Proposal and Problem Statement

What are the main components of a proposal? Describe which component you think is the most important, and explain why. Refer to Page 5 & 6 of your text “Introduction

What are the main components of a problem statement? Explain why it is important to highlight the positive effects your program will offer that address the needs you are seeking to fulfill. Refer to Page 5 of your text,” Step 3 Writing a Compelling Problem Statement”.

Step 3 Writing a Compelling Problem Statement

THIS STEP HIGHLIGHTS THE KEY ELEMENTS of a problem statement (for grantseeking purposes this statement might also be referred to as the statement of the need or need statement), including the four requirements for it to be successful. The section also offers a worksheet and sample to serve as guides to preparing a problem statement for a proposal.

Purpose of the Problem Statement

What is the problem to be addressed? An organization’s problem statement will—or at least it should—directly address this question. Therefore this is the best place to begin writing a proposal. A problem statement sets the framework for the entire proposal, as it describes a critical condition, set of conditions, or a social need affecting certain people or things in a specific place at a specific time. The need statement is fundamental to a proposal because funders must agree with the organization that the program addresses an important community problem. Bolstered by accurate data (quantitative statistics) combined with the right selection of stories that provide a more personal illustration of the need (qualitative data), a compelling need statement is often the first component that motivates a funder to give serious consideration to a nonprofit’s request. Make no mistake: a good, solid, and well-supported problem statement is the key that unlocks the door, moving a proposal that much closer to funding consideration.

Finally, the unmet need—and an organization’s ability to successfully address it—gives grantmakers an opportunity to realize their own goals.

Content of the Problem Statement

Here are some basic rules to follow when developing the project’s problem statement:

• The need being addressed in the statement should have a clear relationship to an organization’s mission and purpose.
• The problem statement should focus squarely on those the organization serves and their specific needs, rather than the organization’s needs—unless an organizational capacity-building grant is being sought.
• Any assertions about the problem should be well supported with evidence (statistical facts, expert views, trends found in the experience of doing the work, and so on).
• The organization must be able to directly connect—and substantiate—the need described in the proposal with the organization’s ability to successfully respond to that need (that ability will be described in a subsequent section of the proposal).
• The problem statement must be easily digestible. Avoid using jargon, and do not make the reader have to work to understand the point. Graphs and charts with data to support the case are often good additions to a proposal, as they present the data in the most compelling way.

The problem being addressed by the organization may be specific to its geographical area or it may be found in many communities. Do not overpromise: if the problem occurs in an area larger than that served by the organization or the proposed program, it is important to focus only on what the organization or program can reasonably accomplish. Should this be the case—the problem exceeds the boundaries of the organization or proposed program—consider positioning the program as a potential model for other nonprofits in other locations. By taking the model approach, an organization broadens the pool of potential funders to include those concerned with the problem in other geographical areas. Consideration should also be given to conducting research to discover whether other organizations in the service area have—or are developing—similar programs to address the same problem. Should this be the case, consider exploring a collaborative program that would leverage and expand the reach of program plans and grant funds.

If the organization decides to take either the model or collaborative approach, highlight this fact in the problem statement; the organization is addressing the need on a larger level through the development of a program that can be a model for others or that it is leveraging its efforts with another organization so it can expand the reach and impact of its program.

Often arts organizations struggle with this section owing to a perception that the arts do not meet a compelling community need. However, arts organizations should be encouraged, as they do meet important needs. Without these nonprofits, certain cultures and traditions would be lost, lives would not be enriched, and young people would not learn new and different ways of expressing themselves. The same holds true for social justice organizations who may struggle with how to quantify social change. Over the last few years, there has been more research in this area, and the website offers some data, studies, and overall guidance on how best to frame social justice outcomes.

For general support grants, there might be a struggle with the problem statement because the proposal addresses the general work of the organization. Focus on describing the problems that the organization addresses: mission and purpose. This, again, goes back to something touched on earlier in this workbook: when focusing on soliciting general operating support, always use the nonprofit’s mission and purpose as the guide.

Definition

Collaboration. “A mutually beneficial and well-defined relationship entered into by two or more organizations to achieve common goals. The relationship includes a commitment to mutual relationships and goals, a jointly developed structure and shared responsibility, mutual authority and accountability for success, and sharing of resources and rewards.”

Tips for Writing the Problem Statement

The problem statement should be contained to no more than three pages. Being concise with the problem statement will serve grantseekers well, and the reality is that most foundation guidelines limit proposals to ten to twelve pages in total; corporate guidelines typically limit proposals to even fewer pages. Space constricts even more with the online proposal portals, as they literally limit the space to a specific number of words.

In stating the problem, use hard statistics from reputable sources and steer clear of assumptions and undocumented assertions masquerading as legitimate facts.

• Use statistics that are clear and that document the current unmet need or problem. If talking about a specific community within a city, offer one or two data points about the city, then zero in on the data specific to that community.
• Use comparative statistics and research where possible. Look at the examples in the accompanying Reality Check box. As shown, using data from a community that did something very similar to what the grantseeker wants to do and citing the benefits that the community derived from the project can make a strong case for the nonprofit to do the same.
• Quote authorities who have spoken on the topic. Be sure to cite the person who made each statement and the source where it was found, and if appropriate, provide backup information that substantiates that this person is indeed an authority on the subject matter.
• Make sure all data collection is well documented. Grantseekers will use the Internet for research, which is of course more than appropriate. Just make sure that the websites being referenced are reputable and the links are both accurate and current; then clearly cite the sources.
• Use touching stories of people as examples. This is very effective, but only when balanced against hard data. Keep in mind that foundations vary in what they seek in terms of the right mix of vignettes and numbers.
• Give a clear sense of the urgency of the request. Funders need to understand why the funding is important now.

