1. Description
The challenge upon which the instant proposal is predicated revolves around fighting sickle cell disease (SCD) amongst minority communities in the USA, primarily African Americans. Unfortunately, unlike most medical conditions, SCD affects African Americans on an exponentially higher ratio as compared to other communities. Indeed, one out of every 13 African American children is born with the gene that creates susceptibility for SCD ( SCFA, 2019 ). On the other hand, members of the African American community have a higher propensity for economic marginalization. The combination of the two factors above means that many children suffering from SCD come from families that cannot afford the kind of healthcare they need.
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2. Goal
The goal of the project idea is to establish a research project to investigate why African Americans are highly susceptible to sickle cell disease (SCD). The second component of the research is what can be done to reduce the propensity for African Americans developing SCD. Whereas the USA has some of the best healthcare researchers and experts in the world, funding is always a pertinent hindrance to research. The core of the instant project is to ensure sufficient funds are available for the research project. To raise the funds, the project will seek to get commitments, instead of dollar amounts, from members of the private sector.
3. Audience
The targeted audience for the project proposal is the board of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Alberta (SCFA). SCFA is an organization dedicated to the fighting of sickle cell disease (SCD) specifically among African Americans. Among their key areas of focus is research, hence their selection for the instant project. The board of SCFA is made up of a team that is knowledgeable regarding SCD and committed towards advocacy towards the same. The project entails pitching an idea to the target audience about how to obtain funding for the proposed research project.
It is important to note that this team gets many project proposals by well-meaning individuals and have to select the most suitable ones. I will have to make an impression on them for my idea to be accepted by the organization. With regard to the particulars of the target audience members, the same as outlined in the organization's website ( SCFA, 2019 ). It will be important to study these particulars in order to anticipate the potential for support and/or opposition from the target audience.
Finally, the tone of the communication has to be formal in nature. The target audience is made up of busy professionals who have many important things to handle. Despite being formal, the communication must also be personal in nature, in order to appeal to the target audience.
4. Key Message
The key message in the proposed pitch is that the long-term solution to the sickle cell disease (SCD) among African Americans lies in understanding why the community is ravaged by the condition. The current undertakings in the organization such as sensitization and assisting those already affected are also important. However, it is through research that a substantive solution to the problem can be found. The key limitation of research projects is funding. Many research projects begin with what seems at the time to be sufficient funds. However, as the research project expands, funds run out leaving the research work incomplete. In the instant case, the organization can have companies commit themselves to fund the program until it reaches fruition. The key message it thus getting donors committed to the research project itself, not just giving dollar amounts towards it.
5. Supporting Points
Research is among the core areas of operation for the Sickle Cell Foundation of Alberta (SCFA). Pitching a research-based idea to them has a high propensity for success.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) arises from a genetic predisposition. The genetic predisposition will keep passing on from generation to generation unless it is stymied. Establishing how to stop the predisposition is thus of fundamental importance.
The greatest limitation of research projects is insufficient funding. It is hard to predict how long a research project will take and how much resources it will need. For the research project to succeed it is important to create avenues for unlimited funding.
Among the leading sources for research, funding in the USA is the corporate sector, through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Studying company profiles can enable us to identify which companies are most agreeable towards funding the projects. Collaborating with a university or a drug manufacturer that ease the availability of some of the materials and space necessary for the research project.
6. Channel Selection
The best communication style to use for the instant pitch is the tell/sell approach. It begins with laying down the idea to the target audience, then making a passionate pitch for the said audience to take up the idea. The target group may have received several ideas about research projects and have a heightened understanding about research on sickle cell disease (SCD). The key idea to sell and tell mainly revolves around the perpetual funding concept.
The best mode of communication for the pitch is through a face-to-face meeting. I will email a proposal requesting for a meeting then prepare to pitch the idea directly to the Sickle Cell Foundation of Alberta (SCFA) board. The actual pitch will involve a multimedia-aided presentation of the idea.
7. Action Request
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a major problem for the African American community in the USA that only keeps on getting worse. Assisting those currently affected by the ailment is important. However, a definitive solution to the problem lies in understanding why it specifically targets African Americans, then seeking to mitigate it. This solution will require extensive and probably expensive research. It is high time to get corporate partners willing to fund the said research to its fruition.
Reference
SCFA. (2019). Sickle Cell Foundation of Alberta – Education: Awareness: Support. Sickle Cell Foundation of Alberta . Retrieved from https://ourc.org/
