Nonprofit Program Design & Logic Model Development

“This course contains the use of artificial intelligence.”

Designing a nonprofit program that actually works means more than good intentions — it means connecting your resources, activities, and goals in a way that creates measurable change. This course gives program directors, managers, and grant writers a clear, step-by-step process for building programs that deliver results and earn funder confidence.

You'll start by learning how to conduct needs assessments that uncover real community problems — not just what you assume people need. From there, you'll write goals and outcomes that are specific, measurable, and aligned with your mission. You'll identify the right inputs, design evidence-based activities, and sequence them in a way that makes logical sense.

The centerpiece of the course is the logic model — a visual tool that maps the connection between what you invest, what you do, and the change you create. You'll build a complete logic model for a real program you're working on, learning how to test your assumptions, fill logical gaps, and refine your model based on feedback. You'll also learn how to adapt your logic model for grant proposals and align every budget line to program outcomes.

Beyond design, the course covers implementation planning, risk management, and how to build an evaluation framework that helps you measure progress and improve over time. You'll finish with a full logic model and action plan ready to use in your work.

Every lesson includes a practical exercise tied to a real program you choose at the start of the course, so you leave with something you can use immediately — not just theory.