Theory of change
What is theory of change? We all have dreams and ideas about how to achieve them, but we rarely take the time to think these through, scrutinise and articulate them. This is what a theory of change process does.
We see theory of change as the foundation of charity strategy, evaluation and communication. Our free guidance is one of the most popular resources we offer. To get started on your theory of change, read our Theory of change in ten steps.
To dig deeper, we run regular training sessions, and our consultants can help you develop bespoke theories of change for your projects and services.
Featured resources for theory of change
Theory of change in ten steps
This new guide is a ten step handbook to creating a theory of change, built on many years of developing them for charities and funders. It will teach you the basics, our core approach, with the information you need to do any theory of change.
Mechanisms – A missing component in your theory of change?
Theory of change mechanisms are where you describe how you want people to engage with your activities; the kind of relationship you establish; and the thought processes you want them to go through in order to achieve the outcomes and impact you want.
How to do a basic theory of change
James Noble introduces NPC's new thinking on theory of change.
Latest updates, events and training
Theory of change in ten steps
A theory of change process encourages us to reflect on our aims and plans, to discuss them with others and to make them explicit. We see this process as the foundation of charity strategy, evaluation and communication.
What a theory of change can offer environmental organisations
These are tough times for communities and the charities supporting them, and climate change won’t make them any easier. Whether you are addressing social issues, environmental issues, or both, a theory of change can help you to make impact driven choices that support both people and the planet.
How to adapt your strategy approach for times of change
Covid-19 means charities must develop adaptive strategies, but how can we do this well?
Understanding Impact
How to turn your theory of change into a plan for measurement, the five types of data you will need to pay attention to, and how to prioritise what to measure.
Four tips to write a good Theory of Change
Every charity or funder needs a theory of change, but it's not always a simple thing to come up with. Here Margery Infield, NPC Consultant, shares some lessons from a recent Theory of Change training event.
Theory of change in ten steps
This new guide is a ten step handbook to creating a theory of change, built on many years of developing them for charities and funders. It will teach you the basics, our core approach, with the information you need to do any theory of change.
How to do a basic theory of change
James Noble introduces NPC's new thinking on theory of change.
NPC Ignites: People, Impact, Purpose
What can you expect from our annual conference NPC Ignites 2019?
Help us make theory of change even more useful
Over the next few months, with the support of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, we are going to be rewriting and redesigning our guidance on theory of change and we want your help.
Thinking big: How to use theory of change for systems change
Applied well, theory of change can support charities and funders to take a systemic approach to their work. This report identifies five common pitfalls when using theory of change, and walks through five rules that will help organisations to use the approach to tackle complex problems.
Long read: Theories of change are here to stay
The theory of change approach has been around for a while now, and many charities use it to help them be more strategic about their work and their impact measurement. But it has had its fair share of criticism and skepticism over the years. Here, NPC's Impact Management Lead James Noble tackles some of these challenges, and remakes the case for charities to develop theories of change to help guide their work.
Developing theories of change for entire sectors
Reflecting on our recent work developing a theory of change for the prison education sector, James Noble explores the process, and outlines the potential benefits of this approach.
Find out how we can help you
We offer tailored support to help you create a theory of change that helps you work towards your mission and make an impact.
Get in touchSolarAid used the theory of change work that NPC did to really get to grips with how we needed to go about measuring our work.
