Creating a Logic Model

A Quick Little How To Guide on This Powerful Tool

A couple of weeks ago, we spent some time talking about Logic Models and a few folks actually wanted to know if I could provide a small guide on how to create one. Absolutely!

Creating a logic model for any size nonprofit can help clarify how your organization’s activities lead to desired outcomes. A logic model visually represents the resources, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impact of your organization’s work. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating one:

Step 1: Define the Purpose

• Identify the Goals: Clearly articulate what you aim to achieve. This includes the short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals.

• Involve Stakeholders: Engage board members, staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries in the process to gather diverse perspectives.

Step 2: Identify Inputs

• Resources: List all the resources your organization has available to achieve its goals. This can include funding, staff, volunteers, equipment, and partnerships.

Step 3: Outline Activities

• Programs and Services: Detail the specific actions or activities your nonprofit will undertake. This might include workshops, training sessions, community events, or advocacy efforts.

Step 4: Determine Outputs

• Direct Results: Identify the immediate, tangible products or services resulting from your activities. For example, the number of workshops held, participants served, or materials distributed.

Step 5: Define Outcomes

• Short-term Outcomes: These are the immediate effects of your outputs, such as increased knowledge or skills among participants.

• Medium-term Outcomes: These are the subsequent changes that occur as a result of the short-term outcomes, like changes in behavior or attitudes.

• Long-term Outcomes: These are the ultimate effects, such as improvements in community health, economic status, or environmental conditions.

Step 6: Identify Impact

• Ultimate Goals: Articulate the broader, long-term effects your organization hopes to achieve in the community or society at large.

Step 7: Create the Logic Model Diagram

• Visual Representation: Use a simple template or software to create a visual diagram. Typical sections include:

  • Inputs: Resources dedicated to the program.

  • Activities: What the program does with the inputs.

  • Outputs: Direct products of program activities.

  • Outcomes: Benefits or changes resulting from the program.

  • Impact: The ultimate changes in social, economic, or environmental conditions.

Step 8: Review and Revise

• Feedback: Share the logic model with stakeholders and revise it based on their feedback. Ensure it accurately represents your organization’s work and goals.

Step 9: Use the Logic Model

• Implementation: Use the logic model to guide program planning, implementation, and evaluation. It can also be a valuable tool for communicating with funders, partners, and the community.

• Evaluation: Regularly review and update the logic model as needed, based on new insights, changes in the environment, or shifts in organizational strategy.

Tips for Success

• Simplicity: Keep the logic model as simple as possible. Avoid jargon and ensure it is easy to understand.

• Flexibility: Be open to revising the model as your organization grows and evolves.

• Integration: Use the logic model as an integral part of your strategic planning and evaluation processes.

By following these steps, a small nonprofit can create a clear and effective logic model that helps to align their activities with their goals and demonstrate their impact to stakeholders.

What do you want to work on?

Is there a piece of information you want to know that maybe I can help you? Shoot me an email at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com and as a paid subscriber, you are entitled to a free one-hour consulting session. We can sit down and talk and figure out where we can take you and your organization, including a deeper discussion on logic models!

Thanks for subscribing and be well!

Bill