This document provides guidance on defining problems for grant proposals in 5 steps: 1) Understand the funder's mission and how the project helps it. 2) Identify if the problem is a knowledge gap or lack of resources. 3) Research and document the problems through various evidence sources. 4) Propose a project to address the problems. 5) Explain how the project helps achieve the funder's goals. Researchers should thoroughly understand the funder and problem, provide strong evidence for the problems, and demonstrate how their proposed project solves the issues and aligns with the funder's mission.

1. DEFINING PROBLEMS FOR
GRANT PROPOSALS

2. 1. Understand the mission, purposes,
and history of the organization from
which you’re seeking funds. How will
your proposed project help further
this mission?

3. 2. Understand what type of problem
you have.
Problem: X is the desirable state, but the state is currently Y.

4. TYPES OF PROBLEMS
• Is it a problem of missing knowledge? What are
the negative effects of this missing knowledge?
(For whom is it a problem, and why?) What will
be the benefits of your research, which proposes
to supply this missing knowledge?
• Is it a problem of a lack of resources? What
resources are lacking? What are the negative
effects of these missing resources? What
benefits will accrue from gaining the resources?

5. 3. Adequately document (aka
provide evidence for, aka DO
RESEARCH ON) those problems.

6. TYPES OF EVIDENCE
• Economic and demographic statistics about the community
that has the problem.
• Relevant and up-to-date research, trends, and literature.
• Anecdotal information (don’t rely too heavily on this).
• Waiting lists for programs/other evidence of demand.
• Focus group results.
• Assessment of needs and evaluations of past programs.
• Newspaper reports.
• Police precinct data, health department data, university
data, etc.

7. 4. Propose a project that will address
those problems/needs.

8. 5. Explain how solving the problem
you identify will help further the
granting organization’s goals.

9. Now you do it:
1. Understand the mission, purposes, and history of the
organization from which you’re seeking funds. How
will your proposed project help further this mission?
2. Understand what type of problem you have.
3. Adequately document (aka provide evidence for, aka
DO RESEARCH ON) those problems.
4. Propose a project that will address those
problems/needs.
5. Explain how solving the problem you identify will
help further the granting organization’s goals.