Evaluation Frameworks, Logic Models & Theory of Change

A good evaluation starts well before data collection. We work with organisations to develop evaluation frameworks, program logic models and theories of change that clarify what success looks like — and set you up to measure it meaningfully.

Whether you're launching a new program, responding to funder requirements, or preparing for a future evaluation, we bring a collaborative, practical approach to evaluation planning.

Talk to us about evaluation planning

Evaluation / Evaluation Frameworks, Logic Models & Theory of Change

What is an evaluation framework?

An evaluation framework is a structured plan that sets out how a program or initiative will be evaluated. It typically includes the evaluation questions you want to answer, the outcomes and indicators you'll measure, the data sources you'll draw on, and the methods you'll use to collect and analyse evidence. A well-designed evaluation framework gives your program a clear foundation for accountability, learning and improvement.

Closely related to evaluation frameworks are program logic models and theories of change. A program logic — sometimes called a logic model — maps the relationship between a program's activities, its intended outputs and its short, medium and long-term outcomes. A theory of change goes deeper, articulating the assumptions and causal pathways that explain how and why a program is expected to produce change. Together, these tools make the implicit logic of a program explicit, which makes evaluation far more focused and useful.

We've developed evaluation frameworks for organisations of all sizes — from community health organisations mapping their first theory of change, to state government departments needing monitoring and evaluation plans for multi-year, multi-program portfolios. Our evaluation framework specialists bring a collaborative approach, working alongside your team to ensure the framework reflects your program's real context and can actually be implemented.

When do you need an evaluation framework?

There are several common situations where investing in evaluation planning pays off.

Launching a new program

Building in evaluation from the start means you'll collect the right data from day one — and avoid scrambling to reconstruct outcomes later.

Meeting funder requirements

Many government and philanthropic funders require a monitoring and evaluation plan or MERI framework as part of program delivery. We help you meet these requirements meaningfully, not just on paper.

Redesigning or scaling a program

When a program evolves, its evaluation approach needs to evolve too. We help you update program logic and measurement approaches to reflect what the program actually does now.

Government reporting and accountability

For programs subject to PGPA Act requirements, Commonwealth grant acquittals, or state government performance frameworks, a robust evaluation framework provides the evidence architecture you need.

Aligning stakeholders

A logic model workshop can bring diverse stakeholders together around a shared understanding of what a program is trying to achieve — clarifying assumptions that often go unstated.

Preparing for evaluation

If you know an evaluation is coming — whether it's a mid-term review or a final evaluation — getting the framework right now ensures you'll have the data you need when the time comes.

What we deliver

Our evaluation framework specialists work collaboratively with your team. We don't develop frameworks in isolation — we facilitate workshops, test assumptions, and make sure the final product is something your team can realistically implement and use.

Evaluation frameworks & plans

We develop comprehensive evaluation frameworks and monitoring, evaluation, reporting and improvement (MERI) plans that set out your evaluation questions, key indicators, data sources, collection methods, timelines and reporting processes. These range from concise plans for smaller programs through to detailed frameworks for large government portfolios.

Program logic models & theories of change

We facilitate collaborative workshops with program teams and stakeholders to develop program logic models and theories of change. These make explicit the causal pathways between what your program does and the outcomes it's seeking to achieve, and they form the backbone of any strong evaluation framework.

Evaluation Framework & Theory of Change Projects

Examples of our work developing evaluation frameworks, theories of change, logic models and evaluation plans.

Featured Project

Lawyer Wellbeing Systems Theory of Change

Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner

We co-designed a Systems Theory of Change for Lawyer Wellbeing, engaging over 1,100 legal professionals to map nearly 9,000 contributing factors across the legal ecosystem. Using our System Effects methodology, we distilled these into 45 influential factors spanning sector, organisational, interpersonal and individual levels — producing a comprehensive roadmap for systemic improvements in lawyer wellbeing across Victoria.

Systems Theory of Change Mental Health System Effects

View the Theory of Change

Featured Project

Monitoring & Evaluation Framework for the Child Safety Reform Implementation Monitor

Office of the Implementation Monitor (Tasmania)

We developed the monitoring and evaluation framework for Tasmania's independent oversight body tracking the government's progress implementing all 191 recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings. The framework provides a structured, transparent and evidence-based plan to assess reform effectiveness and ensure meaningful improvements in child safety.

Child Wellbeing Government Reform Framework Design

Organisational Theory of Change

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation

Working with the Foundation over multiple years to develop an organisational-level Theory of Change, complementing program-specific logic models and providing a cohesive narrative to guide their overarching work.

Theory of Change Food Education

View on SAKGF website

Sustainability Fund Evaluation Framework

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Reviewing and updating the Sustainability Fund Evaluation Framework and developing evaluation plans aligned to it — part of a broader body of work building evaluation capability across the Environment and Community Programs branch.

State Government Environment

View Sustainability Fund

Organisational Evaluation Framework & Stakeholder Ecosystem Mapping

Gippsland Women's Health

Developing an organisational evaluation framework and stakeholder ecosystem mapping product, including logic models, key evaluation questions, indicators and network maps drawn from CRM data.

