Logic models play a critical role in the grant proposal process. What logic models do is show how your program will work by depicting visually the relationships among the resources, activities, and desired results of your program.

In general, there are two main sections of a logic model. These two sections are called the plan and the intention. Within each of these sections, there are also several key components. The plan includes inputs and activities and the intention includes outputs, outcomes, and impact. Below is a diagram of a simple linear logic model.

We will now define each of these terms in the logic model. The ideas behind this post are derived from the W.K. Foundation which has several informative documents on the grant development process.

The Plan

Inputs or resources are needed to get the program to work. An analogy would be gas for a car. You can have the best intentions in the world with a car but without gas, nothing will happen. A program with resources will have no impact.

Activities or methods are what the program does with the resources. For example, a car burns gas to travel somewhere. Activities within a program are used to bring about desired results or help manifest the program’s intentions.

Intention

Outputs are the direct results of the activities of your program. These can be services, participation rates in the program, levels or dosages, etc. In other words, outputs are some sort of tangible product or experience. For a car, the output would be whatever place the car travels to such as a mall, restaurant, or park.

Outcomes are changes in the target population or the people who the program is for in terms of their attitudes, behaviors, skills, etc. For example, once we take our car to the park we would expect everyone to be happier from having a chance to experience nature. Outcomes can be broken down by increments within a few years of the program to almost ten years after the program’s implementation. The scope of the outcomes depends on the designer of the program.

Impact is the fundamental change in the local community and or organization as a result of the program’s implementation. Therefore, after taking the trip to the park using the car we might expect to have improved family relations and reduced stress from the trip’s fun. In other words, the impact is the long-term effects of the program on the greater community due to changes in the target population.

Interpreting Logicl Model with If Then Statements

A great way to understand logic models is to see them as a chain of if-then statements. Each component of the logic model feeds into the next one and shows “logically” how the program should run. Below is an example

If we have the resources we need then.. (Inputs)
We can complete the activities then.. (activities)
The target population will participate in the activities then… (outputs)
There will be changes in the target population then… (outcomes)
There will be changes in the larger community (impact)

Here is the same example using the car example

If we have gas for the car then… (inputs)
We can travel then… (activities)
We will go to the park then… (outputs)
Everybody will be happier then… (outcomes)
Family relations will improve… (impact)

Both of the examples above are examples of non-visual logic models. It is important to note that there are different ways to support out the different parts of a logic model. Some will agree with the breakout above and some will not. The real point is to make it clear in your mind how you want to go about breaking apart the components of your program.

Conclusion

Logic models are powerful tools for helping you to develop your programs that are seeking grant funding. Logic models can also help with implementation and the evaluation of a program as well. Therefore, it is clear that there are many reasons why logic models should be used in the grant proposal process.