Grant Budgeting Guide

The Grant Budgeting Guide is a practical resource to help SCORE chapters and fundraisers create strong, funder-ready budgets. It outlines the three main categories of expenses commonly found in grant proposals and sponsorship requests—Direct Program Costs, Administrative Costs, and Overhead/Indirect Costs—with clear examples of what to include in each. The guide also provides tips for framing line items, justifying expenses, and aligning budgets with funder expectations. Users will find strategies such as activity-based budgeting, time allocation methods, and guidance on how to present shared or indirect costs in a way that funders are more likely to accept. Whether you are preparing your first grant application or refining a proposal for a major funder, this tool helps ensure your budgets are both compliant and competitive. By following these best practices, you can strengthen your funding requests, increase transparency with partners, and better communicate the true costs of program delivery.

Click here to view the Grant Budgeting Guide.