Impact Investing Library

A curated collection of research, frameworks, and tools — organized by topic and mapped to The Impact Thesis Blueprint.

Topic
Impact Thesis Theory of Change Measurement Returns Due Diligence Fund Design Sectors Policy Reporting Market
Blueprint Section
M1: Overview M2: Strategy M3: Understand M4: Invest M5: Project M6: Finalize
Type
Annual Report Article Blended Finance Book Case Study Climate Crowdfunding Employee Ownership Framework Guide Index Platform Report Toolkit Video Working Paper
All Topics Impact Thesis Theory of Change Measurement Returns Due Diligence Fund Design Sectors Policy Reporting Market

Theory of Change

A theory of change is the logical framework that traces the causal path from investment to impact. It connects five stages — from the initial capital contribution and the activities it funds, through to the outputs, outcomes, and long-term impact those activities produce.

The concept originates in program evaluation and international development, where practitioners needed to demonstrate not just that outcomes occurred, but that specific interventions caused them. Impact investing adopted this framework because it addresses the same fundamental question: how does money become change?

In practice, a theory of change requires identifying the assumptions embedded in each causal link. If you invest in a company that provides affordable housing, you are assuming that housing affordability is a binding constraint for the target population, that the company's model can deliver at the price point required, and that the provision of housing will produce downstream effects on health, education, or economic stability. Each assumption is testable. Each can be supported or undermined by evidence.

The Blueprint's architecture is built on a theory of change. It aligns the impact pathway and integrates complementary models to trace the logical connections between contribution and result. The resources here support that process from multiple angles.

An Impact Economy Built for the 21st Century
World Economic Forum
WEF report on building impact economy addressing global challenges through stakeholder capitalism.
ReportM2: Strategy
Archetypes and Personas
Yale University
Guide to using user archetypes and personas in human-centered design.
GuideM2: Strategy
Community Stakeholders
Neighborhood Economics
Framework for identifying and engaging community stakeholders in economic development.
GuideM2: Strategy
Developing Indicators - Theory of Change
TheoryOfChange.org
Guidance on developing measurable indicators to track progress against a Theory of Change.
GuideM2: Strategy
Ethical Finance Hub
Ethical Finance Hub
Platform connecting stakeholders in ethical finance with resources and networking.
PlatformM2: Strategy
Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources
University of Minnesota Crookston
Distinguishes between primary, secondary, and tertiary sources for research and data collection.
GuideM2: Strategy
Theory of Change
Triodos Investment Management
Explains how Triodos Investment Management uses Theory of Change to guide its impact strategy.
GuideM2: Strategy
Theory of Change: UNDAF Companion Guidance
UN Sustainable Development Group
UN guidance on developing a Theory of Change for sustainable development programming.
ReportM2: Strategy
User Journey Maps
Yale University
Explains how to create user journey maps to understand user experiences and touchpoints.
GuideM2: Strategy
What's the Difference Between Human-Centered Design and Design Thinking?
IDEO
Clarifies the distinction and overlap between human-centered design and design thinking methodologies.
GuideM2: Strategy

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