Theory of Change

One of the most important, but underutilized steps in moving toward a data driven results metric is listening. Both to the needs of the community your organization serves, and to the needs to the staff looking to provide better services.

A driver diagram illustrates a Theory of Change and can be used to plan improvement project activities. This technique provides a way of systematically laying out aspects of an improvement project so they can be discussed and agreed on collaboratively by the project team.

A case study of collective impact using a Theory of Change, created by Building Bright Futures, a child services organization in Vermont.

The Center for Theory of Change provides a solid definition of the Theory of Change and its critical importance to evidence gathering.