| # Atlas Network Academy — theory of change |
# Atlas Network Academy — theory of change |
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| ## The change we expect |
## The change we expect |
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| Trained partner leaders run more effective organizations and more |
Trained partner leaders run more effective organizations and more |
| effective campaigns, producing measurable policy and cultural wins that |
effective campaigns, producing measurable policy and cultural wins that |
| compound across the network and across time. |
compound across the network and across time. |
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| ## Chain of logic |
## Chain of logic |
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| ### Inputs |
### Inputs |
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| - `[FILL: total trainer hours / FY]` |
- `[FILL: total trainer hours / FY]` |
| - `[FILL: curriculum development investment]` |
- `[FILL: curriculum development investment]` |
| - Mentor network: `[FILL: rough count of active mentors]` |
- Mentor network: `[FILL: rough count of active mentors]` |
| - Peer cohort effect across `[FILL: N]` tracks |
- Peer cohort effect across `[FILL: N]` tracks |
| - `[FILL: scholarship funding for partner attendance]` |
- `[FILL: scholarship funding for partner attendance]` |
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| ### Activities |
### Activities |
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| - Six certification and training tracks delivered annually (see |
- Six certification and training tracks delivered annually (see |
| `programs.yaml` for the catalog) |
`programs.yaml` for the catalog) |
| - In-person and online formats with `[FILL: ratio]` |
- In-person and online formats with `[FILL: ratio]` |
| - Professional Summits convening specialists in policy, ops, and |
- Professional Summits convening specialists in policy, ops, and |
| communications |
communications |
| - Executive coaching for CEO and CMO peers |
- Executive coaching for CEO and CMO peers |
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| ### Outputs |
### Outputs |
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| - `[FILL: target N]` individuals trained per year (public target: 1,000+) |
- `[FILL: target N]` individuals trained per year (public target: 1,000+) |
| - Cohort completion at `[FILL: target %]` |
- Cohort completion at `[FILL: target %]` |
| - `[FILL: N]` Executive Accelerator coaching relationships per year |
- `[FILL: N]` Executive Accelerator coaching relationships per year |
| - `[FILL: N]` Professional Summits per year |
- `[FILL: N]` Professional Summits per year |
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| ### Outcomes (0–12 months post-training) |
### Outcomes (0–12 months post-training) |
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| - `[FILL: target % of alumni applying ALA frameworks in their org's |
- `[FILL: target % of alumni applying ALA frameworks in their org's |
| strategy, measured via follow-up survey]` |
strategy, measured via follow-up survey]` |
| - `[FILL: target % of alumni launching a sustained campaign within 12 |
- `[FILL: target % of alumni launching a sustained campaign within 12 |
| months — this is the headline outcome metric]` |
months — this is the headline outcome metric]` |
| - `[FILL: target N partner orgs reporting measurable improvement in |
- `[FILL: target N partner orgs reporting measurable improvement in |
| fundraising / governance / comms post-training]` |
fundraising / governance / comms post-training]` |
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| ### Outcomes (12–36 months) |
### Outcomes (12–36 months) |
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| - `[FILL: partner-led campaigns achieving policy change at meaningful |
- `[FILL: partner-led campaigns achieving policy change at meaningful |
| scale — describe what counts and the target count]` |
scale — describe what counts and the target count]` |
| - `[FILL: alumni advancing to senior roles within partner orgs or |
- `[FILL: alumni advancing to senior roles within partner orgs or |
| founding new orgs]` |
founding new orgs]` |
| - `[FILL: network effects — alumni mentoring next-cohort alumni]` |
- `[FILL: network effects — alumni mentoring next-cohort alumni]` |
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| ### Impact (3–10 years) |
### Impact (3–10 years) |
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| Strengthened partner-org capacity across the Atlas network produces a |
Strengthened partner-org capacity across the Atlas network produces a |
| deeper, more durable supply of credible voices for free societies. Over |
deeper, more durable supply of credible voices for free societies. Over |
| time, this raises the marginal effectiveness of every Atlas dollar |
time, this raises the marginal effectiveness of every Atlas dollar |
| spent — partners need less hand-holding and produce more sophisticated |
spent — partners need less hand-holding and produce more sophisticated |
| work. |
work. |
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| ## Assumptions |
## Assumptions |
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| - **Authority assumption.** ALA participants return to organizations |
- **Authority assumption.** ALA participants return to organizations |
| with enough authority to apply what they learned. Without that, |
with enough authority to apply what they learned. Without that, |
| training is "consumed" individually but doesn't translate to |
training is "consumed" individually but doesn't translate to |
| organizational change. |
organizational change. |
| - **Selection assumption.** Atlas's selection process identifies |
- **Selection assumption.** Atlas's selection process identifies |
| participants whose orgs are positioned to grow. If selection is |
participants whose orgs are positioned to grow. If selection is |
| noisy, outcomes vary widely regardless of training quality. |
noisy, outcomes vary widely regardless of training quality. |
| - **Network assumption.** The peer-cohort effect is real and durable — |
- **Network assumption.** The peer-cohort effect is real and durable — |
| alumni stay in touch, refer work to each other, and reinforce ALA |
alumni stay in touch, refer work to each other, and reinforce ALA |
| frameworks over time. If alumni drift away from the network, the |
frameworks over time. If alumni drift away from the network, the |
| long-tail effect disappears. |
long-tail effect disappears. |
| - `[FILL: any program-specific assumption Alex Sloane wants to call |
- `[FILL: any program-specific assumption Alex Sloane wants to call |
| out]` |
out]` |
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| ## Evidence base |
## Evidence base |
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| - `[FILL: post-program survey data — response rate, key findings]` |
- `[FILL: post-program survey data — response rate, key findings]` |
| - `[FILL: 12-month follow-up survey results from FY24/25 cohorts]` |
- `[FILL: 12-month follow-up survey results from FY24/25 cohorts]` |
| - `[FILL: longitudinal partner tracking via Network Outreach]` |
- `[FILL: longitudinal partner tracking via Network Outreach]` |
| - `[FILL: comparable programs in the academic literature on adult |
- `[FILL: comparable programs in the academic literature on adult |
| professional development — cite 1–2 relevant findings]` |
professional development — cite 1–2 relevant findings]` |
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| ## Last reviewed |
## Last reviewed |
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| `[FILL: Alex Sloane, date]` |
`[FILL: Alex Sloane, date]` |
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