GRANTWRITING AND FUNDRAISING SEVEN STEP TECHNIQUE FOR WRITING OBJECTIVES

The seven step approach combines objectives with an evaluative component and thus, will be helpful for you when you consider the evaluation section of your proposal. Note the objectives do not specify how, only what, to what extent, and sometimes at what cost.

Here are some examples of the seven components of this method. Look at number 6 below first to see two objectives written out in standard format that include all the components. The examples in examples 1-5 are taken from these two objectives amd emphasize the various parts.

 

1. Determine results areas, i.e. places and subject areas that you will examine for improvement or changes in your client population.

• Ex. 1 - Improved health of people over 65 in Champaign-Urbana

• Ex. 2 - More library literate non-native English speaking students at Donnelly College

 

2. Determine measurement indicators.

• Ex. 1 - Number of hospital admissions by people over 65 ...

• Ex. 2 - Number of people who are library literate as measured by some standard test

 

3. Determine performance standard, i.e., how much or how little change you expect.

• Ex. 1 - 10% drop in hospital admissions ...

• Ex. 2 - 20% increase in average standard test score ...

 

4. Determine time frame, i.e., amount of time to reach performance standard.

• Ex. 1 -Drop in admissions to occur in 12 months

• Ex. 2 - Increase in score after 3 month "treatment"

 

5. Determine cost frame, i.e. cost of method selected to meet objective.

• Ex. 1 - $50,000

• Ex. 2 - $10,000

 

6. Write the objective in a standard format: "To [action verb or statement reflecting measurement indicator] by [performance standard] by [deadline] at a cost of no more than [cost frame]."

• Ex. 1 - "To reduce hospital admissions of people over 65 in Champaign-Urbana by 10% within 12 months at a cost of no more than $50,000."

• Ex.2 - "To achieve a 20% increase in average scores by non-native-English speaking students at Donnelly College on a standard test of library literacy in 3 months [using the James Aster Total Physical Response technique] at a cost of $10,000." Note: This objective includes the how in brackets at a very general level. It could be omitted.

 

7. Evaluate the objective.

Review it and answer the question, "Does the objective reflect the amount of change you want in the result area?" If the answer is yes, you may also want to ask "Is the cost of the objective reasonable?" If the answer to this subsequent question is also yes, you have a workable objective. If not, you may want to re-think your measurement indicator or your performance standard or your projected cost and rework the objective.