How and why we work
What is a Theory of Change?
A Theory of Change (ToC) is a detailed representation of how an organization aims to create change. It lays out the specific cause and effect relationships between the organization’s initial output activities, immediate and intermediate outcomes, and the larger change they are working towards.
Having a ToC is an invaluable tool for ensuring that all of an organization’s activities stay aligned with their mission and contribute to creating the desired and lasting change. It is also very helpful for explaining to donors, participants, and all other interested parties how exactly the organization is working to create change.
ToCs can also be used on the programmatic level, in addition to the organizational level, to lay out the steps to impact for a specific project or program. At V2I, we have been developing project-specific ToCs for some time.
Now, having a clearly defined, overarching ToC will help guide all of our work, including the development of project-specific ToCs, and ensure that we continue to stay aligned with our goals from start to finish, today and into the future.
Pathways to Change
Connect & Partner: Connect local participants and volunteers from across the world and partner with NGOs and corporate leaders to co-create opportunities for human connection and co-learning.
Learn & Train: Learn about the issue(s) and context with local leaders and provide training that harnesses collective intelligence.
Build & Test: Build tech and business programming or products with local partners, leveraging corporate and volunteer resources, and test tools and processes to practice digital resilience.
Unlocking purpose, potential, and impact
Our approach
Venture 2 Impact uses human centered design and design thinking to solve complex challenges by linking global communities to skilled volunteers. We leverage untapped skills to create lasting impact. Through education, economic development, and empowerment projects, we work to equip NGOs, participants, and volunteers with skills, resources, and knowledge to advance gender equity, education, economic opportunity, and well-being.
Our Approach to Human Centered Design (Accessible Text Version)
1. Align & Empathize:
- Learn about our audience
- Establish research parameters & goals
2. Discover:
- Needs, motivations, & barriers
- Capture stories & observations
3. Define:
- Synthesize insights
- Tell stories, create a point of view
4. Ideate:
- How might we address needs?
- Propose possibilities & challenge assumptions
5. Prototype:
- Build Minimum Viable Product or Experience
- Implement rapidly for testing
6. Testing:
- Test prototype with intended audience
- Capture experiences and feedback
- Iterate & improve
Our Impact
CREATING LASTING RESULTS
Our Progress Towards Impact
1
M +
people have indirectly benefited from V2I projects and programs
1
M $
raised for V2I projects and program
1
+
volunteers who have co-created impact
1
%
of participants who benefited from V2I projects and programs are women and girls
10
+
volunteer hours
1
Countries where V2I has implemented projects
We’re linking global communities to create lasting impact
We have isolated five Sustainable Development Goals to focus our efforts and project outcomes on. Check out how we’re examining and enhancing progress toward the goals.
#1 End poverty in all its forms everywhere
our goal
Increase capacity of local partners who are focused on poverty alleviation by leveraging technology and training to impact more community members
how?
Host NGO training and mentor sessions, or new or scaled projects and programs to increase capacity, reach and impact
#4 Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
our goal
Improve equitable access to education and learning for NGO staff and community members, especially youth, women, and girls
how?
Recruit, train, and employ local staff and community members, especially women and girls, to receive training or deliver train-the-trainer models
#5 Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
our goal
Increase support in project communities for women and girls’ economic participation, empowerment, and decision-making
how?
Engage women and girls in the design and delivery of our projects, develop projects specifically targeted at women and girls, and work with local women’s rights groups.
#8 Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
Our goal
Improve the successful transition of youth and women & girls into the workforce and society
how?
Provide technical and soft skills training, as well as opportunities for social inclusion and business development
#17 Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
our goal
Increase partnerships with international organizations and communities to improve capacity and resilience in sustainable development
how?
Seek partnerships with NGOs and communities representing historically underserved groups
Case Studies
40,000 STUDENTS REACHED
Empowering promising, underrepresented young people with the skills, confidence, experiences, and networks necessary to transition from college to strong first jobs
Digital Literacy for the Formerly Incarcerated
Reducing recidivism and increase employment of the formerly incarcerated by supporting their transition back into the workforce
Entrepreneurship Training in East Oakland
Improving racial and economic equality in East Oakland through business and entrepreneurship training and support
E-commerce for survivors of human trafficking
Providing female survivors of human trafficking with the training required to launch e-commerce platforms
NGO TRAINING 2020
How our 2020 NGO training series benefited nonprofit organizations around the world
YOUTH MENTORSHIP IN THE GAMBIA
Training and mentoring Gambian youth to become entrepreneurs
