The one-sentence theory of change.
A confused mind never funds.
And your donors might be lost in translation.
Because there’s a critical gap in most nonprofit communications:
Theories of change often change.
↳ Into donor repellents.
What should be a simple logic model to explain your work becomes quicksand for funders with its jargon jungle.
So here’s a six-piece formula to help.
And while it’s not official copywriting or an elevator pitch, this formula can clarify and summarize your theory of change in a single (mega) sentence.
Your mission: vital.
Your message: vague?
Click here to begin this 2-minute read. ⤵
(P.S. — feel free to share your one-sentence theory of change in the comments. And see below in The Daily Bonus for our own mega one-liner.)
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The Daily Bonus
Our very own Mighty Ally one-sentence theory of change:
We work in the Global South (WHERE) to help early- and growth-stage nonprofits (WHO) build brands that maximize funding (WHAT) through consulting, training, and Brand Bootcamp (HOW), in order to catalyze 5,000 bold brands with 50 reaching $50M in size by 2035 (WHEN), because only one in 1,000 nonprofits grow beyond a small business (WHY).
The Double Daily Bonus
If you want to work more on your mission statement specifically (it is indeed ONE critical piece of your entire theory of change), here are the 5 not-so-secret ingredients:
Type of organization +
Verb +
Outcome +
Target population +
Details of products or programs