Goals & Objectives — SMART Format

📝 The structure — fill in YOUR words

Write 2-3 goals. Each goal gets 2-3 objectives. Every objective
must be SMART:

  S — Specific: who does what?
  M — Measurable: what number proves it?
  A — Achievable: can you really do this?
  R — Relevant: does the funder care about this?
  T — Time-bound: by when?

Template per objective:
"By [date], [number] [people] will [do what], measured by [how]."

✅ A good example

Goal 1: Reduce after-school idle time for Northside teens. Objective 1.1: By June 2027, 150 teens will attend the center at least twice weekly, measured by sign-in records. Objective 1.2: By June 2027, homework completion among regular attendees will rise 30%, measured by report-card comparison.

🚫 Common mistakes

• "We will help the community" — not measurable, not specific, not fundable.
• Objectives with no deadline — 'by when' is what separates a plan from a wish.
• More than 3 goals — reviewers stop believing you at goal #4.

💡 Tips

• Steal the funder's own words — if their guidelines say 'youth development,' use that exact phrase.
• Under-promise slightly. Hitting 120% of a modest goal beats missing an ambitious one.