Harvard researcher Carol Weiss advises communities desiring to make mindful social change that there is nothing as practical as good theory. Because change takes time, it’s important to track and document the process by which one aims to initiate and enforce change. Relaying your message of change to the public may sound challenging and difficult, but it can be done! Every community needs a roadmap for success that clearly states assumptions, inputs, outputs, and outcomes. This webinar will use a youth development as one example of how to take an idea and translate it into what is called a “theory of change.”

1. Theory of Change Mapping using a Youth
Development Example
Kimberly Snodgrass
June 27, 2012
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3. www.mission.do
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4. Today’s Speaker
Kimberly Snodgrass
Associate
Olive Grove Consulting Hosting:
Assisting with chat questions:
Jamie Maloney, Nonprofit Webinars Sam Frank, Synthesis Partnership
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5. Theory of Change
Mapping using a Youth
Development Example
Kim Snodgrass
Olive Grove Consulting
@kimsnodgrass, @og_consult, @reachforu

6. Agenda
About
Overview of TOC
Why we use one & the value one brings
Example
Q&A

7. Background @kimsnodgrass
Recent consulting work includes: strategic business planning
design and implementation; organizational chart design;
online market research; qualitative interview assessments;
online marketing strategies; philanthropic investment
research; executive search assistance; digital design; youth
and families research, youth development design and
programming, and event planning.
Kimberly Snodgrass graduated from the University of California,
Irvine, majoring in Honors Social Science, Public and
Community Service and earned a minor in Education. With
her commitment to serving at-risk youth, Kimberly earned her
Masters, from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in
2010 with a concentration in Risk and Prevention.

8. Theory of Change & Developmental
Science
We get the term from theories and practices of
human development from many well known
scientists.
-Urie Bronfenbrenner, Ecological Systems
Theory
-Luthar, Resilience
-Cowen, Wellness
Google them when you have time. . .

9. Urie Bronfenbrenner 1977 Model

10. Theory helps in planning research,
developing your idea, and
organizing your facts.

11. Key Tips to Remember in Theory
• Intersection of research and practice
• The power of relationships

12. Social Program with Theory...
• Program Goal & Program Activity
• Micro Steps
• Outcomes
Sources:
-Weiss
-Kellogg Theory Approach

13. Assumptions that get you from
here to here... Micro-Steps!

14. Why the Theory of Change (TOC)?
• Outcomes based approach
• Document activities
• Document inputs (which will design a budget
usually)
• Specific in detail (great for grants)
Helpful note: Draw it out! Use paper. Use pen.

15. Example: State the Problem
Currently, there are 542,000 children residing in
foster care within the United States that are
subjected to many forms of mistreatment
(U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, 2007). When children are taken
away from their biological families, many
have histories of significant maltreatment and
trauma (Bruskas, 2008). Adolescent foster
youth, for example, have a higher tendency
to have difficulties in life.

16. Example: State the Solution
Purpose: REACH offers school and community
based programs to create equal opportunities
in education for foster youth. Breaking the
cycle of homelessness and increasing the 50
% graduation rate. Peer leaders and staff
create stable, strong support systems that
predict positive outcomes.
Make sure mission is MEASURABLE.

17. Theory Approach Logic Model
• Inputs: Who is going to participate?
• Activities: What will happen?
• Outputs: What are the actions? Results?
• Outcomes: What are the short-term
outcomes?
• Impact: What will we see in the longer term
from your program?
• Let's see REACHforyou.org's example...

19. Sources
-Bronfenbrenner, U. (1977). Toward an
experimental ecology of human development.
American Psychologist. 32, 513-531.
-Weiss, C.H. (1995). Nothing as practical as
good theory: Exploring theory-based
evaluation for comprehensive community
initiatives for children and families.
-W. K. Kellogg Foundation (2004). Logic model
development guide. Retrieved online.
http://www.wkkf.org/Pubs/Tools/Evaluation/P
ub3669.pdf.

20. Olive Grove Consulting
San Francisco, CA
We work with philanthropists, nonprofits,
industry associations, government entities,
and businesses who are intent on building a
vibrant and just society. By delivering flexible,
customized services and access to an
extensive network of leading consultants and
firms, we help our clients break through
obstacles and make the most of opportunities
to create the change they want to see.

21. Contact information:
kim@olivegroveconsulting.com
650-591-4155 x102
Twitter:
@kimsnodgrass
@og_consult
@reachforu

22. Find listings for our current season
of webinars and register at:
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