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

Contributing Organization(s): Ford Foundation


Author(s)/Creator(s): Anne Mackinnon; Natasha Amott; Craig McGarvey

Publishing Date: 2006-10-01

Issue Areas: Nonprofits and Philanthropy

Ownership/Rights Info: Copyright 2006 GrantCraft. All rights reserved.

Access Note: A brief one-time registration is required to download a PDF of this guide. The guide is also available for purchase through GrantCraft's online store: http://www.grantcraft.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewPage&pageID;=1085

Available at: http://www.grantcraft.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewpage&pageid;=808
"What are we doing, and why do we think it's going to make a difference? Are we being effective?" Grantmakers ask evaluation questions like these of their grantees and themselves. 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. This guide includes sections on: what a theory of change looks like; theory of change vs. logic model; and a mini-case study involving theory of change and strategic planning. This guide is part of GrantCraft's series on evaluation techniques.

Access this research:

Access Note: A brief one-time registration is required to download a PDF of this guide. The guide is also available for purchase through GrantCraft's online store: http://www.grantcraft.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewPage&pageID;=1085

Available at: http://www.grantcraft.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.viewpage&pageid;=808
Intended Audience: Advocates; College/University Professors; General Public; Researchers

Type/Format: CaseStudy; Evaluation; Whitepaper

Language code: English

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