Our objective is to transform eight different communication courses over a period of one year via the integration of a two-week instructional module on negotiating skills, to be included in each course.

The process is as follows:

Questions

What do you want to know to determine if your objective was realized? For the example above, you would want to know if:

• criteria for course transformations were met
• subject matter was appropriate for the module
• criteria for negotiating skills are achievable and being met
• measurable outcomes are accomplished along the way

Indicators and Evidence

How will you know that the above questions are being answered? Examples include, but are not limited to:

• pre- and post-project tests
• surveys, observations, interviews, and other methods that gather qualitative information
• quantitative data collection such as: number of students, instructors involved, course transformations, tests, and grades
• Involvement in and success rates of mock negotiations

Timing

When should you collect this data? Your project will determine the timing; however, gather your data incrementally according to the percentage of change for established baselines of your proposal. A timeline demonstrating each of the changes as they are measured and happening is an extremely valuable tool.

Data Collection

The data-collection process assists the evaluation team in revising the design of the program and methods based on resources – both financial and human. The team can also examine how the evaluation process is received by participants and other people from whom information is collected. Assessment of the usefulness of the information collected is another factor the team can determine. This will include:

• Sources: Who has the information? What are the measurable criteria and expected outcomes for each of the objectives? In our example above, sources may be the evaluator, the faculty, the course transformation experts, a committee of experts who will evaluate each module, and of course, the students.
• Methods: How and when will the information be gathered? Your approach might be quantitative, qualitative, or mixed method research. Very often an evaluation consultant is included to ensure the statistical design and methodology are well-developed and logical.
• Sample: From whom will the data be collected?In large studies, a stratified random sample may be obtained by separating the population into mutually exclusive sets, or strata, and then drawing random samples from each stratum. Since the population for our example objective is not very large, chances are that the data will be collected from everyone involved in the project.
• Instruments: What tools will be used in gathering the data? These can range from quite simple to extremely complicated. Developing the instruments may be a lengthily process and relate directly to what needs to be known about each objective. Some examples may include attitudinal instruments, surveys, and pre- and post-tests. Once again, you may require the assistance of an evaluation consultant.

An evaluation plan is a written document that states the objectives of a project and the questions that will be used to determine its success. It also includes the information that will be collected and the timeframe of data collection. You can think of the evaluation plan as the instructions which will guide you through each step of the process. It is the key to demonstrating accountability to the donor.

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Outcomes and evaluation are key components in today’s proposal requests. Using a logic model will ensure you properly demonstrate these elements, thus giving you the best chance of being funded. Donors want clarification of the relationship between their investments and the activities, outputs, and anticipated outcomes of the grant they will support. The fundamental framework and performance measurements of the proposal need to be communicated specifically and clearly. This can be easily demonstrated using the logic model, which an increasing number of foundation and corporate donors are requiring. A systematic and visual way to present a planned program while showing the underlying assumptions of the proposal is the function of this tool. I often ask the participants in my workshops why engineers and architects design before they build, but grant writers begin writing without even using a blueprint. As writers, administrators, and researchers, we should take a page from the engineers and architects.

When I convene a grant writing team, my main goal is to eliminate confusion and future misunderstanding of the proposal we want funded. I present a one-page logic model of the entire plan. This single sheet allows us to visualize our path via inputs, outputs, involved staff, process indicators for success, and outcomes. The benefit of this is that my team can visualize the entirety of the project, get on the same page, and consider what is needed to realize the end goal.

Once the logic model is constructed, two questions remain:

• External Factors – What variables may have an effect on the program, but cannot be changed by the team or program?
• Assumptions – What are the premises – based on theories, research, and knowledge – that support the connections between the activities, and upon which the project’s success depends?

A winning proposal explains the assumptions and the external factors that could assist or impede the project. Doing so reassures the donor that challenges and contingencies have been considered and will be addressed throughout the implementation phase.

So, what does a logic model look like?

Download Fillable Logic Model

In this tool, the inputs list all of the materials and needs to start the program. The output boxes define each activity to be undertaken, and by whom. The next step is to identify each of the outcomes for these activities. As an example, if we want to decrease obesity in a group of patients, the short-term outcome would be indication of an attitudinal change in the way the group thinks about food. The mid-term outcome might be that the group is now choosing a healthier diet. The long-term outcome would be demonstrated by weight loss. For more information about logic models, visit the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Some of the descriptions for a logic model are: road map, pathway, blueprint for change, or theories for change. This visual path is the transformation toward success that a project is proposing. Teams can visualize at a glance what success looks like at every stage of the grant. Once these are answered – with help from the logic model – we can begin writing the proposal.

For another critical tool to help plan specific project tasks, check out our Grant Design Chart.

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