AI-Powered Statement of Need

Fellow grant writers! If you are using AI to help with your work, use this prompt to conduct deep research (toggle on) to update an organization's statement of need with fresh stats.

DEEP RESEARCH PROMPT:
Please conduct deep research to update the problem statement / statement of need with current statistics and evidence.

Draft in our brand voice: [describe your brand voice here].

CONTEXT
- Funder: [name]
- Organization mission statement & program(s) description
- Issue area / population / geography: [e.g., youth STEM education, food access, a specific city or region]
- Character/word limit: [limit, or "none"]
- What this funder prioritizes: [framing, priorities, evidence standards]

OLD VERSION TO UPDATE
[paste the existing statement of need]

RESEARCH TASK
- Identify the statistics and claims in the old version that are outdated, unsourced, or no longer accurate.
- Find current data to replace them, prioritizing the most recent available.
- Add relevant new evidence that strengthens the case for need in our issue area and geography.

SOURCE STANDARDS
- Use credible sources only: government data, peer-reviewed research, reputable institutions and national nonprofits.
- Prefer the most local and recent data available; note the year and source for
every statistic.
- If sources conflict, present the discrepancy.
- Do not invent, estimate, or extrapolate. If current data for a specific claim
isn't available, flag it.

WHAT I NEED
- An updated statement of need that establishes the problem and community context with current evidence, then connect it to what our program(s) bring.

GUARDRAILS
- Additive framing about community strengths and what we bring — avoid deficit-based language about the people or place we serve.
- Avoid these terms/phrases: [list]. Prefer instead: [list].
- Only include [sensitive program, partner, or detail] if I confirm it belongs here.
- Use our own program language where it fits: [list key phrases].

FORMAT
- Paragraph form
- Drop-in ready text, followed by:
- a list of every source used, with publication year and a link;
- a brief note on what changed from the old version and why;
- any gaps or outdated claims you couldn't verify with current data.
- Confirm the character count against the limit.

Plug and play!