Strong grant proposals use relevant data to support the request for funding. You can spot an experienced grantseeker by how artfully they use data. (The successful grant professionals I know are obsessed with data.)

 

Here are a few dos and don’ts for not getting lost in a sea of data. And for using data like a pro:

• Use data to define the problem your program will address, the population it will serve, and the efficacy of the approach you propose.
• Cite sources. Use simple citations within the text or simple footnotes. Occasionally funders will request a bibliography.
• Use data related to the specific service area in which you are working. Don’t assume that national or global data support the need for services within your local community.
• Use comparative data when possible. Tables or charts showing how the situation in your service area compares with other areas can be powerful.
• Use a mix of hard data and soft data. Hard data consists of facts and figures; soft data conveys the experiences and feelings of those affected by a problem. Hard data convince the head, and soft data inform the heart.
• Don’t use old data, unless it’s seminal or nothing more up-to-date is available. If you must use data that are more than a few years old, explain why the data are relevant.
• Don't use data from unreliable sources; be sure your data comes from a reputable source. Quotes from a local enthusiast‘s blog on education reform probably won’t carry much weight. Relevant data from the website of the US Department of Education will.
• Don’t mistake opinion for objective data.

A competitive request for funding can’t be based on assumptions. Good data make all the difference.

 

— Barbara Floersch, Former Chief of Training & Curriculum, The Grantsmanship Center

 

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