Using a theory of change approach to build organizational strength, capacity and sustainability with not-for-profit organizations in the human services sector

Adopting a theory of change is imperative to promoting the building of organizational capacity and program sustainability. In efforts to help organizations develop strong theories of change that are meaningful, plausible, doable, and testable, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation (EMCF) has designed and implemented 3-day-long theory of change workshops with grantees that create the foundation for subsequent business planning. On Day 1, workshop goals focus on clarifying basic strategic decisions that an organization has made, and defining target populations; On Day 2, goals include selecting and codifying program participant outcomes and indicators; and on Day 3, goals focus on designing and codifying program elements, taking stock of resources required to implement those elements, and clarifying organizational capacities necessary to implement and sustain the program and its delivery. This paper describes how these workshops are facilitated and also some capacity-building benefits to organizations participating in them.