Four Steps to Creating a Need Statement
As anyone who has ever written a grant proposal knows, the most important element is your need or problem statement. This is where you describe what the situation is and why it must be changed. People are hungry and they must be fed. There are huge educational imbalances and this must be corrected. People are dying from cancer, and we must figure out how to prevent that. Whatever your issue, it is reason getting this funding is so important.
It is also not a lack—just because you don’t have something doesn’t meant mean you need it. For example, I don’t have a Ferrari; but (especially given the way I hate to drive), I hardly need it. What you do need may be money; it might be time. Or you might need more staff to accomplish what you want to accomplish.
In short, a need statement describes a specific community problem that your organization wants to address. And it is always backed by urgency and evidence. It shows why what you want to do is important and it shows the desired outcomes. That comes about by describing what the situation is right now and how you want to change that. So you begin by:
Defining the problem. When I am working with clients, helping them to create a need statement, I ask them to consider if the organization (or a program within the organization) didn’t exist, what would remain unaddressed in the community. Be specific here. It’s fantastic that your goal (large, unmeasurable!) is to end poverty, provide everyone a home and enough food, make the world safer….whatever, but in truth, that takes a million steps and right now is where we are. So what is the issue at this very moment that you want/need to solve? Perhaps it is a create a program that will retrain workers, or provide transitional housing for families. Maybe you want to provide hot meals. And often, your need is even more specific.
Next you have to clearly show how this problem impacts your community. You do this by showing:
Who is affected? Here you would explain the specific populations, demographics, numbers. For example, 72% of the seniors living in….; people who are younger than….; 108 who have….
How are they affected? This is where you talk about the economic, health, social, emotional consequences of this problem.
Now show the long term effects if the problem is not addressed.
Whatever you showing, back it up with evidence! One way to do this is via evidence. Another way is storytelling. Telling the story of what is occurring in your community is a terrific way of showing why this matters. Combining storytelling with evidence is, of course, the best. In this way, highlight the urgency of doing something and clearly show the consequences of inaction. And be clear: this is more than things remaining as they are. They won’t. But they will worsen and the problem will become greater—and more intractable.
4. Finally, show how what you are proposing to do will change the equation. Paint a picture of what things will look like if you are able to implement your plan or project.