The Importance of Evidence-Based Practices

The Importance of Evidence-Based Practices

When writing a grant application, you always want to highlight any evidence-based practices to be implemented in the program for which you are seeking funding, even if the grant does not specifically ask about evidence-based practices. Why do funders want to see evidence-based practices in your grant application? 

1. It shows that the program design has been well-researched and well-thought out.

When a grantor sees that a program incorporates evidence-based practices, it is a signal that the program has been well-researched, well-designed, and that program leadership has a comprehensive understanding of the needs, goals, and intended impact of the program. 

2. Evidence-based practices improve the chances that the program will be successful.

Programs that employ evidence-based practices that already show high success rates are more likely to be successful.  That means the grantor’s money will be put to good use, go father, and achieve tangible outcomes in alignment with mutual goals.  This signals that funding this program is an investment for the grant maker.

3. The inclusion of evidence-based practices ease reporting and measuring outcomes.

Evidence-based practices come with the silver lining that they tend to already have built-in mechanisms to measure whether or not they are successful.  They come with helpful frameworks that can guide determining how to measure program outcomes and articulate results for reporting purposes.

These are just three of many reasons to incorporate evidence-based practices into programs and to highlight these practices in grant applications.  The bottom line is that they work, they improve the likelihood of program success, and they lay a solid groundwork to build upon to develop new and better practices throughout the course of the program.