CNC Theory of Change & Logic Models 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A nonprofit is using a theory of change to guide strategic planning. Which stakeholder group is MOST important to involve in its development?
- Major individual donors
- Program participants and community members (Correct answer)
- Peer organizations in the same city
- Local government licensing officials
Correct answer: Program participants and community members
Centering the voices of program participants and the community ensures the theory of change reflects real needs and lived experiences, increasing relevance and buy-in.
Question 2: In logic model terminology, 'reach' is most closely associated with which component?
- Inputs
- Outputs (Correct answer)
- Short-term outcomes
- Long-term impact
Correct answer: Outputs
Outputs include measures of reach — the number of people served, sessions delivered, or products distributed — as direct, countable results of activities.
Question 3: Which scenario represents a common FLAW in a nonprofit's logic model?
- Listing both short-term and long-term outcomes
- Skipping from activities directly to long-term impact without intermediate outcomes (Correct answer)
- Including external factors as contextual notes
- Separating outputs from outcomes in different columns
Correct answer: Skipping from activities directly to long-term impact without intermediate outcomes
Jumping from activities to long-term impact ignores the intermediate changes (short- and medium-term outcomes) that must occur first, creating a logic gap.
Question 4: A theory of change document typically includes a section called 'pre-conditions.' These are best described as:
- Grant eligibility requirements the nonprofit must meet
- Conditions or changes that must occur before a later outcome can be achieved (Correct answer)
- Environmental scans of the nonprofit's competitive landscape
- Staff qualifications required to deliver the program
Correct answer: Conditions or changes that must occur before a later outcome can be achieved
Pre-conditions are the foundational changes or building blocks that must be in place before subsequent, higher-level outcomes can realistically occur.
Question 5: A community health nonprofit wants to reduce diabetes rates in a low-income neighborhood. Their logic model shows 'increased access to healthy food' as an outcome. This is best classified as a:
- Short-term outcome focused on behavior change
- Medium-term outcome related to conditions of well-being (Correct answer)
- Long-term impact at the population level
- Output measuring program units delivered
Correct answer: Medium-term outcome related to conditions of well-being
Changes in community conditions or environments that support behavior change, such as food access, are typically classified as medium-term outcomes in a logic model.
Question 6: When a logic model is described as 'theory-driven evaluation,' this means the evaluation is designed to:
- Test the theoretical credentials of program staff
- Assess whether the assumed causal links in the program actually occur (Correct answer)
- Compare the nonprofit's theory against academic literature only
- Evaluate the organization's financial management theory
Correct answer: Assess whether the assumed causal links in the program actually occur
Theory-driven evaluation tests the causal mechanisms and assumptions embedded in the program's theory of change, not just whether outcomes were achieved.
Question 7: A consultant reviewing a nonprofit's logic model notes it lacks 'external factors.' What should this section include?
- The nonprofit's competitors and their market share
- Conditions outside the program's control that may affect outcomes (Correct answer)
- Federal and state regulations governing the nonprofit
- The consultant's own recommendations for program improvement
Correct answer: Conditions outside the program's control that may affect outcomes
External factors (also called assumptions about context) are conditions — economic, social, or political — outside program control that could accelerate, hinder, or negate outcomes.
CNC Theory of Change & Logic Models 3
A nonprofit is using a theory of change to guide strategic planning.
Which stakeholder group is MOST important to involve in its development?