How to Establish Measurements of Success for Your Grant-Funded Project
Writing a grant proposal? One of the most critical—and often overlooked—sections is your measurements of success. Funders don’t just want to know what you’ll do—they want to know how you’ll prove it worked.
Solid outcomes and performance metrics show that your project is well thought out, trackable, and worth investing in. Here’s how to define success in a way that’s clear, funder-friendly, and rooted in impact.
📈 Start With the End in Mind
Before picking metrics, get crystal clear on your project goals. Ask:
What change are we trying to create?
Who will benefit, and how?
What will success look like at the end of this project?
For example, if you’re launching a job training program, is success defined as enrollment, completion, or employment? Clarity here shapes every metric that follows.
🎯 Distinguish Between Outputs and Outcomes
Many nonprofits confuse activity with impact. Funders want to see both.
Outputs = what you do
(e.g., “We will host 12 financial literacy workshops.”)Outcomes = what changes as a result
(e.g., “75% of participants will increase their financial knowledge and open a savings account within 3 months.”)
Both are useful—just don’t stop at outputs.
🛠️ Make Your Metrics SMART
Use the SMART framework to keep your metrics clear and actionable:
Specific: Who/what/where?
Measurable: Can you count it?
Achievable: Is it realistic?
Relevant: Does it align with your goals?
Time-bound: When will it happen?
Example:
“By December 2025, 100 youth will complete the after-school STEM program, and 80% will report increased confidence in pursuing STEM careers.”
📊 Use a Mix of Quantitative and Qualitative Data
Numbers are powerful, but stories matter too.
Quantitative: Attendance, test scores, survey results, graduation rates
Qualitative: Testimonials, focus group feedback, observations
Combining both types of data gives funders a full picture of your impact.
🤝 Align With Funder Expectations
Some funders have their own preferred metrics or frameworks. Review their guidelines closely. If they list sample outcomes or required data, use those as a baseline—and adapt your measurements accordingly.
✅ Checklist: Measuring Success for Your Grant Project
Use this quick checklist as you prepare your next proposal:
Clear project goal(s) defined
Key outputs identified (what you'll deliver)
Key outcomes identified (what will change)
Metrics follow the SMART framework
Includes both quantitative and qualitative data
Metrics are realistic and align with capacity
Measurement tools identified (surveys, interviews, reports, etc.)
Timeline for tracking and evaluation established
Aligned with funder’s reporting requirements
Plan for collecting and reporting data included in proposal
Final Thoughts
Strong metrics don’t just help you get the grant—they help you manage your project, tell better impact stories, and build long-term trust with funders. When you measure what matters, you not only prove success—you learn how to repeat it.
Sheena Link is the co-founder of PureGrant, an AI grantwriting tool helping nonprofits save time and win more funding. She’s all about making fundraising easier, smarter, and less stressful.