Shifting the dial
How to take an impact-focused approach to your policy change campaigns
A 16-page NPC guide for charities, funders and consultants who run or back policy change campaigns. It covers 3 areas: planning a campaign with impact in mind, choosing the right tools to evaluate it, and learning and improving as the campaign goes on. It draws on examples from several UK organisations. Teams use it to track progress, adjust strategy and respond to changes in the policy environment.
Keywords
How to cite
Charlotte Lamb, Katie Boswell (2017). Shifting the dial: How to take an impact-focused approach to your policy change campaigns. NPC (New Philanthropy Capital). https://www.thinknpc.org/resource-hub/shifting-the-dial/
Related in the library
- 9.4C126
Four Tools for Assessing Grantee Contribution to Advocacy Efforts
A brief from the Center for Evaluation Innovation for funders and evaluators who back advocacy. Policy wins usually come from many actors, so it is hard to say what one grantee added. The brief gives 4 tools for judging a single grantee's contribution to a shared advocacy effort. Funders can use the tools at the start of a grantee relationship to agree expectations, or at the end of a grant to review results.
ClassicTool or templateFree - 9.4C128
The Advocacy Strategy Framework
A brief from the Center for Evaluation Innovation that presents a 1-page tool for setting out the theory of change behind a public policy advocacy strategy. It poses 6 questions for advocates and funders to answer. The framework helps define audiences and how they need to change, consider where other advocates stand, and choose tactics and interim outcomes. Teams use it as a starting point in place of linear box-and-arrow diagrams.
Start hereClassicTool or templateFree - 7.1C085
Understanding Impact
A guide for charities that want to measure their impact. It shows how to turn a theory of change into a measurement plan, names 5 types of data to focus on and explains how to decide what to measure first. 7 mini-guides cover quantitative methods, qualitative data, sampling, evidence standards, research ethics, analysing and using data, and building a learning culture. It follows NPC's Theory of change in ten steps.
CurrentKey manual or guideFree
Related project ideas
Get expert help with communications and advocacy
Consulting and coaching projects built from 600+ real projects. Pick one, add your needs and hear from vetted consultants.
Advocacy campaign strategy & design
“You want to influence policy or shift public discourse but your advocacy efforts are unfocused — you don't know who to target, what to say, or how to mobilise others.”See project
Impact messaging & key narrative development
“Different staff say completely different things about your work — your messaging is inconsistent, too technical, or so vague it could apply to anyone.”See project
All 12 Communications & messaging project ideas
Work with a consultant or coach
Nonprofit Builder members can browse vetted consultants and coaches who work on communications and advocacy, and invite them to a project.
Suggestion box
Something to fix or add here?
Know a better resource on this subject, found a broken link, or spotted a mistake in this record? Tell us.
About C127 Shifting the dial
A person reads every message. A title, a link or a few words is enough.