Theory of Change

Theories of change are useful for organizations working to show the tangible relationships between programs and products and long-term goals. Theories of change explain how these relationships work and why these relationships matter for an organization’s mission and vision.

Compass’s Mapping Transformations capacity activates our team’s unparalleled expertise in mixed-methods data analysis, causal assessment, and communication to provide clients with a theory of change that describes clearly where the organization has been, how they arrived, and avenues for moving ahead. Compass works collaboratively with our clients to identify desired outcomes, to uncover driving assumptions and beliefs, and to understand existing programs, products, and output to establish baselines for a theory of change.

How it Works: 

• We use a backwards-design model to identify existing resources and programs, link these existing resources and programs together, and assess these links.  

• The model includes assessment of roles and responsibilities, indicators for success, and recommended interventions. 

• Our fluency with relevant research and mixed methods data frameworks allows us to identify “unknown knowns,” or factors that may matter to achieving the desired outcome that aren’t accounted for in existing evidence.  

We deliver clear theories of change that clients can mobilize in strategic planning processes, grant making or funding efforts, intervention mapping, and anywhere products and programs need to speak to our clients’ goals and outcomes.