2019 Direct Services Grant Program NOFA 2019 Direct Services NOFA | Page 26

at national expectations for change, and look at programs with similar outcomes. Consult with partners or
stakeholders about their experiences. Often, talking to others who have implemented similar programs or
interventions can provide you with information about expected change.
In some situations, it is more important to consider the percentage of change as a number of people when discussing
impact. Will the effort required to create the amount of change be a good use of your limited resources?
Relevant - Will this outcome have an effect on the desired goal or strategy? Relevant relates to the relationship
between the outcome and the overall goals of the program or purpose of the intervention. Evidence of relevancy
can come from a literature review, best practices, or your theory of change.
Time Bound - When will this outcome be accomplished? A specified and reasonable time frame is incorporated into
the outcome statement. This takes into consideration the environment in which the change must be achieved, the
scope of the change expected, and how it fits into the overall work plan. It may be indicated as, “By December 2010,
the program will…” or, “Within six months of receiving the grant...”
Using SMART Outcomes
Writing SMART outcomes also helps you to think about and identify elements of the evaluation plan and
measurement, namely indicators and performance measures. An indicator is what you will measure to obtain
observable evidence of accomplishments, changes made, or progress achieved. Indicators describe the type of data
you will need to answer your evaluation questions. A SMART outcome often tells you what you will measure.
A performance measure is the amount of change or progress achieved toward a specific goal or outcome. SMART
outcomes can serve as your performance measures because they provide the specific information needed to identify
expected results.
Getting Started
To develop SMART outcomes, use the template below and fill in the blanks:
By_____/_____/_____, ___________________________________________________
[WHEN—Time bound] [WHO/WHAT—Specific]
from _____________________ to __________________________________________
[MEASURE (number, rate, percentage of change and baseline)—Measurable]
Adapted from materials developed by the Institute of Medicine and Centers for Disease Control
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