5 Examples of Supporting Evidence To Include in Your Grant Application
A crucial part of your grant application is the supporting evidence you include. Specifically, funding sources say that this can account for up to 68 percent of the grant review process! So, if you’ve finally found a grant that meets your need, ensure you include enough supporting evidence in your grant application.
When writing a grant application and preparing proof, organizations should keep in mind that there are five types of evidence they can include in their proposal. Furthermore, these types of evidence include quantitative evidence; qualitative evidence; evaluations; expert evidence; and anecdotal evidence. While you do not need to use all types, the first three are highly recommended.
5 Types of Evidence You Can Include
| Evidence type | Examples of this type of evidence |
|---|---|
| 1. Quantitative evidence is numerical. It can also be counted or measured objectively. | It would be appropriate to include quantitative evidence about, for example, the number of people in target groups that require the service you would provide or about your organization’s financial capabilities. |
| 2. Qualitative evidence is less numerical. It describes, explains, and also tells a story. | It would be appropriate to include qualitative evidence. For example, you could include the strategies your organization has in place to ensure ongoing assessment of the delivery of services against outcomes or about the methods your organization employs to undertake needs analysis or engage with the community when planning or providing services. |
| 3. Evaluations provide quantitative and qualitative information on the effectiveness of current services or programs. | Applications should include evaluation style evidence on the previous and current outcomes achieved by current/similar services and programs. |
| 4. Expert evidence is based on research as well as expert opinions. | Applicants can also use expert evidence to supplement and strengthen other forms of evidence. |
| 5. Anecdotal evidence is based on opinion. | In a person-centered system, the opinions of people are very valuable inputs into the planning process, particularly when developing new ideas. Special care should also be taken to ensure that a diverse sample of opinions is sought and, wherever possible, opinions should be researched systematically through qualitative research. In addition, anecdotal evidence should not be used on its own as evidence but may be considered as supporting evidence. |
Additional Note:
A funding source must do its due diligence before awarding any funds. If you are unable to provide evidence to confirm and validate your proposal, more often than not, grant reviewers will overlook your application. Remember — it is not their job to chase you down to confirm details in order to award grants. Rather, it is the opposite, where you need to prove and demonstrate your program to be considered for funding.
Need more help writing your grant application? You can also take advantage of the free resources available at GrantWatch.com. Discover sample grants and funding documents, a glossary of terms, as well as other useful resources to help!