GLOSSARY AND TERMINOLOGY
We understand that different organizations utilize different terminology to refer to similar concepts. For
purposes of our work, we rely on the definitions below.
Activities
The processes or actions taken by the foundation or a grantee to achieve outputs
and move toward outcomes.
Example: A grantee might conduct a review of successful communication
approaches that are focused on prevention of a specific disease or promotion
of a new savings product.
Baseline
An analysis or description of the situation prior to an intervention, against which
progress can be assessed or comparisons can be made.
Direct
Beneficiaries
People (or entities) who will receive some or all of the monetary or intellectual
proceeds that result most immediately from the grant.
Clarification: The foundation sees the benefits that accrue to these entities as
a step toward helping other ultimate beneficiaries.
Example: In a genetic science crop research grant, the direct beneficiaries of
the grant may be the seed companies that will be able to market the improved
seeds that result from the scientists’ prior research work.
Evaluation
An investigation into whether, why, and how results are or are not achieved.
Evaluation can help the foundation answer key questions about grants, initiatives,
and strategies.
Question answered: To what extent did grant X, or institution X, successfully
accomplish its strategic goals, and what were the key ingredients for
success—or the reasons for failure?
Example: The foundation commissioned an evaluation to determine how and
to what extent charter management organizations are more effective at
improving student achievement than comparable districts.
Geographic
Areas Served
All countries that benefit or are intended to benefit from this project. This is where
the target population is located, not necessarily where the work is occurring.
Geographic
Location(s) of
Work
All locations (country, and sub-region or state if known) in which work will be
performed for this project, if this project gets funded. This includes locations in
which sub-grantees or sub-contractors will work.
Impacts
Ultimate sustainable changes, sometimes attributable to action.
Example: By 2025, twice as many low-income young adults will earn a
postsecondary education credential with value in the labor market by age 26.
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GLOSSARY AND TERMINOLOGY
Indicators
Quantitative or qualitative variables that specify results for a particular strategy,
initiative, or grant.
Similar terms: Metrics, measures
Clarification: Indicators form the basis of monitoring and evaluation because
they tell us how to assess different outputs, outcomes, and impacts.
Example: An agriculture grantee might measure the percentage increase in an
average crop yield as an indicator of the effectiveness of the improved seeds
that it helped develop.
Inputs
The resources used to implement activities.
Clarification: Inputs typically include financial, human, and material/equipment
resources, as well as the efforts of foundation staff, partners, and grantees.
Example: Inputs may include items such as building materials, technical
assistance, staff, and vehicles.
Key Milestones
A subset of all milestones that may exist in a project workplan, these are the most
critical project activities, outputs, and outcomes that are included in the grant
agreement. Grantees regularly report on their progress toward achieving the key
milestones; these reports are expected for future funding.
Measurement
The process of collecting and recording observations during an inquiry.
Clarification: At the foundation, measurement activities include indicator
monitoring, evaluation, and long-term impact tracking. We also use the term
“measurement” to refer to a set of principles and practices associated with
these activities.
Milestones
Sequential signs of progress during a project or initiative, usually tied to estimated
completion dates.
Example: One milestone for a grantee might be to mobilize a certain amount
of additional investment from other partners by the end of 2011 to support the
grantee's work.
Monitoring
A process of collecting, analyzing, and using data to ensure compliance and
improve performance, comprised of both qualitative and quantitative data collection
methods. Monitoring tells us whether milestones and basic targets are being met,
and whether critical activities are proceeding as planned.
Similar term: Performance measurement
Objectives
The major components of the project required to achieve results.
Clarification: An objective could be any subdivision of work that makes sense
as a logical way to organize the project's key activities, outputs, and
outcomes—such as a geographic location or a body of work.
Example: One such body of work might be: “Conduct a needs or readiness
assessment.” This objective would have a set of associated results (mainly
activities and outputs), including conducting site visits, interviewing experts,
analyzing data (activities), and writing a report (an output).
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Outcomes
Intermediate observable and measureable changes that may serve as steps toward
impact for a population community, country, or other category of beneficiary.
Examples: Possible outcomes may include a reduction in the number of new
disease cases, an increase in crop yield, and statewide adoption of new best
practices in education.
Outputs
The direct and early results of a grant or intervention’s activities. Outputs refer to
the most immediate sets of accomplishments necessary, but not sufficient, to
produce outcomes and impacts.
Examples: Possible outputs may include the number of people trained, the
number of public service announcement radio spots on the topic of proper
contraceptive use, and the number of tons of new seed varieties distributed.
Results
Any of the foundation or grantees’ inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and
impacts.
Clarification: “Results” is used as a generic, all-encompassing term that can
include all positive or negative changes, as well as the absence of any change
at all. When possible, it is best to use more specific terms, such as impacts,
outcomes, outputs, activities, and inputs. The results of almost all grants will
likely include outputs; some will include outcomes; and few, if any, will in and of
themselves include impacts.
Example: Possible results may include technical assistance (input), a review of
communications approaches (activity), the number of people trained (output);
an increase in crop yield (outcome), and by 2025 a doubling in the number of
low-income young adults who will earn a postsecondary education credential
with value in the labor market by age 26 (impact).
Scalability
The degree to which a piloted intervention can function, adapt to increased
demands, and deliver similar/expected results when applied to a significantly larger
context (e.g., with expanded sets of beneficiaries, regions, geographies, policies,
and political circumstances).
Sustainability
The degree to which achieved results, particularly outcomes and impacts, can
continue over time, especially after foundation funding ends.
Targets
Specific values or projections for intended results, to be achieved within particular
timeframes.
Clarification: Note that it is not necessary to set targets for all intended
results.
Example: If the indicator is “# of children vaccinated,” then a target might be
“10,000 children vaccinated by June 2012.” So a result (in this case, probably
an outcome) might be “5,000 children vaccinated” or “100,000 children
vaccinated”—depending on what was achieved by June 2012.
Ultimate
Beneficiaries
People (or entities) whose lives or experiences we expect to change as an eventual
result of the grant.
Clarification: Grant proposals should be able to trace a conceptual link to their
intended ultimate beneficiaries, even if the proposed project itself will not work
directly with these people (or entities).
Example: In a genetic science crop research grant, the ultimate beneficiaries
of the grant may be the farmers who will be able to buy and plant the improved
seeds that result from scientists’ prior research and seed companies’ sales and
distribution efforts.
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