Guide to Developing SMART Objectives

Instruction: Use the SMART guide in setting the objectives for the Volunteer
Program Strategy

Specific
(say who, what, where)
Measurable
(say when, how many)
Achievable
(something your group can do)
Realistic
(can get done with what you
have to work with)
Time-bound
(can get done in a specific
amount of time)


Is the objective precise and well-defined?
Is it clear?
 Can everyone understand it?
 Is it focused on the Program goal?
 How will the Partner Organization and the Volunteer know
when the task has been completed?
 What evidence is needed to confirm it?
 Is it within the Partner Organization or the Volunteer’s
capabilities?
 Are there sufficient resources available to enable this to
happen?
 Can it be done at all?
 Is it possible for the volunteer or the organization to perform
the objective?
 How sensible is the objective in the current development
context?
 Does it fit into the overall goal of the organization?
 Is there a timeline?
 Is it feasible to meet this deadline?
 Is it appropriate to do this work now?
 Are there review dates?

Objectives S M A R T
1. Provide access to information and knowledge. The
library's main objective is to give free, accessible, and high-
quality information and knowledge to anybody in need. This
will be done so by having the help of volunteers, contributors ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
and funders. The project will ultimately be completed when the
collections become rich, and diverse enough to be shared
among communities.
2. Encourage cooperation and community building. The
library seeks to unite people with various backgrounds and
perspectives so that they may discuss knowledge and ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
collaborate together. This can be done indefinitely as there are
no limits when sharing knowledge.
3. Supporting education and lifelong learning. The library
aims to support lifelong learning and education by providing
access to a wide range of materials and resources, such as ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
books, articles, videos, and audio recordings.

4. Supporting research and scholarly discussion. The library

aims to promote research and scholarly communication by
offering access to a diverse variety of materials and resources ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
relevant to many disciplines of study and research. By
providing educational materials and resources, contributors

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 can share and consume as much as they want, and whenever
they want.
5. Cultivating critical thinking and informed decision-
making. The library aims to promote critical thinking and
informed decision-making by providing access to high-quality,
reliable, and unbiased information to all users of the library. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
When the library gains enough reach that it generates
discussions for topics it has available in its collections.

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