Need and Budget
I just updated my FAQ and in it I remarked on the value of a budget analysis based on need. Need is a major issue in grant writing. To establish need doesn't mean showing that the project needs money. Of course it does, otherwise you would not be applying for funding. No, need refers to the value to the community of the services or deliverables. Certainly there is always a need for medical care, but is there a community need for medical research? Depends on whom you're speaking to. But generally need is a statment of practical, immediate need in the community for what the project will bring, if funded.
I could argue persuasively for cultural endeavors, because I know about them and I support them personally. They mean that the community supports the arts and the arts are about quality of life, communication, community identity, educating the youth, bringing the community into contact with outside organizations that enlarge the community. It may also mean funds coming into the community because of taxes paid by businesses that benefit from the money spent by visitors to the community who come to enjoy the cultural events.
But could I argue for scientific research into the maintenance of grasslands in Nebraska? I could, vaguely, but persuasively? No. Probably not. I'm not qualified, although I could pretend to be and maybe fool some of the people some of the time. But not the experts who would presumably be reading the proposal.
So reliably establishing need in a proposal must come from good research...the head as well as the heart, and always experience - the wisdom borne of time and effort.
Where does budget analysis come in? You have to look closely at the budget and see if it is reasonable. That is, does the benefit to the community merit spending the money on the operations, the staff, the administration, and the project? The irony is that without the funding it may not be possible to judge the value to the community. In other words, the project may or may not enrich the community $1 million worth, but we need to spend $500,000 to find out. Few grantmakers would take the wager. You might luck out and find just the right fit with your mission and the mission of a foundation, but it would be the exception.
I just updated my FAQ and in it I remarked on the value of a budget analysis based on need. Need is a major issue in grant writing. To establish need doesn't mean showing that the project needs money. Of course it does, otherwise you would not be applying for funding. No, need refers to the value to the community of the services or deliverables. Certainly there is always a need for medical care, but is there a community need for medical research? Depends on whom you're speaking to. But generally need is a statment of practical, immediate need in the community for what the project will bring, if funded.
I could argue persuasively for cultural endeavors, because I know about them and I support them personally. They mean that the community supports the arts and the arts are about quality of life, communication, community identity, educating the youth, bringing the community into contact with outside organizations that enlarge the community. It may also mean funds coming into the community because of taxes paid by businesses that benefit from the money spent by visitors to the community who come to enjoy the cultural events.
But could I argue for scientific research into the maintenance of grasslands in Nebraska? I could, vaguely, but persuasively? No. Probably not. I'm not qualified, although I could pretend to be and maybe fool some of the people some of the time. But not the experts who would presumably be reading the proposal.
So reliably establishing need in a proposal must come from good research...the head as well as the heart, and always experience - the wisdom borne of time and effort.
Where does budget analysis come in? You have to look closely at the budget and see if it is reasonable. That is, does the benefit to the community merit spending the money on the operations, the staff, the administration, and the project? The irony is that without the funding it may not be possible to judge the value to the community. In other words, the project may or may not enrich the community $1 million worth, but we need to spend $500,000 to find out. Few grantmakers would take the wager. You might luck out and find just the right fit with your mission and the mission of a foundation, but it would be the exception.
posted by Schultz and Company | 5:51 PM
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