Data to Support Your Grant Proposals

You're working on the needs statement for your project proposal, and you know that specific and current statistical information is needed to justify and bolster the case for your proposed work. Where can you go online to find reliable, up-to-date data? Here are some suggestions:

National & State

U.S. Census Bureau: State and County QuickFacts
Provides population, business activity, and geographic data. Drill down to cities and counties using the drop-down menus. Click on More data sets for access to additional information, including Demographic, Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics from the American Community Survey.

Statistical Abstract of the United States
Presents national statistical information on a broad range of categories and activities, including arts, environment, foreign aid, and economic indicators. Selected categories also provide international statistics.

The Nation’s Report Card
Provides data on the academic achievement of elementary and secondary school students taking the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a continuing and nationally representative measure of achievement in reading, mathematics, science, writing, and other subjects. View findings by subject area or view state profiles.

Education Watch State Reports
Published by The Education Trust, these annual state reports contain comparison data by population groups regarding student performance based on the National Assessment of Educational Progress; high school graduation rates; teacher quality; access to academically challenging course offerings; and K-12 funding. Check out the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut reports, along with the national report.

Local school districts are often good sources of data on student achievement and school performance across these same parameters.

New York City

NYC.gov: Department of City Planning
Reference Features: Provide access to demographic information for districts and neighborhoods, in addition to other statistical data tools, such as the Community District Profiles for each borough.

My Neighborhood Statistics
Provides data tables and maps showing patterns in selected performance indicators across different city neighborhoods.

New York State County Health Indicator Profiles
Published by the New York State Department of Health, these data tables provide 2003-2007 health statistics for New York State counties and New York City.

Try these resources, read our FAQ on the topic, "Where can I find demographic information about my community?", and share your suggestions on where else to look for data.