Grant Writing Resources
Free Guide
Where to find the community data for your grants "Cheat Sheet"
Your community needs assessment should be updated every two to three years. Is yours out of date? Here is a "Cheat Sheet" with nine websites to jump-start your community data search. Let Grants With Grace Consulting's years of experience make your life easier.
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Why is "community data" important?
It's not enough to TELL donors, government officials, and community members that there is a problem. To substantially fund your organization, you have to SHOW it. How many kids go without food on the weekends? How many are homeless in your city? How many people need critical home repairs to allow them to age safely in place? In other words, how many people need your service? Community data proves that your organization is valuable and worth giving money to.
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Armed with the correct data, you can change a community. This data is also the key tool in regularly adapting your programs to serve those who need it most (hint: not only is this vital for long-term survival as a nonprofit, but funders also love this). Community data is one of the most powerful tools for significantly improving your grant applications. When I work with new clients, community data and impact measurement are two the areas I tackle first when improving their grants.
Why should I do this right now? I have ten other items on my to-do list.
If you are an organization that receives government funding (hint: 30% of nonprofits do.), there is a good chance that your funding will be decreased or cut within the next two years. The federal government is changing its priorities, and it is leaking into almost every area of the nonprofit realm. By updating your community data NOW (not in six months), you are protecting your organization's mission by having the tools to prove to private donors why they should keep your doors open if/when you lose your government funding. The first step is easy: download the Where to Find Community Data for Your Grants "Cheat Sheet" to start preparing.
If you don't receive government funding, this will still affect your organization. As government funding decreases, the need for private funding will significantly increase (federal funding has been providing $267B to nonprofits). By strengthening your community data, you will be preparing for grant applications, as they will likely become more competitive over the next several years.
Need More Support?
My data and story-driven grants have won over $8.7 million for the Nevada community in the last five years (not including my work in Oregon, Florida, and Washington State). Book a Vision Call with me to rehabilitate your community needs assessment and start achieving your funding goals.