By Diane H. Leonard, GPC
There are so many factors that go into a successful grant application. I have talked about overall grant readiness. I have talked about gathering the statistics necessary for a successful application. I have shared tips about how partnerships can strengthen your grant application.
What about understanding the proposed expenses and the story that the numbers tell and if they are reasonable and allowable?
It is one thing to have a quote from a vendor that you are comfortable putting into a budget as it has the correct equipment, the correct quantity of each equipment item and the math for the extended price all adds up.
It is another to have a quote that tells a story that is in alignment with the narrative you are writing and submit. Your budget tells a story by itself as does your narrative. By themselves, the budget might look flawless and the narrative might read well. Put them together and there might be a disagreement between the two.