Winning Grants: Step by Step, Third Edition

Tips for Writing the Need Statement

As impossible as this sounds, try to contain your needs statement within no more than two to three pages—that is, be concise. (Most foundation guidelines limit proposals to ten to twelve pages in total; corporate guidelines typically limit proposals to even fewer pages.)

In stating the need use hard statistics from reputable sources, and steer clear of assumptions and undocumented assertions masquerading as legitimate facts.

• Use statistics that are clear and that support your argument. If you are talking about a specific community within a city, you might offer one or two data points about the city, then zero in on the data specific to that community.

• Use comparative statistics and research where possible. ...