From boring to brilliant: Using data for maximum impact
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posted by Carolyn Owens, Grant Writer & Partner 501 Navigation |
This is part two of Carolyn Owen's series on gathering and using data for grant proposals. Read part 1 here.
Data is a vital part of your grant application. It’s the link that turns a bunch of random declarations about the issue your nonprofit is addressing into a statement with weight and relevance. Data can illustrate the scope of the problem, the need for your program, and why it will be successful.
So how do you intertwine data in the proposal so that it supports and amplifies your cause rather than obfuscate it? Although I would not claim to be an expert, I’m happy to share what I’ve learned in close to 15 years of researching and compiling grant proposals.
Remember the data should be:
- Recent, within the past 2 years if possible
- As local as possible, relating to the community, city or state where your program is located
- From a recognized, reputable source - a federal agency, well respected research group such as Annie Casey Foundation, or peer journal
- Related to the need to be addressed by your program.