Statement of Need for Community Intervention Proposal

The Statement of Need is the foundation of your proposal. According to the CIEF RFP, this section must: Clearly define the community problem or unmet need Identify the target population and geographic area Use relevant data (local, state, or national) Explain why the issue is urgent and significant Describe how the community is currently affected If the need is not compelling, reviewers will not fund the program regardless of how strong the design. Assignment: CIEF Statement of Need (23 pages) Format Requirements 12-point Times New Roman Double-spaced 1-inch margins 23 full pages Required Components Clear Problem Framing: Define the core issue clearly. Identify the specific population and geographic setting. Data-Driven Evidence: Include at least three statistics. At least two should be local or state-level if available. Include year and source in reference section at the end. Community Context: Incorporate qualitative or contextual evidence such as reports, credible news, or stakeholder summaries. Urgency & Significance: Explain why this issue matters now, who is disproportionately affected, and what happens if it is not addressed. Logical Bridge to Your Program: End with a transition paragraph that previews your intervention and connects to measurable outcomes. Recommended Structure Paragraph 1: Problem definition (who, where, what) Paragraph 23: Quantitative evidence Paragraph 4: Community impact/context Paragraph 5: Urgency and equity implications Closing Paragraph: Transition to program design Common Mistakes to Avoid Writing about the solution instead of the need Using only national data without local context Making moral arguments instead of evidence-based claims Failing to identify who is most affected Ignoring geographic specificity Grading Rubric (100 Points) Criteria Excellent Good Satisfactory Limited Points Problem Clarity & Specificity (20 pts) Clear, specific population and location; tightly framed problem Mostly clear Some vagueness Very broad or unclear /20 Use of Data & Evidence (25 pts) Strong, relevant statistics; local/state data included; well integrated Good use of data Adequate but limited depth Minimal or poorly integrated data /25 Community Context & Impact (20 pts) Clear explanation of real-world impact; strong contextualization Good explanation Basic description Weak or unclear /20 Urgency & Equity Framing (20 pts) Compelling case; clear equity lens; aligns with CIEF priorities Mostly aligned Some connection Weak alignment /20 Organization & Professional Writing (15 pts) Logical flow, polished, grant-ready tone Minor issues Adequate Hard to follow /15