URL: https://bwsmithconsulting.com/guides/how-to-build-a-logic-model/ Updated: 2026-11-09 Guide # How to build a logic model for a grant A step by step guide to building a logic model for a grant application or evaluation plan, with an example from a youth prevention program and common mistakes. By [Alyssa Gilbert](https://bwsmithconsulting.com/about/#alyssa-gilbert), MPH Reviewed by [Bonnie W. Smith](https://bwsmithconsulting.com/about/#bonnie-smith), MPH, CPH, CPP Updated November 9, 2026 In short A logic model is a one page picture of how your program is supposed to work: the resources you have, the activities you will run, what those activities produce, and the changes you expect as a result. Build it from right to left: start with the outcome you want, then work back to the activities and resources that will get you there. ## Key takeaways - Start with the long term outcome and work backward. - Keep outputs (what you do) and outcomes (what changes) separate. - Every outcome needs at least one indicator you can measure. - One page is the goal. If it does not fit, the program is not clear yet. ## What goes in a logic model Most logic models use five columns: Column | What it means | Example from a youth vaping prevention program | Inputs | What you have to work with | Coalition members, grant funds, school partners | Activities | What you will do | Classroom sessions, a parent campaign, retailer education | Outputs | What the activities produce, counted | Number of sessions held, students reached, retailers visited | Short term outcomes | Early changes | More students see vaping as risky | Long term outcomes | The change you are working toward | Fewer students report vaping in the past 30 days | ## Step 1: Start with the outcome Write down the long term change you want, as specifically as you can. "Reduce youth vaping" is a start. "Reduce past 30 day vaping among high school students in our town" is something you can measure. ## Step 2: Work backward Ask what has to change first for that outcome to happen. For vaping, research points to things like how risky young people think vaping is and how much they believe their parents disapprove. Those become your short term outcomes. ## Step 3: Choose activities that move those outcomes Each activity should connect to at least one short term outcome. If an activity does not connect to anything, either drop it or add the outcome it is meant to change. ## Step 4: Count the outputs Outputs are the countable products of your activities. They show you did the work. They are not proof that anything changed, which is why the outcomes columns matter. ## Step 5: Add indicators For every outcome, name how you will measure it. A youth survey can measure perceived risk and past 30 day use. Program records can measure outputs. If you cannot measure an outcome, rewrite it until you can. ## Common mistakes - **Mixing outputs and outcomes.** "Held 20 sessions" is an output. "Students who attended are more likely to see vaping as harmful" is an outcome. - **Promising too much.** A one year grant rarely changes community wide rates. Put realistic short term outcomes in the first years. - **Building it alone.** The people running the program should recognize their work in it. ## Get help with yours We build logic models and evaluation plans with grantees every year. If your application is due soon, [get in touch](https://bwsmithconsulting.com/contact/). ## Frequently asked questions **Is a logic model the same as a theory of change?** They are related. A theory of change explains why you believe the activities will lead to the outcomes. A logic model lays out the pieces in a simple table. Many funders ask for the logic model and expect the reasoning in your narrative. **How detailed should a logic model be?** Detailed enough that someone outside your organization can see how the activities lead to the outcomes, and short enough to fit on one page. **Do funders require a specific format?** Some do. Check the grant notice first. If no format is given, the classic columns of inputs, activities, outputs and outcomes work for almost every funder. ## Sources - [Logic Model Development Guide](https://search.issuelab.org/resource/logic-model-development-guide), W.K. Kellogg Foundation (2004) - [Program evaluation framework](https://www.cdc.gov/evaluation/php/evaluation-framework/index.html), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Planning an evaluation, assessment or survey? Tell us about your program, your community and your deadlines. The first conversation is how we figure out what you actually need. [Book a call](https://bwsmithconsulting.com/contact/#form) ## Related - [Glossary Logic model A logic model is a one page summary of how a program is expected to work, linking resources and activities to the outputs and outcomes it aims to achieve. Read](https://bwsmithconsulting.com/glossary/logic-model/) - [Free template Free logic model template A free, printable one page logic model template for grant applications and evaluation plans, with a worked example row and instructions for filling it in. Read](https://bwsmithconsulting.com/templates/logic-model-template/) - [Grant program Drug Free Communities grant evaluation What the Drug Free Communities Support Program funds, the core measures and reporting it requires, and how an evaluator helps coalitions plan, collect and report. Read](https://bwsmithconsulting.com/grants/drug-free-communities/) - [Who we serve Evaluation and youth surveys for prevention coalitions Youth surveys, core measures, evaluation plans and grant support for prevention coalitions, including Drug Free Communities and SPF grantees. Read](https://bwsmithconsulting.com/who-we-serve/prevention-coalitions/) - [Compare Internal vs external evaluator The pros and cons of using staff to evaluate your program versus hiring an outside evaluator, with questions to help you decide what fits your grant and budget. Read](https://bwsmithconsulting.com/compare/internal-vs-external-evaluator/) - [Service Program evaluation Outside program evaluation for prevention, treatment, recovery and community health programs, from evaluation plans and data collection to reports funders trust. Read](https://bwsmithconsulting.com/services/program-evaluation/) Planning an evaluation, assessment or survey? Tell us about your program, your community and your deadlines. The first conversation is how we figure out what you actually need. [Book a call](https://bwsmithconsulting.com/contact/#form)Call 860.995.5853