Needs Assessment

This KnowledgeBase archive includes content and external links that were accurate and relevant as of September 30, 2019.

The needs assessment is one of four key parts of project proposal. Its purpose is two-fold. The first is to identify the problem being addressed, so an effective response can be planned and implemented. The second is to substantiate the reason why the grant seeker is seeking funding from the funding source.

The needs assessment should have the following component parts:

    •    Present State - Describe the present state or condition that you want to improve.
    •    Present State's Documented Data - Substantiate the present state with quantifiable data wherever possible. Examples include test results, surveys, records, interviews, meeting minutes, newspaper articles, documented research and conferences.
    •    Desired State - Describe the desired state or condition that you want to exist.
    •    Discrepancy between Present State and Desired State - Analyze the existing discrepancy between the present state and the desired state upon which each objective and activity is based.

When writing the grant proposal, each project should have its specific Need/Problem Statement addressing the four components of the needs assessment presented in a logical way.

Keep in mind that the Need Statement must relate the proposed idea to the funding source's area of concern to solicit support.

Source:
Belinda Biscoe, Ph.D., College of Continuing Education, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

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