What is a Theory of Change?
A Theory of Change tells the story of who an organization serves, what it does, and the impact it intends to have. In this program, you will work together to develop your organization’s Theory of Change that you can start using immediately to align key stakeholders, including potential funders, board of directors and internal team members.
How it Works
SVP Denver’s Theory of Change Accelerator is a free, 8-week intensive program designed to prepare Denver organizations to design and implement their impact measurement strategy.
Educational Workshops
Complete with a full Theory of Change mapping your organization’s outcomes, activities, inputs, target population, and assumptions
Structured Accountability
Dive into a 8-week cohort experience and emerge with a completed Theory of Change.
1:1 Advising with SVP Partners
Work in-person with experienced professionals to hone your Theory of Change narrative, presentation, and tracking.
Community Spotlight
Each cohort ends with a community celebration to spotlight participating organizations and bring together cross-sector leaders.
Is the Theory of Change Accelerator Right for Your Organization?
A strong Theory of Change gives your organization a clear story to tell, one that funders, board members, and staff can all get behind. SVP Denver's Theory of Change Accelerator will help you determine:
How to define your organization's outcomes, activities, inputs, and target population
Where the assumptions behind your work need to be tested or clarified
How to build a Theory of Change narrative you can present to funders and stakeholders
What ongoing tracking looks like once your Theory of Change is in place
Hear from the Previous Cohorts
Here's what a few leaders of organizations we have invested in have said.
I presented the Theory of Change [SVP Denver] helped us create to a funder and we were awarded $50,000.
We have updated our website, use it for grants, and for our annual report.
Who Qualifies?
Nonprofit Organizations
Your organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit or is operating under a fiscal agent.Operating in the Denver Metro Region
You are located within and/or providing 51% or more of your services within Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and/or Jefferson counties.Mission and Impact
You understand how your services are advancing health, economic, and/or racial equity and meeting a clear community need.Team Readiness
Your staff and/or board will dedicate time to assessing current systems, strategizing their desired future state and work to get there on top of day-to-day operations.$100k - $3M in Revenue
We support impact organizations that are incorporated and have the capacity to implement results of projects, but don’t have the resources to pay for outside support.Inclusiveness and Equity
Your organization embodies values, policies and practices that ensure all stakeholders are engaged equitably.