One of the most significant challenges in preparing a grant proposal is developing an accurate and appropriate project budget.

Budgets, whether for your project or entire organization, should be used as a tool to monitor how you are doing financially.

By tracking your success at meeting your budget guidelines throughout the year, you can learn when you need to:

• cut expenses;

• find more funding;

• revisualize your program;

• shift resources from one program to another; and/or

• plan differently for next year. 

In this topic we will show you how to use your budget as a tool through the fictional Kids for the Future (KFF) budget and monthly financial reports.  Kids for the Future is a comprehensive youth services program and the parent of Learning More, profiled in last month’s discussion of developing a proposal budget.

View Kids for the Future’s monthly budget.

View Kids for the Future’s monthly financial report.

Review key ideas for using your budget as a tool.

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