Evidencing need

What are funders looking for?

Not clearly and sufficiently evidencing need in your organisation’s bid has been cited as one of the most common reasons (the other being identifying outcomes) for rejection by the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) in their general funding programmes.
Funders will expect you to address the question of why you believe or know that there is a need for your project.

They will expect you to show evidence that demonstrates.
There is a need that is not being met or not in a way that people find helpful.
This can be proven through statistics and consultations.
That what you are planning meet the needs identified?
That people want the solution you are offering.

Here are a few tips on what sort of information funders are looking for, where to find this information, or ways you can gather this information yourselves.

The NLCF defines need as:

The term we use to describe a problem or issue, or situation where something needs to change to make things better, for a person, a group of people, an environment or an organisation.

What NLCF and other funders are looking for is confirmation that your organisation has thought carefully about needs when designing your project, and that you are confident that that your service users want the services you are offering.

So how do you go about proving demand?

Asking people (e.g. through door-to-door surveys, postal questionnaires, informal/formal interviews, or public consultations).
Records of unmet demand (waiting lists, letters from agencies who want to refer people). Existing research (NB this should be recent as people need change and new services may have been set up since the research was carried out)
Evaluation of existing services, which should include recognition of whether other organisations are carrying out similar services or targeting the same service users in your local area or not. Letters of support from other services and partnership groups.

Statistics

Statistics showing the needs within the target community can be found at:

Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

Strategies which show that your project fits into wider needs for services identified for example by your local authority Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.