It seems to be a theme in this book to introduce the topic of the chapter in paragraph form. Then the chapter shifts into a list of tips as well as helpful examples of what to model your work after. This structure of bulleted lists towards the middle of the chapter really helps me understand the topics in more detail. It’s almost like a to-do list for each part of the process. The list in this chapter stood out to me specifically because it includes a wide array of things to include to strengthen a problem statement. First, it highlights the importance of using statistics when it comes to showing how much a certain group needs the solution your organization is requesting money for. That makes sense because numbers can be really powerful especially when arguing a need for a human rights group. Another powerful aspect of creating a strong problem statement is to include a “touching story.” If you have a heart-wrenching story that sets you apart from other applicants, you’ll have a higher chance of being accepted by a funder.
