Decoding Budgets: What Every Grant Professional Needs to Know

For many grant professionals, budgets are led by their finance staff or executive leadership. But when it comes to grant applications, you’re the one translating those numbers into a story for funders. Mismatches between the narrative and the budget, unrealistic assumptions, or missing indirect costs can quietly sink an otherwise strong application.
Understanding what’s in a budget, and why it matters, is one of the most practical skills a grant pro can develop.

During this webinar, Deborah Steinkopf and Anthony Petchel will break down the anatomy of nonprofit budgets, from operating and program budgets to grant budgets, and show you exactly what funders look for when they review them.

You’ll learn how to:

• interpret the key components of operating budgets, program budgets, and grant budgets;
• identify red flags and inconsistencies that can raise concerns for funders;
• align your budget structure with funder expectations and allowable costs;
• write a strong budget justification that explains cost rationale clearly;
  and,
• translate budget data into a compelling narrative.

Who should attend:

This session is ideal for grant professionals at any experience level who want to feel more confident working with budgets. It’s especially valuable for those who have relied on finance staff to handle the numbers and are ready to take a more active role in crafting and communicating their organization’s financial picture.

After the webinar, you’ll receive:

• slides and handouts;
• and, a link to the webinar recording.