The Community Toolbox provides a great summary:

“A logic model is a story or picture of how an effort or initiative is supposed to work. The process of developing the model brings together stakeholders to articulate the goals of the program and the values that support it, and to identify strategies and desired outcomes of the initiative.

A logic model is useful for planning, implementing and evaluating an initiative. It helps stakeholders agree on short-term as well as long-term objectives during the planning process, outline activities and actors, and establish clear criteria for evaluation during the effort. When the initiative ends, it provides a framework for assessing overall effectiveness of the initiative, as well as the activities, resources, and external factors that played a role in the outcome.”

The term logic model is used as a generic label for the many ways of displaying how change unfolds.

Some other names include:

• road map, conceptual map, or pathways map
• mental model
• blueprint for change
• framework for action or program framework
• program theory or program hypothesis
• theoretical underpinning or rationale
• causal chain or chain of causation
• theory of change or model of change

Each mapping or modeling technique uses a slightly different approach, but they all rest on a foundation of logic – specifically, the logic of how change happens. By whatever name you call it, a logic model supports the work of health promotion and community development by charting the course of community transformation as it evolves.

The Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP) has specific guidance for partners regarding the structure that should be used and the information that should be included in logic models submitted to OSP.  For this guidance, click on the button below.