Not Too High and Not Too Low

​How much should you ask in a grant proposal? There was a time when one would ask for the maximum allowable amount? The thinking was if a grantmaker likes the project, then the budget and grant amount can be negotiated later. Maybe that was then, but not now.

Grantmakers have so many well-planned high-impact projects from which to choose – leaving them no reason to fund a project in need of a budget rework.
Why is it that projects applying to the same fund, regardless of the activities, all have the similar budget bottom lines? Some grantmakers are getting savvy and
not publishing the size of their grants. They want to see real budgets that reflect the real costs of the project.

​It is the applicant's responsibility to craft a reasonable project budget. The key is to make the budget desirable for the funder and feasible for the organization.
Asking for too little puts a burden on the deliverables and asking for too much may jeopardize your chances. The key is to find that sweet spot. Not too high
and not too low.