Statement of Problem or Need

by Cynthia M. Adams, CEO, GrantStation.com

Why should grantmakers support your request for funding? Developing a powerful problem or need statement is critical if you want your proposal to remain in the selection process, round after round, as others are eliminated.

The problem or need statement describes specific, often negative conditions of a community or a situation. This statement leads into the project narrative, which tells the potential funder what the organization intends to do to address the identified problem or need.

The problem or need statement should:

• paint a picture of the overall issue, focusing on the global, national, regional, or local scale, as appropriate;
• describe the problem in terms of clients or the community, using statistics or other documentation;
• refer to the organization's internal needs if the request is for capacity building grants or operating support; and,
• establish a clear link between the problem or need presented and the grant maker’s funding priorities.

Painting the Picture

The problem or need...