| Although they tend to exaggerate their claims, the | | | | reviewers depend on you to show how the need |
| websites and publications that claim "free money is | | | | manifests in your community. The more you |
| available for all kinds of needs" do not flagrantly lie. | | | | demonstrate the urgency of your community's need, |
| "Needs," however, emerges as the keyword in the | | | | the more you put yourself in position to get the money. |
| advertisers' claims, because it lends itself to | | | | Show your capacity to meet the need. |
| misinterpretation. The federal government does not | | | | In general, your project serves an ideal. All youth ought |
| invest in satisfaction of your personal needs; it does | | | | to have access to quality education regardless of their |
| offer substantial benefits to eligible applicants, but it | | | | culture or social class. All young workers ought to |
| does not give grants based strictly on financial need. | | | | have access to meaningful employment. You, |
| Instead, the federal government invests in practical, | | | | however, must show your practicality and pragmatism |
| strategic projects that satisfy serious and compelling | | | | as you honour your idealism. In your proposal, "how?" |
| public needs. | | | | becomes the critical issue. Now that you have proven |
| Assess the seriousness of the need. | | | | the seriousness of the need, how will you satisfy it? |
| Most Requests for Proposals (RFP's) challenge you to | | | | How do you have the capacity to fix the problem that |
| make the case for the need your project will satisfy. | | | | created the need, or how do you have the means to |
| The RFP will demonstrate a general need for public | | | | relieve the need-not just in the short term but for |
| service initiatives-youth employment training, for | | | | decades to come? If the government funds your |
| example, or high school drop-out recovery, or public | | | | project for two or three years, how will your good |
| lands reclamation, or the development of green energy | | | | efforts eradicate the need by the time the funding runs |
| alternatives. The grant opportunity originates in the | | | | out? |
| government's general recognition of the need, but the | | | | |