating an Outcome-Based Strategy

Report

Planning for your philanthropic journey starts with identifying the destination. In other words, donors create their giving strategy by clearly stating the outcomes they want to see, then identify the specific actions that they believe will produce those outcomes.

How shortcuts cut us short: Cognitive traps in philanthropic decision making

Report

Cognitive traps can hinder any decision a foundation makes about its strategies. This includes how to construct a theory of change to address it, and which grantees are best suited to do the work. It also includes decisions made during implementation, such as whether strategy adjustments are needed or whether…

What Are Intended Impact and Theory of Change and How Can Nonprofits Use Them?

Report

Strategy is all about getting critical resource decisions right. But developing a clear, effective strategy can be a long process full of difficult tradeoffs. One way to smooth the path is to clarify your nonprofit’s intended impact and theory of change.

Moving Beyond Theories of Change: A Framework for Strategic Implementation

Report

This report reflects on the current state of philanthropic practice and points to a gap that frequently exists between lofty philanthropic ideas on the one hand and their implementation outside the boardroom on the other.

Case Study of the Tauck Family Foundation

February 12, 2015

Transformation, Transparency, and Ongoing Learning: Focusing Your Foundation’s Approach and Strategy

Hear the story of how one mid-sized family foundation created a new theory of change for its own grantmaking and shifted from a more traditional giving approach to a highly targeted social investing strategy. This webinar will take an in-depth look at the experiences and lessons learned of the Tauck…