Proposal Budget Resources

The links below can help you to create a budget for your project:

• Budget Workbook
• Sample Budget Calculations
• Sample Budget Justification
• Research Administration Management Portal (RAMP) Training Site
• Research Administration Manual (RAM)
• Budget Development Resources

If you need assistance with preparing a budget, there are different ways you can get help.  Many departments have grants analysts who assist with creating proposal budgets.  If you have a grants analyst in your area, please contact them for assistance.  If you are unsure if you have a grants analyst, contact us, and we can help you figure that out.  If you do not have help, the Research Development team can assist. Please consider filling out the form provided at this link, which will provide RD with the information needed to help you put together your budget.

Proposal Budget Assistance Form

Why is a proposal budget important?

• It justifies your request and shows how you calculated costs.
• It provides a financial "blueprint" for your project if you are funded.
• It shows that you—and the University—will manage the sponsor's funds, which are usually public money, responsibly.

Three key words: Allowable, Allocable & Reasonable

What does allowable, allocable, and reasonable mean?

• Allowable: Costs must not be expressly prohibited by the sponsored program regulations, the sponsored agreement, the University's own policies, or the Federal Cost Principles (found in OMB Circular A-21). Costs must be treated consistently by applying the generally accepted accounting principles appropriate to the circumstances (such as the Federal Cost Principles).
• Allocable: Costs are incurred solely to support or advance the work of a specific sponsored research award (and only during the sponsor-approved project period).
• Reasonable: Costs must be able to withstand public scrutiny, i.e., objective individuals not affiliated with the institution would agree that a cost is reasonable and appropriate.

Tips for Budgets

• Calculate what the project will cost, and make sure your budget is realistic; do not "pad" costs - but don't short-change yourself in an effort to be more "competitive" either (though you will want to check whether or not the sponsor has a maximum request amount).
• Be sure everything in your budget is referenced in the project description/project narrative—and be sure everything mentioned in your project description that would incur cost is shown in the budget.
• Discuss your project and its costs with your chair/director and/or your dean.
• Start early!!
• Check to see if cost-sharing is required.
  • If so, where will it come from?
  • Discuss this with your chair/director and/or your dean.
• Read the sponsor's guidelines!
  • Does the sponsor have a minimum and/or maximum request amount?
  • Does the sponsor want you to use a specific budget form?
  • Do they require a budget justification as well?
  • Check to see if the sponsor REQUIRES certain items (example: travel to a conference or planning session).
  • Check to see if the sponsor DOES NOT ALLOW certain items (example: salaries & wages, foreign travel, F&A/indirect costs).
    
    • Indirect Costs (under 2-minutes) training videos:

      Part 1: https://www.research.fsu.edu/media/7897/idc.mp4

      Part 2: https://www.research.fsu.edu/media/7898/tdc.mp4

      Part 3: https://www.research.fsu.edu/media/7899/idc3.mp4

Still have questions? Contact Carolyn Bradley at cbradley@fsu.edu.