Resource library · free toolkits, templates and guides
The practical library for people who build nonprofits
211 really practical toolkits, templates and guides for nonprofit and NGO leaders, and the consultants and funders who support them. A mix of the classics and newer methods.
Suggestions are welcome211 resources · 15 topics · 137 publishers · 197 free to use
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11 resources found
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- 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 - 2.2C024
How to Develop Your Intended Impact and Theory of Change
A free toolkit that helps a nonprofit leadership team define its intended impact and theory of change. Intended impact names who the organisation serves, where and what outcomes it commits to over 5 to 10 years. Theory of change sets out how its approaches and partners get there. Each leader drafts both, the team merges the drafts, then pressure-tests the result with research and stakeholder conversations. It sits with an article using YW Boston as a case study.
CurrentTool or templateFree - 7.1C086
A Practical Guide to Nonprofit Measurement, Evaluation, and Learning
A guide for nonprofits of any size on setting up measurement, evaluation and learning with limited resources. It works through 3 steps: define outcomes and metrics from your theory of change, measure them without overloading staff and clients, and learn and improve through a dashboard and regular data reviews. It also covers when a formal evaluation is worth the cost and how to start without a data team.
EmergingKey manual or guideFree - 7.5C101
The Compass
A plain-language introduction to outcomes and social impact measurement from the Centre for Social Impact in Australia. It explains the key topics, concepts, questions and principles of measuring outcomes, for people who want to know whether and how their work creates change and how to communicate it. It is written as a starting point and avoids jargon. Small and large organisations use it before choosing a framework.
ClassicKey manual or guideFree - 2.2C021
Logic Model Development Guide
A guide to building and using a programme logic model, written as a companion to the Kellogg Evaluation Handbook. Chapter 1 introduces logic models with samples. Chapter 2 gives exercises for building a simple model, with checklists and a template. Chapter 3 shows how to expand it into a theory of change. Chapter 4 uses logic modelling to shape an evaluation plan. Appendices hold resources and blank forms. Programme staff and evaluators use it to plan and evaluate work.
ClassicKey manual or guideFree - 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 - 11.1C144
Good Practice Review 8: Humanitarian Security Risk Management
The 3rd edition of a widely used reference on security risk management for humanitarian organisations. Practitioner experts revised it over 3 years. Its 7 chapters cover foundations, ecosystems, organisational and operational elements, people, technology, and specific threats. The 2025 edition adds a person-centred approach, the security burden on national and local actors, partnership security, access and deconfliction, and digital risks such as disinformation and surveillance. Security managers use it to design policies and plans.
CurrentKey manual or guideFree - 3.1C030
Charity Governance Code
A voluntary governance code for UK charities of any size. It sets out 8 principles with 41 outcomes, and each principle comes with suggested behaviours, examples of policies and processes, and suggested evidence of good governance. Boards apply it on an apply or explain basis and are encouraged to publish a short statement in their annual report on how they use it. Smaller charities can use it to spot gaps as they grow.
CurrentKey manual or guideFree - 5.3C071
Creating Cultures and Practices for Racial Equity
A toolbox from Race Forward for arts and cultural organisations working on racial equity. It opens with a glossary and steps for building equity into culture and practice, then gives 5 tools: an organisational equity impacts and outcomes assessment, a choice points worksheet, DreamYard's Equity Prime, the R.A.C.E. Lens and a values-based equity tool. Teams use the worksheets to review policies, programmes, grantmaking, contracts and budgets.
CurrentTool or templateFree - 7.2C089
Outcome Harvesting
A brief that introduces outcome harvesting, a participatory method for identifying, verifying and making sense of outcomes when cause and effect are unclear. The evaluator collects evidence of what changed and works back to assess whether and how the intervention contributed. It explains the core concepts and steps. Evaluators and teams use it for advocacy, policy and other complex work where results cannot be set in advance.
ClassicKey manual or guideFree - 7.3C094
Evaluation Flash Cards
A set of 25 one-page cards by Michael Quinn Patton, each explaining one evaluation idea in plain terms with an example from Otto Bremer grants. Topics include evaluation questions, logic models, theory of change, outcomes versus indicators, triangulation, formative, summative and developmental evaluation, and lessons learned. Teams pick a card to discuss in staff or board meetings to build evaluative thinking.
ClassicTool or templateFree
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