• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Bemidji Consulting and Training by Becky Schueller

Header Right

218.760.9470
Becky@BemidjiConsulting.com
“Supporting the People and Organizations Who Change the World.”
  • Training
    • Register For Training!
    • Request Custom Training
    • Supervision & Performance Appraisal Training
    • Grant Writing Readiness: Build Your Team’s Capacity
    • Governance Training
    • Direct Service Staff Training
  • Consulting
  • Free Resources
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Training
    • Register For Training!
    • Request Custom Training
    • Supervision & Performance Appraisal Training
    • Grant Writing Readiness: Build Your Team’s Capacity
    • Governance Training
    • Direct Service Staff Training
  • Consulting
  • Free Resources
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Training
    • Register For Training!
    • Request Custom Training
    • Supervision & Performance Appraisal Training
    • Grant Writing Readiness: Build Your Team’s Capacity
    • Governance Training
    • Direct Service Staff Training
  • Consulting
  • Free Resources
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Home

Grant Budgets Brief Q&A

In a recent Grantwriting Readiness Training in Crookston, a participant asked:  “Should the grant budget zero out or should it show a surplus or deficit?”  My reply is that there is a difference between your organizational budget and the budget submitted for a project or program grant.  Propel Nonprofits in the Twin Cities makes the incredibly important point that “Nonprofits need capacity, which includes leadership, infrastructure, and systems.” They note that this requires a surplus in your organizational budget, which becomes an operating reserve at the end of the year.  [Visit www.propelnonprofits.org for great budget, merger, and other resources] It’s helpful to include a note at the bottom of your organizational budget explaining why you show a surplus and what your agency reserves are used for.  In a program or project budget, I believe it works best to zero out your budget or show a reasonable surplus.  If your surplus is too large, funders will ask why you need their support.  If you show a significant deficit, funders will question whether your organization can implement the project or program without full funding. I always recommend that your program and project grant budgets include full costs for your management and administrative support, as well as occupancy, phone, internet, a share of your audit, liability insurance, and other costs.  If the grant isn’t large enough for you to include these costs, show them as in-kind support from your agency…but do show them.  It’s often more compelling to funders when you can show multiple revenue streams for your proposed program or initiative.  Your agency’s in-kind support counts as a revenue stream.  And, it’s important for funders to understand the true costs of your projects and programs…and for you to understand also!  Seeing true actual costs laid out in your budget can be a great visual reminder.

When you’re feeling stressed over your budget, just remember what another nonprofit colleague said at the Community Resource Connections Networking meeting earlier in December:  “Budgets are like the weather forecast.  They’re a guideline.”

Do you have a question you’d like to ask but are feeling reluctant to use your limited funds for paid advice? Contact me at Becky@bemidjiconsulting.com with your question, and I’ll consider blogging about it if I think I can make a meaningful contribution. Or, if it’s a really super question, and other nonprofit and tribal colleagues can also benefit, I may develop a training to address it! Feel free to contact me, it’s free.

Next Post: Internal Grant Review Panels: Develop Your Staff & Volunteer Capacity »

Primary Sidebar

Upcoming Trainings

Feb-March 2021 “Fridays Only” – Supervision & Performance Appraisal To Support Effective Teams

February 2021 “Managing Up:” Strategies for Direct Care & Administrative Support Staff

February 2021 Grant Writing Readiness: Build Your Team Capacity

March 2021 Developing Exceptional Customer Service Skills

March 2021 Conflict Management & Communication Skills

From Our Blog

Before You Start Strategic Planning

The Board Chair’s Job Description

Why Effective Supervision Must Precede Quality Performance Appraisals

Why Annual Performance Evaluations Are Essential & How To Do Them Well

How Should Staff Give Input into the Executive Director’s Evaluation? What Should Boards Do with the Input?

Footer

Contact Us




  • Training
  • Consulting Services
  • Free Resources
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact Becky

Copyright © 2021 · Website Design by Northland Creative