Monthly check-in 2: Mission, theory of change & impact evaluation

  • Published on Jun 18, 2025
  • 1 minute(s) read
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Who is this for?

This content is designed for participants in Anti Entropy's SparkWell fiscal sponsorship program. While some context will be specific to SparkWell and may need more context, we've made these resources public because they may, nevertheless, be useful to others who may be founding or building an organization.

All check-ins
  1. Introduction & onboarding
  2. Mission, theory of change & impact evaluation (current stage)
  3. Fundraising strategy & donor management
  4. Financial management & budgeting
  5. Legal compliance & risk management
  6. Infosec & GDPR
  7. Brand development & marketing
  8. "Bus-proofing" & sustainability strategy
  9. HR systems & hiring strategy
  10. Board development & governance
  11. Revisited: Mission, theory of change & impact evaluation
  12. Graduation

Mission, theory of change & impact evaluation

Why is this important?

When setting up a nonprofit, it’s crucial to clearly define your mission, theory of change, and impact evaluation because they provide direction, discipline, and accountability. The mission explains why the organization exists and guides decisions; the theory of change maps out how your activities are expected to create the desired impact, ensuring your work is strategically aligned; and impact evaluation measures whether your efforts are actually making a difference, allowing for continuous improvement and demonstrating effectiveness to funders and stakeholders. Together, these elements help ensure the nonprofit stays focused, effective, and credible.

Suggested reading

Nonprofit Operations Playbook:

Other Related Readings

Milestones

Aim to complete these before your next monthly check-in:

✔️ Mission statement written
✔️ Theory of change created

(Optional) Further outcomes

Consider completing these throughout the program:

✔️ Values written
✔️ Market research conducted
✔️ Competitive advantages determined
✔️ Logic model strategy and framework design discussed
✔️ Impact measurement approaches discussed
✔️ Program evaluation planned

Next up: Fundraising strategy & donor management

When setting up a nonprofit, it’s essential to think about fundraising strategy and donor management because funding is what enables the organization to carry out its mission, while strong donor relationships ensure long-term sustainability.

See the Fundraising strategy & donor management worksheet for more information.