Take a look at the following Sample Problem Statement from the Swim 4 Life program. Then, using the proposal idea identified and developed in Step One, answer the questions on Worksheet 3.1, as this will assist in beginning to define the need the organization is addressing. After reviewing the Sample Problem Statement and completing the worksheet questionnaire, write the organization’s problem statement based on the information developed. Next answer the Problem Statement Review Questions listed at the end of this step to make sure the statement is written well. Rewrite the problem statement until all the review questions are satisfactorily addressed.

Sample Problem Statement

The need for programs like Swim 4 Life is enormous in the communities we serve. Swimming has not been a popular sport in African American or Latino communities in some measure as a result of various factors including access to safe pools. Historically speaking, African Americans were denied access to public pools. As a result, they turned to water holes, ponds, and other unsupervised alternatives, which led to rates of drowning among people of color that far exceed those of whites. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest report in early 2012, the drowning rate for African Americans between the ages of five and fourteen was more than three times that for whites.

To this day, a deep-seated fear about swimming has discouraged African Americans and, to a lesser yet still significant degree, Latinos in the United States from participating in the activity. A story relayed to us by a previous program participant:

Our family is originally from Louisiana, though many of us moved to Any State after Hurricane Katrina. Those of my family who stayed in Louisiana were having a family picnic a few years ago by a waterway, and not one person at the picnic could swim. A few of the kids were playing at the water’s edge when the land gave way and all fell into the water. Nine of my family members died that day—seven kids and two adults who tried to help them. I promised myself that if I ever got the chance, not only would I learn to swim, but I would become a lifeguard.

According to our most recent survey of current and previous program participants, nearly 75 percent of those surveyed have family members who have drowned or experienced a traumatic water incident and are terrified of drowning themselves.

Arthur Schomburg Middle School, one of the program sites, is located in a part of South Spring that offers children and youth little in the way of public resources and facilities for sports, especially swimming. A county facility, Thurgood Marshall Park, 1.7 miles from the school, has a seasonal swim program, open only during the summer even though the pool is indoor and heated. Rosa Parks and Garfield Recreation Centers, twelve miles from the school, have indoor heated pools that open during the summer but are not accessible to young students after school; they would have to cross major thoroughfares to get there.

Most experts agree that children approaching adolescence are particularly vulnerable to peer influences, and for youth living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, the lack of positive opportunities often puts them at risk for gang affiliation, substance abuse, and/or low academic performance. A report issued by the Urban Institute in 2011 detailed the risks, obstacles, and positive strategies needed relative to middle school children from low-income families. According to the study, it is a prime time to introduce innovative and challenging youth sports programs—those not typically available in communities of color—as exciting alternatives to unhealthy risk-taking activities. The Swim 4 Life program in King County, Any State, is designed to take advantage of this age group’s interest in experimentation and exploration.

The city of Abbington is served by the program site at the Rockmore Education Complex. It is the most densely populated city in the state, with 8,552 people occupying every square mile, compared with an overall average of 2,093 people per square mile in other cities. It has the highest crime rate in the state, and the poverty rate is 46 percent, nearly twice that of South Spring. Fifty-one percent of children under the age of 18 live in poverty, compared with 31 percent in South Spring, and less than 20 percent the rest of the state. Young people in this city—and South Spring—clearly live under stressful conditions and could benefit greatly from structured and supervised physical activity, as well as safe opportunities for fun and positive engagement. And for all of the reasons outlined, we have selected Cooperville Middle School, also located in Abbington, to expand our program.

A swim program offers many advantages over other physical activities. Swimming is an excellent form of exercise because all the muscles of the body are used, and it requires a constant supply of oxygen to the muscles, making it a mainly aerobic exercise. It is also a gateway to all aquatic sports and is considered one of the important life-saving skills. Many studies such as the one conducted in 2012 by the Center for Research on Effective School for Disadvantaged Youth at the Johns Hopkins University have drawn a connection between participation in structured athletic programs and academic achievement. Yet today, students in local high schools, particularly in the eleventh and twelfth grades, have so many academic requirements that there is not enough time for physical education, even as an elective.

WORKSHEET 3.1: Statement of Problem Questionnaire

Problem Statement Review Questions

Once a problem statement is completed, answer the following six questions to see whether what has been developed hits the mark:

1. Is the problem statement focused on those who will be served by the program (and not on your organization)?
2. Does the problem statement directly connect to the organization’s mission statement?
3. Given the organization’s size and resources, can it address the problem in a meaningful way?
4. Is the problem statement adequately supported by solid and reputable quantitative and qualitative data on the nature, size, and scope of the need to be addressed?
5. Is it sweet and simple (remember KISS from a previous chapter)?
6. Is the problem statement persuasive without being wordy?

Reality Check

Avoid the trap of circular reasoning, which commonly occurs in problem statements. To use the Foundation Center’s definition and example, circular reasoning occurs when “you present the absence of your solution as the actual problem. Then your solution is offered as the way to solve the problem. For example, ‘The problem is that we have no pool in our community. Building a pool will solve the problem.’”

This statement does not communicate a problem: communities across the country thrive with no community pool. However, if it was stated that a community pool in the neighborhood would specifically address certain challenges the community is facing, and if followed up by citing a similar community where a community pool has had a positive impact in ways that are documented, it could potentially build a compelling argument that would provide the context for the problem statement.

The program’s need is now established. Developing the program’s goals and objectives is next, which is Step Four.

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When it comes to research, a proposal is often a critical part of the whole process. This is because it contains certain details that help guide the researcher throughout the process for them to get the best possible results as it would be recommended. The main components include the…

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Proposal and Problem Statement

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Proposal and Problem Statement