Did you know that grant reviewers often look at your budget first?

Posted September 20, 2024.

We all know the devil is in the details when putting together an application package in pursuit of federal funding, and it takes a team.  Always consider me a part of your RIO team as you prepare grant proposals and applications.  In advising clients in the initial stages of preparing a grant proposal, I always recommend that equal importance be given to your budget.  You may be surprised to learn that the budget in your proposal plays an important role in illustrating your organization’s capacity to deliver a project and to more generally manage federal funds.

While the amount of detail provided for any budget may vary depending on the type of project and its requirements, the more comprehensive, complete, and thorough the budget and budget narrative are, the more credible your proposal will be.  Remember that grant reviewers will not be familiar with your project and your budget tells a story.

• Make sure your numbers add up.  If your budget is complete, easy to understand, and the numbers make sense, that speaks to your organization’s ability to deliver a project on time and within budget.
• If your numbers don’t add up or pieces of the project are conspicuously missing from the budget, that can suggest that you may not fully understand how the project really works.
• Check and double check your numbers, wherever they appear in your application, and make sure they’re consistent:
• SF-424A
• Budget Narrative
• Statement of Work
• Match commitment letters when applicable.

As your RIO Ambassador, I’m focusing on building partnerships to pursue federal funding opportunities for Rio Reimagined, especially new programs, and existing programs that have increased funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).  Currently, I am working with a coalition of partners to prepare an application package for Track 2 of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Community Change Grant (CCG) program.

The IRA has provided additional resources for the EPA to enhance and expand its CCG program and requires no matching funds.  This funding boost allows the EPA to increase the number and scope of grants awarded, providing more substantial support for community-led initiatives.  While the application period for this grant opportunity is open through November 21, 2024, EPA has announced their first round of awards; 17 were awarded under Track 1 and four were awarded under Track 2.

For those working hard on completing a grant application or those considering other federal funding opportunities, please consider me a part of your federal funding team.  It can help to have an external partner that is available at every step of the process, from helping to identify potential partners to reviewing draft applications from the perspective of a former “fed.” 

Check out other blog posts include a recent edition where I reflect on the continued importance of partnerships and collaboration in securing federal funding, and how we can leverage our strengths and priorities to accomplish regional goals.

For more on the Rio Reimagined Initiative, check out our quarterly newsletter here.