​

Hi, friend!

I'm a part of a Facebook group for fathers who are fans of the kids' television phenomenon, Bluey, in which we all call each other Bandit, after the dad on the show.

The other day, a Bandit posted about the cost of purchasing Christmas 🎄 gifts for his Bluey and Bingo (yes, we also call our kids and partners after the characters on the show). In scrolling through the comments (for admittedly way too long), I saw so many other Bandits sharing their struggles getting gifts during the holiday season, with one even saying he has to open a new credit card each year.

I confess. My Chilli and I have fallen into the 'spend way too much at Christmas' trap on many occasions. I definitely empathize with these dads' pain. 😣

Over time, though, we've improved our budgeting skills and try to set and plan for an amount for the holidays and gift-giving throughout the year. Here's a simple example of what that might look like for Bluey's family (the Heelers).

Example 1: A Heeler Family Christmas Budget 🎁

• Total Needed: 200 dollabucks*
• Expense Categories and Amounts:
  • Bingo: 60 dollabucks
  • Bluey: 60 dollabucks
  • Chilli: 40 dollabucks
  • Bandit: 40 dollabucks

*Dollabucks are a Bluey term for money

Your grant budgets are essentially the same thing: they're an opportunity for you to share how much you need and how you'll spend that money.

Example 2: A Soup Kitchen's Christmas Meal Budget 🍲

• Total Needed: $5,000
• Expense Categories and Amounts:
  • Food: $2,000
  • Drinks: $1,000
  • Paper/plastic products: $500
  • Takeaway cookies and gifts for guests: $1,500

Budgets can be as simple as that.

I get it though. Putting together a budget can be incredibly daunting. Hopefully, these tips will make it a bit less so.

💡 Grant Budgeting Tips 💡

👉 Follow the Funder's Guidelines: The easiest way to have your proposal or application denied is not to follow the funder's guidelines. So make sure you're using their template if they have one and following whatever instructions they provide.

👉 Keep it Simple: Simplicity is your best friend. Break down your expenses into categories that anyone can easily understand.

👉 Make it Match Your Project Narrative: Your budget is a part of your overall proposal. Your project narrative and your budget need to work together and support each other.

👉 Be Ready for the "But Why?": Like a curious kid who wants to know why the sky is blue, funders like to ask "But why?" Anticipate these questions and answer them before they're even asked.

👉 Round Up the Squad: You don't have to be on this budgeting journey alone. Even if you're your nonprofit's only employee, lean on your board or any volunteers with budgeting/financial experience to assist you.

👉 Embrace Flexibility: Budgets aren't set in stone. Be open to adjustments and changes. Once the grant is awarded, just be sure to regularly monitor your expenses and communicate with the funder if changes are needed. Transparency and proactivity are key to effective grant management.

Keep these tips in mind the next time you're preparing a budget. And remember, budgeting is just a fancy word for planning how you're going to spend the money to ensure a successful project. You got this! 👊

Well, friend, this is going to be my last newsletter of 2023. I'm going to take time over the next few weeks (while I'm off from my main job 😌) to work on some things I can't wait to share with you (like the online course I've been promising! 🥳). I'm also going to enjoy time plenty of quality family time celebrating all that this season brings!

I'm really looking forward to 2024 and helping you build your grants system so you can keep creating positive impact! Because that's what you're doing. You are changing lives. And I'm so grateful that you've allowed me to be a small part of that. I wish you and yours all the best in this holiday season and New Year! 🎊

Kind regards,

Brandon Green, LMSW, GPC
www.brandongreenconsulting.com
bgreen@brandongreenconsulting.com

​

PS: I'll still be active on LinkedIn, so be sure to connect with me there if you haven't already!