Using Data Effectively

in Federal Grant Applications

Jane Nolan Goeken

Community Development Specialist

Iowa State University Extension

jngoeken@iastate.edu; 712-240-2504
Grant Writing

Does your 

organization write 

grant applications 

internally?

Do you contract with 

external organization or 

individual to write grant 

applications for your 

organization?

* Who do you contract with?
Data: Not just for evaluation

• Planning

• Documenting 

problem/need and status 

quo (benchmark) in 

application

• Evaluation
Planning: What’s your problem?!

• A grant application should aim to 

solve a problem

• Problem can never be that you do 

not have enough money

• To identify problem, think about the 

people your organization serves 

• YOU saying something is a 

problem does not make it a 

problem
Identifying problem

Qualitative data

• Needs assessment

• Survey (text)

• Strategic planning process (that includes stakeholders, 

partners, board/council, staff)

• Focus group(s)

• Grassroots coalition
Critical for planning success?
How to: Qualitative data

• Assessing Community Needs 

and Resources, University of 

Kansas Community Tool Box 

• Administration for Community 

Living’s Innovations in Nutrition 

Programs and Services 

Replication Grant toolkit 

examples
Back it up: Quantitative data

Primary data

• Number of individuals 

served

• Number of requests for a 

service, program you were 

not able to fulfill

• Average cost of a meal

• Number of partners

Secondary data

• Poverty rate for residents 

over the age of 65

• USDA food access data

• County health rankings

• Needs assessment 

conducted by another 

organization
Primary quantitative data

• What data do you 

currently collect?

• What data might it be 

helpful for you to collect in 

the future?
Secondary quantitative data

• What data do you 

currently use?

• What might be helpful for 

you to find and use in the 

future?
• U.S. Census Bureau – QuickFacts

• U.S. Census Bureau Exploring Age Groups in the 2020 Census

• County Health Rankings and Roadmaps

• USDA Food Access Research Atlas

• Elder Economic Security Standard€ Index

• America’s Health Rankings – Risk of Social Isolation (over age 65), by 

county

• Background info on collecting and analyzing data for food-related grant 

projects 

• National benchmarks for congregate nutrition programs 

Some secondary data sources
Using data in application

• Cite both qualitative and quantitative data in documenting 

problem/need in application

• Provide a comparison point for data – state or national data 

comparison and/or local trend over time

• NARC data and studies can help document why specific 

intervention activities were selected to address the identified 

problem – and help establish benchmarks for evaluation
Using data for evaluation

• Quantitative Data – Typically needs to be primary source 

(collected by your organization) since it takes longer for 

impacts to show up in secondary data

• Qualitative data sources used to identify and document 

problem can also be used to document impacts in evaluation 

(survey, focus groups, number of participants or partners)

• Consider Ripple Effects Mapping or Impact Mapping as a 

qualitative data follow-up to Needs Assessment
Using Data in Evaluation

Qualitative

• Focus groups

• Survey (text)

• Ripple Effects Mapping

Quantitative

• Number of individuals served

• Survey (numerical)
Using data in evaluation 

Continued

Innovations in Nutrition 

Programs and Services –

Replication Grants tool kit
Evaluation: Qualitative data

“Before coming to the Encore 

Café, I had not shared a meal 

with someone else since my 

wife passed nine years ago.”

-- Ken, Marion IA
Thank You

Jane Nolan Goeken

Community Development Specialist

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

jngoeken@iastate.edu; 712-240-2504

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For the full non-discrimination statement or accommodation inquiries, go to 

www.extension.iastate.edu/diversity/ext.