1 IDENTIFYING NEEDS Grantsmanship and Fundraising College of Public and Community Service University of Massachusetts at Boston ©2008 William Holmes
2 TYPES OF DATA FOR NEED IDENTIFICATION: 1 Data Descriptions of Community Data Descriptions of Community –Census –Population Reports –Specialized Studies –Local Studies
3 TYPES OF DATA FOR NEED IDENTIFICATION: 2 Data on Causes of Need Data on Causes of Need Data on Results of Need Data on Results of Need Data on Consequences of Need Data on Consequences of Need Data Comparing across Time and Location Data Comparing across Time and Location
4 TYPES OF DATA FOR NEED IDENTIFICATION: 3 Data from Similar Organizations Data from Similar Organizations Data on Demand for Service Data on Demand for Service Data from Experts, Policymakers Data from Experts, Policymakers
5 SOURCES OF DATA FOR NEED IDENTIFICATION: 1 Client Needs Assessment Client Needs Assessment Community Needs Assessment Community Needs Assessment Expert Needs Assessment Expert Needs Assessment Governmental Data Archives Governmental Data Archives Focus groups Focus groups
6 SOURCES OF DATA FOR NEED IDENTIFICATION: 2 Community Planning Agencies Community Planning Agencies University Research Centers University Research Centers Journals Journals Newspapers Newspapers Internet Internet
7 SOURCES OF DATA FOR NEED IDENTIFICATION: 3 Client Records Client Records Manager Interviews Manager Interviews Government Publications Government Publications Personal Knowledge Personal Knowledge Statutes, Case Law and Regulations Statutes, Case Law and Regulations
8 DIFFERENT BASES FOR DEFINING NEEDS: 1 Problems to Reduce Problems to Reduce Strengths to Build On Strengths to Build On Policies and Laws to Comply With Policies and Laws to Comply With Funder Interests Funder Interests Community Building Community Building Event Responses Event Responses
9 DIFFERENT BASES FOR DEFINING NEEDS: 2 Public concern Public concern Theories Theories Poignant cases Poignant cases Successes Successes
10 INTERVENTIONS NEEDED: 1 Expansion of Existing Programs Expansion of Existing Programs Modification of Existing Program Modification of Existing Program Introduction of Existing Program to New Area Introduction of Existing Program to New Area Creating New Program for unmet Need Creating New Program for unmet Need
11 INTERVENTIONS NEEDED: 2 Different Results for this Program Different Results for this Program Different Levels of Intervention needed Different Levels of Intervention needed –Individual –Group –Community
12 PLANS FOR MEETING NEEDS Specify Strategic Relevance of Need Specify Strategic Relevance of Need Specify Tasks, Resources, Target Population Specify Tasks, Resources, Target Population Specify Responsibility for Tasks Specify Responsibility for Tasks Specify How Overcome Barriers Specify How Overcome Barriers Specify How Monitor Implementation Specify How Monitor Implementation
13 PLANS FOR SUSTAINING PROGRAM AND RESULTS Income Sources Income Sources Follow-up Follow-up Alternative Funding Alternative Funding Institutionalization of Programs Institutionalization of Programs Phase-out of program Phase-out of program
NEEDS ASSESSMENT TIPS Identify Strategic Information Identify Strategic Information Reduce Data volume Reduce Data volume Integrate data elements Integrate data elements Focus on simple needs Focus on simple needs Separate outputs from outcomes Separate outputs from outcomes Be logical, organized, clear, focussed Be logical, organized, clear, focussed 14