Skip to content
AI ToolkitBeta
Back to library
Learning & impactCEOProgramme lead

Design a theory of change workshop

Plan a half-day theory of change session for a new or refreshed programme.

Fill in the details

4 placeholders

Type your details in and we'll drop them into the template. Empty slots stay as tokens so nothing goes missing.

Prompt template

Design a 3.5-hour theory of change workshop for {{association_name}}'s programme on {{programme_topic}}.

Participants: {{participants}} (mix of staff, young people, and community partners).

Deliver:
1. Timing plan with breaks
2. A gentle way to build a shared definition of the problem — that doesn't assume everyone already agrees
3. An activity to surface long-term outcomes vs short-term outputs
4. An activity to name the assumptions we're making
5. A way to include young people's language, not paraphrase it
6. What we take away on paper by the end

Tone: {{communication_tone}}.

Replace each highlighted placeholder with real context. Keep names and safeguarding details out.

Human review checklist

Tick each before you send or publish the output.

When to use this prompt

Reach for this prompt when you need to plan a half-day theory of change session for a new or refreshed programme. It's designed for CEO, Programme lead, Ops lead. Typically used within Strategy work.

Draft with AI, then have a colleague verify facts and tone before use.

How to use it
  1. 1

    Gather your inputs

    You'll need: programme_topic, participants.
  2. 2

    Fill in the highlighted placeholders

    Copy the template above and replace every highlighted placeholder with real, local context.
  3. 3

    Run it in your AI tool

    Paste into your preferred AI assistant. Ask a follow-up if the output misses your association's tone.
  4. 4

    Work through the checklist

    Tick every item before you send, publish or act on the output.
Why this prompt works

Prompts for the moment most theory-of-change sessions skip — naming assumptions and letting young people's language survive intact.

Was this useful?

Sign in to leave feedback and shape which prompts stay in the library.

YMCA AI Adoption Toolkit

A practical library, guided context and safeguards so YMCA staff, volunteers and young leaders can use AI safely, confidently and locally.

Aligned with YMCA Vision 2030. Human review, always.

Toolkit

Your work

Safeguarding

    Never enter identifying information about children, health or safeguarding cases into any AI tool. AI drafts, humans decide.

This toolkit is in beta. Its content was created with AI assistance and may contain errors — review outputs carefully, use your judgement, and follow your organisation's policies.

© 2026 YMCA AI Adoption Toolkit

Adapt every prompt to your local YMCA.