Grant Writing Project Evaluation and Metrics 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of a SMART outcome objective in a grant proposal?
- We will help many youth improve their lives
- By June 30, 80% of 120 enrolled youth will increase math scores by one grade level (Correct answer)
- We will serve as many clients as possible
- Our program will make a difference in the community
Correct answer: By June 30, 80% of 120 enrolled youth will increase math scores by one grade level
SMART objectives are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound — the second option meets all these criteria.
Question 2: A funder requires both quantitative and qualitative data in the final report. Which combination best fulfills this requirement?
- Employment rates and a bar chart of employment rates
- Job placement numbers and participant interview quotes about career confidence (Correct answer)
- Two different surveys measuring the same outcome
- Staff headcount and volunteer headcount
Correct answer: Job placement numbers and participant interview quotes about career confidence
Quantitative data (job placement numbers) and qualitative data (interview quotes) together provide a fuller picture of program impact.
Question 3: An evaluator uses a 'comparison group' instead of a control group. What is the key difference?
- A comparison group is always larger than a control group
- Comparison groups are not randomly assigned, making causal claims weaker (Correct answer)
- A comparison group is required by all federal funders
- Comparison groups never require baseline data
Correct answer: Comparison groups are not randomly assigned, making causal claims weaker
Comparison groups are selected non-randomly, which introduces selection bias and weakens causal inference compared to randomized control groups.
Question 4: In a logic model, 'activities' are best described as:
- The ultimate long-term changes in the community
- The specific actions the program takes to deliver services (Correct answer)
- The financial resources available to the project
- The number of people who will benefit from the program
Correct answer: The specific actions the program takes to deliver services
Activities are the program's core actions — workshops, counseling sessions, training — that use inputs to produce outputs.
Question 5: A grant report shows the program exceeded its output targets but missed its outcome targets. What does this most likely indicate?
- The program was overfunded
- The program delivered services but those services did not produce the expected changes (Correct answer)
- The evaluator made data entry errors
- The funder set unrealistic budget caps
Correct answer: The program delivered services but those services did not produce the expected changes
Exceeding outputs but missing outcomes suggests the program was implemented as planned but did not achieve the desired behavioral or systemic changes.
Question 6: Which instrument is most appropriate for measuring participant knowledge gain in a grant-funded training program?
- Focus group discussion only
- Pre- and post-test administered to all participants (Correct answer)
- Funder site visit observation
- Staff retrospective survey
Correct answer: Pre- and post-test administered to all participants
Pre- and post-tests measure the same knowledge before and after training, directly capturing learning gain attributable to the program.
Question 7: What is 'evaluation capacity building' in the context of grant-funded projects?
- Hiring external consultants to run all evaluations permanently
- Strengthening an organization's internal ability to conduct and use evaluation (Correct answer)
- Building a larger data storage server for the organization
- Writing longer evaluation sections in future grant proposals
Correct answer: Strengthening an organization's internal ability to conduct and use evaluation
Evaluation capacity building develops staff skills, systems, and culture so organizations can sustain evaluation practices after external support ends.
Grant Writing Project Evaluation and Metrics 3
Which of the following is an example of a SMART outcome objective in a grant proposal?