In short
A goal is the long-term change you contribute to. Objectives are the specific results your project will achieve, written so that they are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound (SMART). Outputs are what you deliver; outcomes are the changes those outputs cause. Each outcome needs an indicator you can measure.
Funders pay for activities but judge proposals by the change they will cause. Clear, measurable results show that you know what success looks like and how you will prove it.
The results chain
| Level | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Activity | What you do | Run two computer classes a week |
| Output | What you deliver | 1,500 students complete a 30-week course |
| Outcome | The change it causes | At least 1,200 students can type, search and use email safely |
| Goal or impact | The long-term change you contribute to | Young people find better local work |
How to write a SMART objective
- Specific: say exactly who will change and how.
- Measurable: include a number or a level you can check.
- Achievable: realistic with the money and time requested.
- Relevant: clearly linked to the problem and the funder’s priorities.
- Time-bound: give a date or period.
Vague: “Improve digital skills among rural youth.”
SMART: “By December 2027, at least 1,200 of the 1,500 participating students aged 11 to 16 will pass a basic digital skills test.”
Choosing indicators
- Pick one or two indicators per outcome, not ten.
- Use indicators you can actually measure with the budget available.
- Say where the data will come from: registers, tests, surveys or records.
- Set a baseline and a target for each, and disaggregate by sex, age and disability where relevant.
Frequently asked questions
How many objectives should a grant proposal have?
Usually two to four. Too many objectives make a project look unfocused and hard to measure.
What is the difference between a goal and an objective?
A goal is the long-term change your project contributes to but cannot achieve alone. An objective is a specific result your project will achieve within its lifetime.
Written by Gachi Foundation, a non-profit in Jharkhand, India. All proposal-writing resources.