If you need help using the tool, want to report a bug, or have feedback to share, get in touch via email by contacting the TASO team at research@taso.org.uk.

For wider guidance on developing theories of change and using them to inform evaluations, including examples, templates, and best practices, visit the TASO website.

TASO’s Theory of Change Builder can help you to create and refine theories of change in a structured, user-friendly way. It's designed to support you with developing interventions, understanding how change happens, and preparing for robust evaluation.

You can use the tool to:

• build a new theory of change from scratch
• explore suggestions from a library of examples
• switch between high-level (Core) and detailed (Enhanced) version of your theory of change
• create a narrative explanation to support your Enhanced Theory of Change (EToC)
• save your work locally or export it for sharing

A Core Theory of Change (CToC) provides a high-level overview of the issue you are trying to address (your problem statement), the changes you want to achieve (your outcomes) and how you plan to achieve those changes (your activities). A CToC is presented as a simple visual diagram.

An Enhanced Theory of Change (EToC) builds upon the CToC to provide a more detailed account of the different sections of your theory of change. It includes an extended written narrative explaining how the change will come about, supported by evidence. An EToC diagram includes arrows to visually map out the pathways from activities to impact.

The tool is aimed at beginner to intermediate-level practitioners. If you're already confident in developing theories of change and need a more flexible approach, you might prefer a creative diagramming tool like Lucidchart or Miro.

Your projects are automatically saved to your browser without you needing to create an account. This means that if you use a different browser or switch devices, your projects will not be available locally. However, you can export your work to re-import later or share with others. If you clear your cache, your projects will no longer be saved to your browser. Please make sure to download your work regularly to ensure you do not lose your work.

The tool works best on a desktop or laptop. It’s possible to view and edit on tablets, but small-screen devices are not fully supported.

When you're ready, read on for more details or head to the Dashboard to create or open a project.

The dashboard is your starting point for managing projects in the tool. From here, you can create, open, duplicate or delete projects, as well as explore a library of examples.

Create a new project

Click New Project to start from scratch. You’ll be prompted to name your project and can also add tags to help organise your projects according to the student lifecycle stage they correspond to.

Create a new version of a project

Once you have started your project, you can easily make new versions by clicking New version. This will copy all the content from your existing theory of change, ready to be updated. You can give the new version a name and description to keep track of different versions.

Open an existing project

All of your projects are automatically saved to your browser. Your most recently created or updated projects are available on the dashboard under Your projects. Click a project in the list to open it in the editor, or click All projects to find an older project.

Note: If you clear your browser cache or switch devices, locally saved projects will be lost. Use the export function to save a copy. Please download your work regularly.

Import a project

Use Import to upload a TOC Builder project file previously downloaded from the tool. This restores the project exactly as it was when you exported it.

Explore sample projects

These are examples from real or representative interventions, designed to help you get started quickly or see good practice in action. If you find an example project for a similar initiative or intervention to your own, you can load it into the editor and adjust it as needed.

The editor is where you create and refine your theory of change. It has two views: Core and Enhanced, which you can switch between at any time. Both views stay in sync as you work, so changing the details of an Activity in the Core view will update the same Activity in the Enhanced view and vice versa. In the ToC Builder, each section includes help, guidance, and examples to support you in completing your theory of change.

Core editor

The Core editor is used to create a high-level theory of change, focused on clarity and simplicity. At TASO, we present the Core Theory of Change (CToC) as a simple diagram.

In the CToC editor, you can:

• specify the Problem statement
• add individual Inputs, Activities, Outcomes, and Impacts
• capture the broad Causal pathways through which your intervention will achieve its impact, and the Moderating factors that may influence its success
• lay the groundwork for creating a more detailed Enhanced Theory of Change (EToC).

If you are creating a theory of change from scratch, we recommend starting with the section that you know best. For example, you may have already defined your activity and need to map the outcomes and impact you hope it will lead to – in which case you would start by completing the Inputs and Activities sections.

Or you may know the impact you want to achieve and need to identify the activities you will need to undertake to get there – in which case you would start with Impact and work your way back through the Outcomes to the Activities. When creating your theory of change, it is likely that you will go back and forth between sections, so there is flexibility to the order you complete it in.

The ToC Builder is set up to work best if you start by creating a CToC and use it as the basis to create an EToC.

