How to Select the Right Outcomes, Outputs, and Measures for Your Grant Application

When writing a grant application, selecting the right outcomes, outputs, and measures is essential for showing funders that your project will deliver tangible results. These three elements help you outline what you’re going to do, what impact you expect, and how you’ll track your progress. In this post, I’ll share three proven strategies to help you choose the best outcomes, outputs, and measures for your grant application.

Define Clear Outputs

Outputs are the specific activities or deliverables of your project. Funders want to see exactly what you’re committing to delivering. For example, if your project involves providing community services, a strong output might be “provide 10 weekly workshops to 50 participants.” Clarity is key when defining your outputs, as it helps funders understand what they’ll be supporting.

Identify Meaningful Outcomes

Outcomes are the changes or benefits that result from your project’s activities. They demonstrate the impact of your work. If your project is focused on job training, your outcome might be “increase employment rates for participants by 15%.” Make sure your outcomes are measurable and aligned with your project’s mission.

Select the Right Measures

Finally, you need to choose measures to track your progress. Funders want to know how you’ll evaluate success, so be sure to include both quantitative and qualitative measures. Quantitative measures could be the number of participants, while qualitative measures might involve feedback from program participants. Select measures that directly align with your outputs and outcomes.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to demonstrate that your project has a solid plan for delivering results. And don’t forget—download my free guide with seven additional strategies to help you select the best outcomes, outputs, and measures for your grant application!