About Strategic Learning
Our strategic learning consulting services empower nonprofit organizations to reflect on, assess, demonstrate, and effectively communicate the impact of their programs. The consulting team offers a menu of services to organizations centered around organizational self-discovery and skill building. Through individual consultations, organizations are provided assistance with: (1) creating or refining logic models and needs statements; (2) developing theories of change and identifying relevant research; (3) operationalizing and measuring outcomes; (4) selecting data collection instruments; (5) determining analysis techniques; and (6) establishing processes for using gathered information in everyday decision making and strategic planning.
Introductory Consulting Session
The Riley Institute offers an introductory session to organizations with the goal of mapping out an initial plan of action to elevate the organization’s ability to reflect on, assess, demonstrate, and effectively communicate the impact of their programs. Organizations also typically leave with a working draft of a logic model for one program, a preliminary annotated bibliography to help inform this program’s needs statement, and a loose plan of action for delving into strategic learning moving forward. Work will take place over one month and will be divided into three two- to three-hour work sessions. Offline work also will take place in between virtual sessions, and the organization is expected to be able to dedicate staff time to this process.
Consulting Services Menu
Logic ModelLogic models are visual diagrams that show the relationships between a program’s resources, activities, and intended effects. The ability to collect and utilize quality information to improve programs and achieve impact is built on a deep understanding of exactly who an organization serves and how the daily activities of each program are designed to move participants towards program goals. |
The interactive logic model development process helps an organization: (1) clarify understanding of program implementation and build consensus among staff; (2) identify realistic program outputs and outcomes; and (3) build understanding of how a program fits into the larger mission of the organization. Logic modeling consists of several meetings in which our team will work with you to draw out the specifics of your programs and put them into the traditional framework of a logic model. |
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Needs Statement Development and RefinementEffective programs have defined target populations and clearly articulated needs. In addition, they use research to illustrate the extent of the need in the population they serve. Justifying a need for a program is an important part of grant writing and marketing. |
We will work with you to define the need your program is meant to address and source the evidence to show the existence and extent of that need within your target population. |
Theory of Change DevelopmentA theory of change narrative is a description of how the components of a program lead to that program’s intended outcomes, supported by existing research and best practice knowledge. These narratives are extremely useful for program planning, budget allocation, marketing, and grant writing. |
Using the logic model as a guide, we will walk your organization through the process of identifying the assumptions underlying program delivery and articulating the cause-and-effect chains by which resources are translated through activities into program outcomes. In addition, our team will provide direction and assistance in finding and building an evidence base that can be used to answer the question: Why is this particular program the best way for this organization to make the change it seeks? |
Output/Outcome Identification and MeasurementMany organizations confuse outputs (for example, how many clients they serve) with outcomes (for example, changes in learning, action, behavior, or condition). Outputs show people how productive your organization is, while outcomes show the change your organization makes. |
We will help your organization differentiate between outputs and outcomes and identify outcomes that your program and organization realistically can achieve. In addition, our team will work with you to identify and/or develop valid ways to measure your identified outcomes given staff capacity, time that can be devoted to data collection, willingness of program participants, financial resources, and current research. |
Data Collection Plan DevelopmentA data collection plan outlines each piece of information to be collected, who is responsible for the collection, where it should originate, the time interval at which it should be collected, and the data collection method (for example, survey, focus group, database pull, etc.). |
We will work with your organization to organize and institutionalize all the pieces of data needed for tracking program implementation and quality, as well as output and outcome achievement. The final product is a clear, comprehensive plan for data collection aligned to organizational needs. |
Interested in Our Services?
We’d love to start a conversation about how we can support and partner with you. Please contact us about your project or with questions about our services today.