This document outlines the needs assessment process, which is a research-based method to identify and quantify community needs. A needs assessment involves brainstorming key issues, developing research questions, collecting primary data through surveys and interviews and secondary data research, analyzing the findings, and reporting the results. The needs assessment process provides objective evidence, demonstrates an organization's capacity and credibility, and supports grant proposals and service delivery improvements. The presentation encourages combining expertise with subcontractors and reviewing additional resources to effectively conduct a needs assessment.

1. Needs Assessments – How to “Tell
Your Story by the Numbers”
GPA St. Louis Chapter Presentation
2/7/17

2. What Is a Needs Assessment?
A research based process of
identifying and quantifying needs
A tool to enhance your grant
proposals
Another potential tool in your
“toolbox”

3. When Can You Use Needs
Assessments?
Research - To confirm
community need
Proposal Development – Data
to support
Service Delivery – Determine
needed changes or expansion

4. Why Would You Want to Do a
Needs Assessment?
What Grantmakers Want:
Evidence
Capacity
Credibility
Sustainability

5. Why I Decided to Offer Needs
Assessments
Complemented my grants
process for major revenue
source
Love the logic!
Easy to fit into my
existing work!

6. Needs Assessment Overview
Source: National Child Welfare Resource Center for Tribes. (2011). Findings from
the NRC4Tribes Technical Assistance Needs Assessment. Retrieved from
http://www.nrc4tribes.org/announcements/needs.

7. Needs Assessment Process
Brainstorming and Planning
Creation of a Guiding Document
for Research
Primary and Secondary Research
Analyze Data
Report Detailing Findings

8. Brainstorming and Planning
Done Onsite
Client Determines Attendees
Stakeholders
Partners
Staff
World Café Model

9. Brainstorming and Planning

10. Brainstorming and Planning

11. Guiding Document
Document summarizing
brainstorming findings
Research goal
Research topics
Need identified
Primary and secondary research
resources
Keywords

12. Guiding Document

13. Primary Research
Surveys
Individual Key “Player” Interviews
Stakeholders
Community Groups (church, school,
etc)
Focus Groups
Small Groups of 7-9 people
Moderated

14. Surveys
Written or electronic
Survey websites
 www.surveymonkey.com
 www.zoomerang.com
 www.surveygizmo.com
Incentives
 Gift Cards
 Free Conference Registration

15. Secondary Research
Internet Research based on Guiding
Document
Helps You Define the Critical Issues
Associated with the Need
 Frequency – How Often Does It Happen?
 Duration – How Long Do the Effects Last?
 Scope – Who/How Many Does It Affect?
 Severity – How Seriously Are the Subjects
Affected?
 Perceptions – How Do People Feel About the
Problem?

16. Analyze Data
Review All
Primary/Secondary Data
Find Commonalities
Determine Findings

17. Report Findings
Report includes
Summary of Findings
Notes
Summary of Survey Results
Listing of Detailed Research Findings
with Links
Report should provide easy access to
information for
applications
Can be a written document or
presentation

18. Follow On Projects
Grant Research
Grant Writing
Service Development
Project Management

19. Tips for Conducting Needs
Assessment
Look for triggers
“Wish we understood…”
“I don’t know what they want”
Use subcontractors if needed
Research
Survey
Development/Administration
Report Development

20. Final Thoughts on Needs
Assessment
Great tool!
Win/Win for Staff Grant Writers
Show additional capabilities
Get data for grant applications
Review Heather Stombaugh’s GPA
Webinar, 1/23/13
Combine Your Expertise With That
of Others

21. QUESTIONS??
?

22. Website:
www.lakeviewconsulting.net
Email:
micki@lakeviewconsulting.net