How to Estimate the Race/Ethnicity of Your Population Served in a Grant Application

When writing a grant application, funders often want to understand the diversity of the population your program will serve. Estimating race and ethnicity can be a bit challenging, but it’s a critical part of demonstrating your program’s inclusivity and impact. In this post, I’ll walk you through three strategies to help you make accurate estimates of the race and ethnicity of the population served in your project.

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Use Historical Program Data or Participant Surveys

If your program is already established, your historical data is the best place to start. Review past reports or participant surveys to determine the racial and ethnic makeup of your participants. This information gives you a solid foundation for your estimates.

Leverage Local Demographic Data from Reputable Sources

For new programs or projects, you can use census data or local community surveys to estimate the racial and ethnic demographics of the population in your target area. This approach is particularly useful when you don’t have direct program data to work with.

Include Race/Ethnicity Questions in Participant Surveys

Including race/ethnicity questions in your program’s surveys or registration forms is an effective way to gather self-reported data from participants. Not only does this provide accurate information, but it also ensures you are respecting the right of individuals to self-identify.

By using these three strategies—historical data, demographic research, and participant surveys—you’ll be able to estimate the race/ethnicity of your population served in a way that is both accurate and funder-friendly.

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