Logic Models: Being Logical about Logic Models
- Michelle Crim, CFRE
- Feb 24, 2020
- 2 min read
Do the words “logic model” make you gasp in fear, roll your eyes, or put your head down on your desk in despair? It’s not meant to be a horror show.
You are not alone.
I promise, this is not as daunting as you may think. Logic models are a very helpful tool for everyone from the program managers to the fundraisers, to the Executive Director and the board, and to the funders.
That’s why they are still around, they help everyone work more deliberately toward your shared goal of serving your clients, patrons, patients, or your students. They can also be very helpful identifying potential funders and crafting your grant proposals.
What is a logic model? How does it work? Who uses it? According to Measurement Resources:
At its core, a logic model summarizes a program’s whys, whats, and hows on a single sheet of paper. This powerful tool links organizational resources (inputs) to what it does (activities and outputs), to who it desires to impact (participants and audiences), and to what it hopes to achieve or change (outcomes).
The five key components of a logic model are:
1. Inputs - your resources
2. Activities - what you do with your resources
3. Outputs – quantify your activities and the number of people reached
4. Outcomes – what changed for your participants
5. Impact – the bigger picture of the change your organization created.
This is a very brief overview of logic modelling and why it’s important for your organization. Listed below are some of the many resources you can find online. However, going through the process of creating a logic model for each of your programs can still be daunting, so you may want to consider bringing in a third-party consultant to work with you and your staff to get your information organized.
Cheers,
Michelle Crim, CFRE
Dynamic Development Strategies can help. We offer coaching and fundraising services for our nonprofit clients. We specialize in startup and smaller nonprofits because we understand your challenges. Please contact us for more information.
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