Do you cringe when you read through a grant application and see that it requires a logic model?
Don’t worry- lots of grant writers dread logic models.
But once you understand the components and reasoning behind it, it will start to make sense.
Federal grants often ask for a logic model and I have noticed that community foundations are asking for them more often now, too.
So, what is a logic model? Simply stated, it is a graphic display of what your organization aims to accomplish, the resources it will use, and the impact it will have.
It consists of the following parts:
- Goals
- Objectives
- Activities
- Outputs
- Outcomes
What is the best way to create a logic model that will impress potential funders?
The best way to build a logic model is to zoom out and view your program from a macro vantage point. What is the overarching issue you are trying to solve? The problem should be supported by data in some capacity. What would it take for your program to be effective in moving that needle?
Goals
These are the problems you are hoping to solve.
Objectives
These are the more specific issues you hope to address within the big problem.
Activities
These are the things you will do to meet your objectives.
Outputs
These are the quantitative measurements for how progress will be evaluated.
Outcomes
These are the qualitative measurements for how progress will be evaluated.
Here is a sample:
Once you develop your first logic model, subsequent ones will fall into place.
Until next time,
Write Epic Grants