Lesson 1.4: Theory of Change

Templates & Tools

Download practical templates and tools to systematically develop, test, validate, and present your Theory of Change.

Download Templates

All templates are designed to work seamlessly with your foundation work from Lessons 1.1-1.3.

Theory of Change Development Worksheet

Word
280 KB Planning

Complete template guiding you through foundation review, impact/outcome design, activity/output specification, and logic testing.

Intermediate
Download

Visual Theory Template

PPT
450 KB Communication

Flow diagram template showing logical pathway from inputs through activities, outputs, outcomes to impact with assumptions.

Beginner
Download

Community Validation Guide

PDF
195 KB Evaluation

Session protocol for validating your Theory of Change with stakeholders, including preparation checklist and validation questions.

Intermediate
Download

Quality Assessment Checklist

PDF
170 KB Evaluation

Standards for strong Theory of Change across logical coherence, evidence grounding, community alignment, and implementation realism.

Intermediate
Download

📚 Usage Guides

Using the Theory of Change Development Worksheet

  1. 1

    Complete Foundation Review

    Consolidate Problem Tree, stakeholder priorities, affinity themes, and community vision.

  2. 2

    Design Impact and Outcomes

    Work backward from long-term impact to short-term outcomes.

  3. 3

    Specify Activities and Outputs

    Detail implementation approaches based on root cause analysis.

  4. 4

    Identify Inputs and Assumptions

    List required resources and critical success assumptions.

  5. 5

    Test Your Logic

    Verify connections and reality-check feasibility.

Pro Tips

  • Spend time on foundation review before drafting new content
  • Test logic at each level before moving to the next
  • Community validation is essential before finalization

Conducting Community Validation Sessions

  1. 1

    Prepare session

    Schedule 60-90 minutes with key stakeholders and prepare simple visuals.

  2. 2

    Present your Theory of Change

    Walk through how stakeholder input shaped your approach.

  3. 3

    Ask validation questions

    Test impact, outcomes, activities, and assumptions with stakeholders.

  4. 4

    Document feedback

    Capture insights and identify necessary adjustments.

  5. 5

    Integrate and follow up

    Revise theory based on feedback and share changes made.

Pro Tips

  • Use visual representations for clarity
  • Ask open-ended questions to avoid confirmation bias
  • Document both affirming and challenging feedback

🛠️ Additional Tools & Resources

Theory of Change Development Code Template

Reference

Comprehensive markdown worksheet with five sections for systematic Theory of Change development.

Key Features:

  • Foundation review integration
  • Impact and outcome design sections
  • Activity and output specifications
  • Logic testing prompts

Visual Theory of Change Code Template

Reference

ASCII-style flow diagram showing pathway from inputs to impact with assumptions.

Key Features:

  • Top-down visual representation
  • Assumption foundation layer
  • Clear level connections
  • Easy to customize
Learn More

Community Validation Session Code Template

Reference

Session protocol in markdown with preparation checklist, agenda, and validation questions.

Key Features:

  • Pre-session preparation checklist
  • Structured session agenda
  • Validation question bank
  • Post-session integration steps

Digital Tools for Theory of Change

Reference

Recommendations for Google Docs, Miro/Mural, Notion, Excel, and Canva/Figma for Theory of Change development.

Key Features:

  • Collaborative text-based development
  • Visual mapping with stakeholders
  • Structured documentation with links
  • Professional design for presentations

Complete Your Theory of Change Work

Ensure your theory meets all quality standards and see real-world examples.

Quality Checklist → Real-World Examples →