Phase 1: Clarifying Intention
Goal of the intention phase:
- Define clearly what change you seek to create (desired outcomes).
- Three steps:
- Identify impact statements.
- Identify indicators (how you’ll know impacts are in place).
- Explore your theory of change (principles behind how impact happens).
Step 1: Creating Impact Statements
- Start by brainstorming: write down all the ways you want people’s lives to be changed (knowledge, skills, behaviors, attitudes, feelings, actions).
- Look for themes or categories among your ideas. Narrow them to 3–6 core areas of impact.
- Translate each theme into a clear statement:
- Format: “As a result of our [program/organisation/ministry], [population] experience [specific change].”
Examples of impact statements:
- “As a result of our organisation, people with addictions build systems of social support.”
- “As a result of our programs, youth develop financial literacy.”
- “As a result of our ministry, church leaders become disciple makers.”
- “As a result of our work, girls and young women pursue pathways of education.”
Task:
- Brainstorm desired impacts → group into themes → write 3–6 clear impact statements.
- The next step will be to identify indicators for each statement.