Impact frameworks do not only benefit the ex post evaluation mindset of applicants - they can also improve narratives in applications for funding

This presentation delivers practical examples of how our interaction with applicants during the application process for funding to the create impact frameworks that accompany the proposal text has not only influenced project or intervention design but also the narrative in applications. An Impact framework in the Novo Nordisk Foundation is comprised of a long-term objective or vision, project success criteria, a logic model detailing effect chains towards societal impact, supporting indicator or KPI’s, and plans for reporting, future dialogue and evaluation(s). It may not be surprising to an evaluator that a logic model can help organise a storyline for an ex post evaluation. It may even be trivial to some practitioners that a can be an effective tool when designing interventions, e.g. social, educational and development intervention. In our experience from funding scientists at high-quality global research institutions, this is not common practice among scientists. Asking them to formulate how their research fits our Foundation's long-term goals for societal impact is demanding. Help with structuring the impact pathways beyond the immediate scope of their project improves their storyline, e.g. in addressing needs, barriers, key contributions and linking that to societal impact. The learnings gained will be used to improve guidelines to applicants about application writing and project design.