Get Clear on Your Grant Goals, Objectives, and Activities | Grant Writing Class 3/4

Summary

In this video, Holly Rustic dives into the essentials of grant writing, focusing on how to craft clear goals, objectives, and activities that align with funding requirements. She explains the SMART criteria for writing objectives, highlighting the importance of specificity, measurability, achievability, relevance, and timeliness. Through practical examples, Holly shows how to structure a work plan with tasks, responsibilities, and evaluation methods. The video emphasizes the importance of a well-defined project framework to ensure successful grant implementation and funding. Whether you're a nonprofit leader or aspiring grant writer, this video offers valuable insights into navigating the grant writing process.

Takeaways

• 😀 Objectives should not be overly ambitious or just activities; they need to be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).
• 😀 Goals in grant writing should reflect a change, based on the problem statement, and be achievable within the grant's time frame and budget.
• 😀 To write a strong objective, ensure it answers: What, Who, How many, By when, and Where (e.g., daily transportation for 10 individuals in recovery to services in City X by the end of year one).
• 😀 An objective should have multiple moving parts or tasks to achieve, distinguishing it from a simple activity.
• 😀 Grant objectives should be broken down into tasks with clear roles, start/end dates, and evaluation methods.
• 😀 Using 'by the end of month/quarter/year' instead of exact dates allows for flexibility if there are delays during the grant period.
• 😀 The work plan should detail tasks, responsibilities, timelines, and evaluation criteria, making it easy for anyone to understand and implement.
• 😀 A proper objective should be achievable by considering your program's current capacity and ensuring your goals align with your available resources and budget.
• 😀 It's important to align objectives with the overall goal of the grant and make sure they reflect the problem you're trying to solve.
• 😀 Grant writing is like solving a puzzle; having a clear framework and formula helps make the process less stressful and more effective.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of defining a clear goal in a grant proposal?

The primary purpose is to outline the main outcome the grant seeks to achieve while considering the available funding and timeline. The goal should be ambitious but achievable and needs to address the identified problem.

Why do many people get confused when writing objectives for grants?

Many people confuse objectives with goals or activities. They either make their objectives overly ambitious like goals, or list them as simple tasks, not recognizing that objectives need to be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound).

What does the SMART acronym stand for, and why is it important in grant writing?

SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. It's important in grant writing because it ensures that objectives are clear, feasible, and measurable, making it easier to assess their success and alignment with the project's goals.

Can you provide an example of a SMART objective in grant writing?

Yes, an example could be: 'Project name will provide daily transportation for 10 individuals in recovery to Recovery Services in City X by the end of year one.' This is specific (daily transportation for 10 individuals), measurable (number of individuals), achievable (based on available resources), relevant (addresses the problem), and time-bound (by the end of year one).

How can you ensure that an objective is achievable in a grant proposal?

To ensure an objective is achievable, consider factors such as the available resources, the size of the target population, and the project budget. For example, if the target number exceeds available resources or budget, the objective might need adjustment.

What is the difference between a goal and an objective in grant writing?

A goal is a broad, overarching statement of what the project intends to achieve, usually related to solving a problem. An objective, however, is a specific, measurable step toward achieving that goal. It should be SMART and involve multiple tasks to accomplish.

Why is it important to align objectives with the problem statement in grant writing?

Aligning objectives with the problem statement ensures that the proposed solution directly addresses the identified issue. This connection helps demonstrate to funding sources that the proposed project is relevant and tackles the root causes of the problem.

How does the timeline impact the way objectives are set in a grant proposal?

The timeline impacts the level of ambition for the objective. Shorter timelines require more realistic, smaller-scale objectives, while longer timelines might allow for more ambitious goals. Setting time-bound objectives helps ensure the project stays on track.

What are the key components that need to be included when writing a work plan for a grant?

A work plan should include the task description, the person responsible, the start and end dates, and how the task will be evaluated. This ensures clarity in task execution and accountability, helping anyone involved understand what needs to be done.

What is a common mistake when defining objectives, and how can it be avoided?

A common mistake is writing objectives that are either too broad or too narrow, leading to unrealistic expectations. This can be avoided by ensuring each objective is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, and by breaking down larger goals into manageable tasks.