Presented at NCVO's Trustee Conference on Monday 11 November 2014. The presentation was by Joy Dobbs, NCVO and Shehnaaz Latif, Charities Evaluation Service. These slides introduce and explore the Theory of Change approach. To learn more about governance: http://www.ncvo.org.uk/practical-support/governance To find out about NCVO's Trustee Conference: http://www.ncvo.org.uk/training-and-events/trustee-conference

2. PM2: Explaining your impact
Shehnaaz Latif, Charities Evaluation
Service
Joy Dobbs, NCVO
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3. What are the challenges of explaining impact?
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4. impact evaluation output
input indicator outcome
milestones monitoring activity
theory of change process
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5. Theory of change – a whistlestop tour!
An example
For more info: www.ces-vol.org.uk/toc
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6. Theory of change – a whistlestop tour!
‘An explanation of why a particular way of working will be effective,
showing how change happens in the short, medium and long term to
achieve intended aims.’
- Description of how an initiative works
- Map showing connections between outputs and outcomes
- Explanation of links between levels of change
- Explanation of complexity of change
- Plausible explanation of achievable outcomes
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7. The theory of change should be clear, useful and have buy-in.
You can help achieve this by:
- Participatory activities, such as group discussion
- Building consensus through workshop activity, and
subsequent revision through face to face, email, etc.
- A clear grounding in the context
- Sufficient allocated time to carry out a genuinely reflective
process
- Senior management support
- Allocating necessary resources
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8. Alternative approaches include:
- logic model
- CES planning triangle ©
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9. Let’s have a go!
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10. Code of good impact practice
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11. Code of good impact practice
• Part of Inspiring Impact initiative
work on impact leadership
http://inspiringimpact.org/
• Aim: organisations are clearer about what
constitutes good impact practice and can plan a
journey for how to get there
• How: by setting out
– a cycle of impact practice
– a series of high-level principles
for organisations to apply in focusing on their impact.
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12. Code of good impact practice (CoGIP)
• Primarily directed at senior staff and trustees of
charities and social enterprises
• Accessible to people who aren’t measurement
experts, not focussed particularly on
measurement
• Was developed amongst impact professionals and
widely consulted on across the non-profit sector
• Provide a consistent framework that others can
use too e.g. commissioners/funders
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13. CoGIP: cycle of impact practice
Based on the Inspiring Impact cycle of the four main areas of
activity that make up impact practice
Plan/Do/Assess/Review (see diagram)
Plan
- Identify your desired impact and how to deliver it
- Understand what to measure about your impact, identify the
information you need and how to collect it
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14. CoGIP: Principles
Eight principles, for each is: brief description, explanation of why
it is important and some ideas about how to implement it.
1. Take responsibility for impact and encourage others to do so
too.
2. Focus on purpose.
3. Involve others in your impact practice.
4. Apply proportionate and appropriate methods and resources.
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15. CoGIP: Principles cont’d)
5. Consider the full range of the difference you actually
make.
6. Be honest and open.
7. Be willing to change and act on what you find.
8. Actively share your impact plans, methods, findings
and learning
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16. CoGIP: other useful resources
- Code complement the Funders’ Principles and Drivers of
Good Impact Practice
- Code underpinned by the step-by-step self-assessment
tool, Measuring Up!
- Putting the Code into Practice (July 2014) based on
forums of people working on impact
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17. Measuring Up!
A step-by-step, self-assessment tool for third sector
organisations that reviews their capacity to plan, evidence,
communicate and learn from the difference they make.
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18. Measuring Up!
www.inspiringimpact.org
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19. Shehnaaz Latif
shehnaaz@ces-vol.org.uk
Joy Dobbs
joy.dobbs@ncvo.org.uk
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20. NCVO/BWB Trustee
Conference 2014
Developing exceptional
governance
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21. Inspirational governance
Sir Peter Bazalgette, Chair, Arts Council England
Chloe Donovan, Young Trustee, Step Up to Serve
Alice Maynard, Director of Association of Chairs
and Director of Future Inclusion
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22. NCVO/BWB Trustee
Conference 2014
Developing exceptional
governance
#TRUSTEECONF2014