Goals and objectives are not only key components of a successful proposal, they are critical to ensuring you achieve a positive outcome through your work. Knowing what you want to achieve must be defined before pursuing grants for a project or program. Here are some things to consider:

• Outcome: Outcome is the overall change that will occur as a result of your work, i.e., how will your community be better as a result of this program or project? Example outcome: To decrease food insecurity in the community.

• Goals: Goals are overarching statements about what you hope to do or accomplish through this project. Example goal: (We hope to decrease food insecurity by...) (1) To increase distribution of food. (2) To serve more families in our community.

• Objectives: Specific measurable and time-delineated actions or steps to achieve goals. Example objectives: (We will increase distribution of food by...) (1) To expand hours of operation from 2 hours to 12 hours each week. (2) To purchase 7,500 more pounds of food each month.

Spend some time defining outcomes, goals and objectives for each project or program for which you are pursuing grants. Need help? Check this out: ADVANCED GRANT WRITING