The Need Statement of your proposal is the most important sections of your grant–it justifies why you need to complete your project. That’s why it’s so important to get it right–it sets the stage for the remainder of your proposal.
Grants.gov has developed an excellent blog post about developing a Need Statement. While it features an Institute of Museum and Library Services proposal and funding opportunity, the lessons learned here can be applied to both federal and non-federal proposals.
It’s worth a read for those that may struggle with writing a highly effective Need Statement, or for those that are looking to become more effective writers.
The Office of Sponsored Research and Programs also has other resources available to support grant writers. Please contact Ron Fleischmann, Director of Sponsored Research and Programs (fleischmann@hope.edu), to discuss other resources available to support your efforts.