Funders want to know exactly what you'll accomplish with their money. SMART goals make your intentions crystal clear.
What Are SMART Goals?
S - Specific What exactly will you do? Who will benefit? Where will it happen?
M - Measurable How will you track progress? What numbers will you report?
A - Achievable Is this realistic given your resources and timeline?
R - Relevant Does this goal address the problem you identified?
T - Time-bound When will you achieve this goal?
Goals vs Objectives
Goals are broad statements of what you want to achieve. Example: "Improve literacy rates among third graders."
Objectives are specific, measurable steps to reach goals. Example: "By June 2026, 80% of participating third graders will read at grade level, as measured by standardized assessments."
Writing Strong Objectives
Use this formula: "By [date], [number/percentage] of [target population] will [measurable change] as measured by [assessment method]."
Common Mistakes
- Goals that can't be measured
- Unrealistic timelines
- Objectives that don't connect to activities
- Missing baseline data
- Vague language like "improve" or "increase" without numbers
Every objective should answer: "How will we know if we succeeded?"