Women's Health Organisational Framework

Flying-Fox Habitat Restoration Program Design & Evaluation Plan

Local Government NSW

Designing the program framework and evaluation plan for an initiative helping NSW councils research, restore and build flying-fox habitats.

NRM Program Design

View MERI framework

Related evaluation services

Program Evaluation

Evaluation Capability Building

All Evaluation Services

Need an evaluation framework?

Whether you're starting from scratch or updating an existing plan, we'll work with your team to develop an evaluation framework that's practical, useful and fit for purpose.

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Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner

Lawyer Wellbeing Systems Theory of Change

Systems Theory of Change Mental Health System Effects Co-design

The Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner (VLSB+C) engaged us to co-design a Systems Theory of Change for Lawyer Wellbeing. Evidence shows that wellbeing, competence and conduct are interlinked, and that solutions need to go beyond individual resilience to address systemic issues within the profession and legal ecosystem.

We engaged over 1,100 legal professionals — including students, lawyers, legal educators, professional associations, judiciary and wellbeing specialists — to map nearly 9,000 contributing factors using our System Effects methodology. These were distilled into 45 influential factors spanning sector, organisational, interpersonal and individual levels.

Following the launch of the Theory of Change, we continue to collaborate with the VLSB+C on follow-up projects including a Client Experiences System Effects Survey, a Survey of Barristers, and implementation support to translate the Theory of Change across different organisational settings.

Methods & Approach

System Effects methodology Online survey Co-design workshops Document review Drop-in revision workshops

View the Theory of Change

Office of the Implementation Monitor (Tasmania)

Monitoring & Evaluation Framework for the Child Safety Reform Implementation Monitor

Child Wellbeing Government Reform Framework Design

The Tasmanian Government pledged to implement all 191 recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings. A key element of this commitment was the establishment of the Child Safety Reform Implementation Monitor — an independent oversight body tasked with tracking, evaluating, and reporting on progress.

We were commissioned to develop a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework providing a structured, transparent, and evidence-based plan to track reform progress, assess the effectiveness of government actions, and ensure that the response leads to meaningful improvements in child safety, institutional accountability, and support for those with lived experience. The project also informed the development of the Monitor's first Annual Report.

Methods & Approach

Document review Logic model workshop Stakeholder workshops Data analysis Virtual interviews

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation

Organisational Theory of Change

Theory of Change Food Education Community Engagement

FPC has been a partner with the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation over multiple years on evaluation projects. While a Theory of Change existed for the Kitchen Garden Program, the Foundation identified the need for an organisational-level model.

We worked with staff at the Foundation to conceptualise and design an Organisational Theory of Change. This involved reviewing Theory of Change models from other organisations and facilitating a series of workshops with staff to develop the content. The result provides the organisation with a clear and cohesive narrative to guide their overarching work — from the primary school Kitchen Garden Program through to their expanding work in secondary schools, early years and community settings.

Methods & Approach

Theory of Change workshops Document review Exemplar analysis

View on SAKGF website

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Sustainability Fund Evaluation Framework

State Government Environment Evaluation Framework

The Sustainability Fund is a major Victorian Government funding mechanism supporting programs across environment, climate change, biodiversity and sustainability. We were engaged by DELWP to review and update the Sustainability Fund Evaluation Framework as part of a broader body of work known as the 'Evaluation Challenge'.

This encompassed reviewing the Sustainability Fund Evaluation Framework and the Biodiversity 2037 Evaluation Framework to identify processes for incorporation into business as usual, developing evaluation plans for programs worth up to $40 million, undertaking lapsing program evaluations, and designing and delivering evaluation training and coaching to the entire Environment and Community Programs branch. The Evaluation Challenge was designed to increase evaluative capability across the branch and act as a model for the rest of the Department.

Methods & Approach

Framework review Evaluation plan development Workshops Training and coaching Document review

View Sustainability Fund activities

Gippsland Women's Health

Organisational Evaluation Framework & Stakeholder Ecosystem Mapping

Women's Health Organisational Framework Stakeholder Mapping

Gippsland Women's Health (GWH) is the leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the health and wellbeing of women and girls in the Gippsland region of Victoria, as part of the Victorian Women's Health Program.

GWH engaged us to develop two key products. First, an Organisational Evaluation Framework to support the consistent application of evaluation processes across their various projects and activities. Second, a Stakeholder Ecosystem Mapping product to understand where GWH sits within its network, who is connected to whom, and what that means for their work. We worked closely with the GWH Leadership team to develop organisational-level logic models, key evaluation questions, indicators, and data collection approaches. The stakeholder mapping drew on the organisation's CRM to create network maps.

Methods & Approach

Workshops Logic model development CRM data analysis Social network mapping

Local Government NSW

Flying-Fox Habitat Restoration Program Design & Evaluation Plan

NRM Biodiversity Program Design

The Flying-Fox Habitat Restoration program is an initiative run by Local Government New South Wales and funded by the NSW Environmental Trust to help councils research, restore and build flying-fox habitats.

We were engaged to design the program framework and associated evaluation plan to best meet the program's conservation goals, ensuring that councils had a clear structure for delivering restoration activities and measuring their ecological outcomes.

Methods & Approach

Workshops Document review Program design MERI framework development

View the MERI framework