FAQs - Evaluation - Activities

What is an activity?
An activity is a specific action that is conducted during your project period to assist you in reaching at least one project objective.  The activities you list in your logic framework will guide us to an understanding of your project’s “deliverables” that get specified in any approved project grant agreement.  Three examples of activities include:  (1) recruit 20 volunteers; (2) plant 50 trees; and (3) hold 5 roundtable and workshops.

What if some of my activities in this project will be funded with matching funds?
The logic framework should specify all important activities to be accomplished during the life of the project, not just those specifically supported by the Foundation.

What should I do about activities that occur before or after the project grant is completed if the  project funded by the Foundation is only a portion of a larger, longer project that has already begun or will continue after the Foundation grant ends?
The activities listed should be specific to only those important activities that take place during the Foundation grant period.  Activities occurring before the grant begins should be excluded and described elsewhere as context in the Project Narrative section of the proposal.  If the activities are expected to happen after the grant ends, they may be itemized as post-project outcomes.

How many activities should ideally be listed in the framework?
There is no set number for the ideal number of activities that will be completed during a grant period. Simply ensure all of the important, major activities planned for completing during the project period get included in the logic framework. 

How should I write out each proposed activity?
Start with an action verb and follow with a phrase.  To the extent possible, quantity the extent of the activity proposed to be completed.  This will greatly help the Foundation and you as the grantee quicken the time needed in contracting a grant agreement, as it will be a basis for spelling out a “deliverable.”
 
How should I list all of the important activities for the project?
List all activities sequentially when they are expected to be completed during the life of the project.

See Example 4 below of a sample listing of activities for a fictional project.

Example 4:  Completion of Sequential Listing of Project’s Activities

Activity	Project Output	Post-Project Outcome	Indicator	Baseline Value	Predicted Project Output Value	Predicted  Project Outcome Value
Hold 5meetings with all partners to decide on regional conservation plans.
Review all applicable rules, regulations, laws, and any similar agreements affecting the regional conservation planning.
Identify specific restoration projects to be carried out as part of a stewardship contract under a regional conservation plan
Develop a community economic development plan linked to the stewardship contract within the regional conservation plan.