Enhanced editor

The Enhanced editor builds on your CToC by mapping the causal pathways in your theory of change in a more granular way, by adding arrows to your diagram. The EToC also includes a more detailed written narrative which explains the change mechanisms supporting the causal pathways in your theory of change, as well as the evidence to support this. At TASO, we present the EToC as a diagram with an accompanying written narrative.

In the EToC editor, you can:

• add more detail to the sections outlined in your CToC
• draw out specific Causal pathways by linking items in the theory of change diagram
• add Change mechanisms to your Causal pathways to explain how and why change is expected to occur

The Enhanced editor includes additional help and guidance to explain how you can expand on the content in your CToC.

Your work is automatically saved to your browser as you go. There is no login or save button as changes are stored locally in real time. If you clear your cache, use a different browser, or switch devices, your projects will not be available unless you’ve exported a copy. Please export your work regularly to ensure you don’t lose it.

Exporting your project

You can export your project at any time to save a backup, move between devices, or share it with colleagues. The tool supports three export types:

• Project file: A complete copy of your project which can be imported back into the ToC Builder at any time.
• Diagrams: Both Core and Enhanced diagrams can be exported as editable PowerPoint slides for presentations or reports. You can change the colour of the diagrams before you export them and edit them in PowerPoint if you want to add additional branding or customisation.
• Narrative: Export the EToC as a narrative in a Word-compatible format, ready for editing or submission.

Importing a project

To continue work on a previously saved project, use the Import option on the dashboard and select a project package file exported from the tool.

Renaming and deleting projects

You can rename and delete existing projects under Project details.

Important Notes

• Projects are saved locally in your browser. If you clear your cache, use a different browser, or switch devices, your projects will not be available unless you’ve exported a copy. Therefore it is important to save exported copies of your project files on a regular basis.
• The tool does not store any of your data on a server — everything stays on your device.

• Start with your problem statement, then consider how you will address it.
• Once you have identified your problem statement, continue with the section of the theory of change that you know the most about. If the initiative is new, start with the outcomes and work backwards so that the activities are designed to achieve the end goal. For pre-existing initiatives, it is usually easier to start with activities and inputs, then the outcomes, then the causal pathways.
• Be specific in your outcomes — define what change you expect, for whom, and by when.
• Check the logic of your theory of change in your causal pathways and change mechanisms. Make sure each activity connects to an outcome and each outcome connects to an activity. Consider what contextual factors or assumptions might influence the success of your intervention.
• Consider evaluation from the start and think about what success would look like at each stage.
• If your EToC diagram includes many arrows and is beginning to look too complex, consider focusing on the narrative to explain the reasoning and context of the theory of change.
• Co-create ToCs when you can by involving colleagues, students, practitioners and other stakeholders. The process of creating a theory of change is just as useful as the theory of change itself.
• Treat your theory of change as a living document and adapt it as you learn what works.
• Think about the audience to inform how much detail to include.

Can I access my project from another device?

Not automatically. Projects are saved to your current browser only. To work across devices, export your project as a TOC Builder package file using the export menu and import it on the other device.

What happens if I clear my browser data?

Clearing cookies or site data will remove your saved projects. To avoid losing your work, export a backup project file regularly.

Can I use the ToC Builder on a phone or tablet?

The tool may work on tablets, but it is optimised for desktop use. Smartphones and small-screen devices are not currently supported because of screen size and interface constraints.

Is my data secure?

Yes. Your projects are stored entirely on your own device and the tool does not upload or track any data. Nothing is stored on a server or shared without your action.

Can I share a project with a colleague?

Yes. You can export the project file from the export menu and share it with a colleague via email or upload it to a shared drive. Your colleague can then import the file to their device from the dashboard.

Can I share my project with TASO?

Yes. You can export the project file from the export menu and email it to research@taso.org.uk to share it with TASO. This is useful if you’d like to highlight an example of good practice or are reporting a bug. TASO does not have access to your projects in the ToC Builder otherwise.

Does the tool support collaboration?

The ToC Builder is a single-user tool with no online syncing or live editing. This means multiple users are not able to edit a theory of change simultaneously, like you might do in a shared Google Doc or SharePoint file. If collaboration is important, you can work in turns by sharing exported project files or using the email sharing feature.

Can I include evidence or citations in my theory of change?

Yes. Each section can be edited freely, and you’re encouraged to reference supporting evidence, assumptions or prior evaluations where relevant. There is a reference section where you can add full references at the end of each project.

Is there a limit to how many projects I can create?

No. You can create as many as your browser storage allows. Just remember to export any important work as backups.