STATEMENT OF NEED: [PROJECT NAME]

1. THE PROBLEM
[ONE OR TWO SENTENCES THAT STATE THE PROBLEM PLAINLY, in terms of the people affected, e.g., "[GROUP] in [PLACE] face [PROBLEM], which leads to [CONSEQUENCE]."]

2. WHO IS AFFECTED AND WHERE
Our project will serve [TARGET POPULATION: age, characteristics, number] in [GEOGRAPHIC AREA: neighborhood, city, county, ZIP codes, schools]. [ONE OR TWO SENTENCES OF DEMOGRAPHIC CONTEXT, with a cited source, e.g., "According to [SOURCE, YEAR], [X%] of [GROUP] in [AREA] [CHARACTERISTIC]."]

3. THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM
[TWO TO FOUR SENTENCES WITH CURRENT, CITED DATA showing scale. Compare local data to a county, state, or national benchmark where it helps, e.g., "[LOCAL RATE] compared with [STATE OR NATIONAL RATE] ([SOURCE, YEAR])."]
[OPTIONAL: YOUR OWN PROGRAM DATA, e.g., "Last year we received [NUMBER] requests for [SERVICE] and could serve only [NUMBER]; [NUMBER] people remain on our waitlist."]

4. CONSEQUENCES
[TWO OR THREE SENTENCES ON WHAT HAPPENS IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT ADDRESSED, for individuals, families, and the community. Use evidence where available, and avoid exaggeration.]

5. CAUSES AND CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
[TWO TO FOUR SENTENCES ON WHY THE PROBLEM EXISTS OR PERSISTS in your area, such as barriers to access, cost, transportation, language, policy, or lack of services. Your project should address at least one of these causes.]

6. CURRENT RESPONSES AND THE GAP
[TWO TO FOUR SENTENCES DESCRIBING WHAT ALREADY EXISTS, including other organizations, public programs, or past efforts, and WHAT IS MISSING. Be accurate and respectful about other providers.]

7. COMMUNITY VOICE
[ONE TO THREE SENTENCES ON HOW YOU KNOW WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS, such as surveys, focus groups, advisory councils, partner input, or participant feedback, with numbers, e.g., "In a [MONTH YEAR] survey of [NUMBER] [PARTICIPANTS/RESIDENTS], [X%] said [FINDING]."]
[OPTIONAL: A BRIEF, CONSENTED QUOTE OR ANONYMIZED STORY.]

8. HOW THIS PROJECT RESPONDS
[TWO OR THREE SENTENCES THAT BRIDGE TO YOUR PROGRAM DESIGN: name the project, the cause or gap it addresses, and why your approach fits, e.g., "[PROJECT NAME] addresses [CAUSE/GAP] by [APPROACH]. [EVIDENCE OR PAST RESULT SUPPORTING THE APPROACH]."]

SOURCES
[LIST EACH SOURCE: Author or agency, title, year, URL, as required by the funder's citation style.]