Design tips

Setup Your Project For Success

If you’re building a program and need a simple, proven structure, Setup Your Project for Success is our free, open-access toolkit designed for nonprofits and social enterprises.

Abayomi Ogundipe

Abayomi Ogundipe

1 min read
Setup Your Project For Success

Welcome

What you’ll get

  • Straightforward lessons + templates that turn high-level ideas into a clear plan.
  • Community-centered approach so your analysis and design reflect real voices.
  • Funder-ready outputs: a pathway from analysis to a proposal and budget you can submit.

Inside the toolkit

  1. Problem Tree Analysis → clarify the core problem and root causes
  2. Stakeholder Mapping & Engagement → identify who to involve and how
  3. Synthesize Insights (Affinity Diagrams) → turn notes into themes that guide action
  4. Theory of Change → connect activities to meaningful outcomes and impact
  5. Logical Framework (Logframe) → operationalize your plan with indicators and assumptions
  6. Activity Design → detailed, context-aware work plans
  7. Proposal Writing → communicate your approach with credibility
  8. Budget Estimation → realistic costs, leverage, and sustainability

Why teams like it

  • Evidence-based yet practical
  • Clear, repeatable process that reduces guesswork
  • Fits busy teams: short reads, actionable templates
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Diagram

Three-Layer Problem Tree Structure

Problem Tree

graph TB subgraph Effects["🌿 EFFECTS (Branches)
What happens because the problem exists?"] E1["Short-term Effects
Immediate consequences
(0-6 months)"] E2["Medium-term Effects
Developing impacts
(6 months - 2 years)"] E3["Long-term Effects
Lasting consequences
(2+ years)"] end CP["🌳 CORE PROBLEM (Trunk)
The central issue your project addresses

• Affects specific population
• In defined context
• Observable & measurable
• Urgent"] subgraph RootCauses["🌱 ROOT CAUSES (Roots)
Why does the problem exist?"] RC1["Level 1: Direct Causes
Immediate factors"] RC2["Level 2: Underlying Causes
Why direct causes exist"] RC3["Level 3: Structural Causes
Systems & conditions"] end CP --> E1 CP --> E2 CP --> E3 RC1 --> CP RC2 --> RC1 RC3 --> RC2 style Effects fill:#72B043,stroke:#007F4E,color:#fff style E1 fill:#A3D977,stroke:#72B043,color:#2A2A2A style E2 fill:#A3D977,stroke:#72B043,color:#2A2A2A style E3 fill:#A3D977,stroke:#72B043,color:#2A2A2A style CP fill:#E12729,stroke:#B91C1C,color:#fff,stroke-width:3px style RootCauses fill:#F37324,stroke:#EA580C,color:#fff style RC1 fill:#FDBA74,stroke:#F37324,color:#2A2A2A style RC2 fill:#FDBA74,stroke:#F37324,color:#2A2A2A style RC3 fill:#FDBA74,stroke:#F37324,color:#2A2A2A