Most human service nonprofits have at least heard of a logic model and have most likely created one for a grant application. A logic model is a visual way of explaining your theory of change. United Way of America popularized the logic model process in 1996. A logic model should be more than just a step in writing a grant application—it can and should be useful to your organization.

The basic idea of ​​a logic model is to show the relationships between inputs and outputs, as well as intermediate activities, outputs, and environment, of a program or intervention. At the lowest level, it shows your program’s theory of change: if we provide these resources, then we can do these activities. If our population participates in these activities, then these results will occur. If all of these things happen, our theory says that this outcome (or change) will happen in our community or for our participants. By visually drawing these relationships, we must recognize the assumptions we make about the connections between our activities and the expected results.

Since the primary purpose of the logic model is to express a program’s theory of change, a common process is to start with the desired results and work backwards. For example, if an organization wants to change Problem X in the community, the planning team might say, “What needs to happen for Problem X to change?” Continuing to ask what each previous step would change or impact will help your team focus on outcomes rather than activities.

One of the common mistakes when creating a logic model is to confuse outputs with results. Outputs are the programs or services an organization provides, while outcomes are the difference those programs and services have made in our community. Here are some examples:

Output: pantry with evening hours. Result: the person who has a low-paying job has dinner today.

Departure: Free baby car seats and installation assistance. Result: keep a child safe in the car.

Output: City public works department project design and number of potholes repaired. Result: better traffic flow, shorter travel times and fewer accidents.

As you can see, what really matters to us is the result. Since results can be difficult to measure and we assume the link between our products and the result is obvious, it is easy to focus on activities and products instead of results. Using a logic model process can help.

Because some funding agencies require logic models in a certain visual format, teams can get stuck on fitting ideas into logic model boxes instead of focusing on the modeling process itself. One of the best ways we’ve seen to help a team through this process is for the team to use a white board and sticky notes to easily change headings and the order of ideas. You can start by dividing the whiteboard into four columns (inputs, activities, outputs, and results), then have team members write ideas on sticky notes that are placed in the columns. Team members, or a facilitator, can draw arrows, rearrange notes, and add new columns or charts, even working over multiple days.

Once your team has reached a consensus on your theory of change, you can put it into a visual format. He might even end up with multiple models. For example, a general model and then more detailed models for specific programs. Below are just a few examples of what his model would look like. The template most nonprofits are familiar with is the United Way.

Sometimes a flowchart logic model visually explains your theory of change more fully.

In recent years, we have also seen network analysis style diagrams being used to visually express logic models. The American Evaluation Association website is a good place to learn more about current discussions and best practices in logic modeling.

Large donors like the United Way, the WK Kellogg Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourage nonprofits to use logic models for more than grant applications. Some of the most common uses suggested by these funding agencies are:

• Program Planning
• Development of implementations
• Dissemination of information to employees and partners.
• Identify your underlying beliefs and assumptions
• Provide a framework for team conversation and understanding.
• Make sure evaluations focus on the most important parts of the program.

Once you’ve mapped your theory of change on the team whiteboard, it’s time to create the visual. If creating the logic model for a grant application, the donor may provide a template in MS Word, MS Excel, or other format. Otherwise, United Way provides templates in MS Word and Excel. If you want something a little fancier, or a visual flowchart or network analysis, you can use a free or low-cost diagramming tool like Draw.io or LucidChart (both of which earned high marks from PC Magazine in 2016).

Logic models can be powerful tools when used by a nonprofit organization to communicate the theory of change behind program decisions. While creating one can be a daunting task, there are plenty of resources to help. See further reading below.

Further reading:

We suggest the following classics, which you can find at your local grant library or online.

United Way of America. (nineteen ninety six). Measuring Program Outcomes: A Practical Approach.

Arlington, VA.

W.K. Kellogg Foundation (2004). Logic Model Development Guide. Battle Creek, MI.

US Department of Health and Human Services (2005). Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention. Office of the Director, Office of Strategy and Innovation. Introduction to program evaluation for public health programs: a self-study guide. Atlanta Georgia.

Ellen Taylor-Powell and Ellen Henert, University of Wisconsin Extension (2008). Development of a logic model: educational and training guide. Madison, WI.

The American Evaluation Association has multiple publications on logic models.