Demystifying logic models, topic of recent CAGP meeting
A clear and concise presentation on logic models was the focus of the March 19 meeting of the Charleston Association of Grant Professionals (CCPL) at the Charleston County Public Library.
The evening's speaker was Zac Hart, an environmental professional who works at a local office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). At NOAA he is a writer, outreach specialist and regularly delivers training on project design and evaluation. He has worked as a freelance science writer and spent two years as a grant writer and project manager for a nonprofit organization.
Logic models are a fairly common requirement in requests for proposals, especially those involving federal funds. While the term "logic model" sends many grant writers running, these models are nothing more than specialized flow charts depicting the benefits that you believe your project will produce, according to Hart.
They are, in essence, "a planning tool to clarify and graphically display what your project intends to do and what it hopes to accomplish and impact." (from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine).
There are four key categories of information, according to Hart:
1) Inputs -- resources needed for the project such as grants, volunteers, time expended and the like
2) Activities -- What are we going to do to provide these resources?
3) Outputs -- When we provide these resources, how will be measure it?
4) (Most important) -- Outcomes -- How did we end up benefiting our community?
Hart told the group logic models are popular because they are brief, yet descriptive. They show how everything fits together. They show others why their contributions are important. They describe results that you desire. And, they are the basis for SMART objectives, performance metrics and timelines. (SMART: Specific, measurable, audience-focused, realistic and time-balanced).
Hart offered these tips for doing logic metrics.
1) Work backwards from long-term outcomes
2) Keep everything on the model within your sphere of influence.
3) Remember that all outcomes are all about your target audience and its issues
4) Give your logic model the "if then" test.
He did a sample logic model for the group, the Charleston Association of Grant Professionals (CAGP). There was much input and quite a number of questions for the speaker. It was a very valuable and useful meeting with good information provided by someone who has worked extensively in the field.
The evening's speaker was Zac Hart, an environmental professional who works at a local office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). At NOAA he is a writer, outreach specialist and regularly delivers training on project design and evaluation. He has worked as a freelance science writer and spent two years as a grant writer and project manager for a nonprofit organization.
Logic models are a fairly common requirement in requests for proposals, especially those involving federal funds. While the term "logic model" sends many grant writers running, these models are nothing more than specialized flow charts depicting the benefits that you believe your project will produce, according to Hart.
They are, in essence, "a planning tool to clarify and graphically display what your project intends to do and what it hopes to accomplish and impact." (from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine).
There are four key categories of information, according to Hart:
1) Inputs -- resources needed for the project such as grants, volunteers, time expended and the like
2) Activities -- What are we going to do to provide these resources?
3) Outputs -- When we provide these resources, how will be measure it?
4) (Most important) -- Outcomes -- How did we end up benefiting our community?
Hart told the group logic models are popular because they are brief, yet descriptive. They show how everything fits together. They show others why their contributions are important. They describe results that you desire. And, they are the basis for SMART objectives, performance metrics and timelines. (SMART: Specific, measurable, audience-focused, realistic and time-balanced).
Hart offered these tips for doing logic metrics.
1) Work backwards from long-term outcomes
2) Keep everything on the model within your sphere of influence.
3) Remember that all outcomes are all about your target audience and its issues
4) Give your logic model the "if then" test.
He did a sample logic model for the group, the Charleston Association of Grant Professionals (CAGP). There was much input and quite a number of questions for the speaker. It was a very valuable and useful meeting with good information provided by someone who has worked extensively in the field.
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