Definitions of “Milestones, Performance Targets, and Outcomes”
The development of milestones, performance targets, and outcomes are a key component for each grant proposal. Applicant organizations and foundation staff most likely will work together to refine and articulate appropriate and reasonable milestones, performance targets, and outcomes during the proposal review process. The following guidelines and examples should help clarify the relationships among milestones, performance targets, grant-period outcomes, and post-grant outcomes.
Milestones are a critical point of achievement for the target audience showing progress toward a performance target. In effect, these are mini-performance targets marking specific small changes in target population behavior or program accomplishment met on the way to target achievement. Milestones shift implementor thinking from what they do to what the target audience does. Focusing on target audience response rather than on implementor activity helps program staff learn more about their target audience.
Performance targets are the specific changes in behavior, condition, or satisfaction that a program implementor seeks to achieve for the target audience who use program products. A good performance target is tangible in that its achievement can be verified and is narrow enough that it can be directly achieved by the implementor who “owns” it. In sum, performance targets address the results of a strategy and include details on what, when, where, whom (target group), how much (extent), and how we will know (whenever possible, include an “as evidenced by” statement). Example: 95% of children at study school will read at or above grade level by the end of the third grade, as evidenced by school administered assessments.
- What – reading at or above grade level;
- When – end of the third grade
- Whom – third graders at study school;
- How Much – 95%
- How will you know – through school-administered assessments
Outcomes are the desired change(s) or results that the proposed project will eventually accomplish. They are the desired end-state which the grantee strives to achieve and sometimes include visionary language. They follow from the milestones and performance targets and identify the anticipated change that is the goal of the grant. Outcomes show the gap between what is and what could be.
Grant-Period Outcomes
- Occur within the life of the grant-funded projects and often reflect an intermediate stage of change.
- Are based on the successful accomplishment of the outputs, but may also be influenced by factors outside the grantee’s control.
- Must be reported on by grantees at the end of the grant period.
Post-Grant Outcomes
- Are the results expected to occur after the life of the grant, and reflect the longer term outcomes related to the purpose of funded support.
- Often require the work of others and therefore usually are not under the control of the grantee.
- Do not require grantee reporting. The foundation will assess progress on post-grant outcomes as it reviews clusters of grants and grantmaking strategies over time.
