This workshop is available for $50 for members of the EDGE Network! Email edge@united-church.ca to see if you qualify. 

Are you planning to change, grow or add a ministry? A Theory of Change is your ministry’s story of how you believe change will unfold.

October 9th to December 3th, 2023

What impact are you having? How do you know? What difference is your ministry or program making? Learn what your mission is and understand the roles in achieving it.

The cornerstone of effective evaluation is a thorough understanding of the program you are trying to evaluate. This workshop will help you break your program or ministry down into its component parts, differentiating between things like “what you do” and “what you achieve.” Upon completion of the workshop you’ll have a completed Theory of Change and logic model.

A Theory of Change will provide a roadmap that outlines the steps by which you will achieve your mission. A Theory of Change can aid in aligning your stakeholders to your larger mission and help them understand their role in achieving it.

We’ll illustrate your Theory of Change with a logic model to show your stakeholders the intended relationship between investments and results.

Delivery/Timing (All times Eastern Time)

All live sessions are 90 minutes starting at 2:00 PM EST unless otherwise stated.

Schedule: Module 0 – Introduction (1 week prior)

Prior to October 9th, 2023: Review Program Overview and Theory of Change background material

October 10th, 2023: Live Session – Program Overview

Schedule: Module 1 – Mission Delivery (2 Weeks)

Week of October 9th, 2023: Post Your Problem, Comment on the Problem of Others, Revise Your Problem

October 12th, 2023: Live Session – Problem & Mission Statements

Week of October 16th, 2023: Post Your Mission, Comment on the Mission of Others, Revise Your Mission

Schedule: Module 2 – Impact (1 week)

Week of October 23rd, 2023: Post Your Outcomes, Comment on the Outcomes of Others, Revise Your Outcomes

October 26th, 2023: Live Session - Outcomes

Schedule: Module 3 – Delivery (1 week)

Week of October 30th, 2023: Post Your Activities & Outputs, Comment on the Activities & Outputs of Others, Revise Your Activities & Outputs

November 2nd, 2023: Live Session - Activities & Outputs

Schedule: Module 4 – Requirements (2 weeks)

Week of November 6th, 2023: Post Your Assumptions, Comment on the Assumptions of Others, Revise Your Assumptions

November 9th, 2023: Live Session - Assumptions & Inputs

Week of November 13th, 2023: Post Your Inputs, Comment on the Inputs of Others, Revise Your Inputs

Schedule: Module 5 - Logic Model (2 weeks)

Week of November 20th, 2023: Post Complete Theory of Change & Logic Model, Comment on the Logic Model of Others, Revise Your Logic Model

November 23rd, 2023: Live Session – Logic Models

November 30th, 2023: Live Session – Final Review & Evaluation Plan

Class Structure

All work will be online and asynchronous, with regular live group Zoom sessions. Participants should plan for 3-6 hours of work for each of the five modules, depending on experience. Your work will include reading, learning activities, and online discussion, all done at your own pace. Those that want to explore the topic further, should contact the facilitator upon completion of the workshop.