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BUILD A BUDGET

High-quality programs cost money — and a little creative thinking can go a long way.

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Reflect

As you start to put together your budget, consider the following:

  • Do we have money that covers this? Do we need to find new resources?
  • How do the resources we already have align with what we want to do? Where are the gaps?
  • Can our partners help us be more efficient or leverage resources? Which partners can we tap to expand the time, talent, and financial resources available to us in order to achieve our vision?

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Braided funding occurs when resources from multiple sources are combined (or braided) to create one seamless funding stream. This could include bringing together funds from partners, grants, government funding, and more.

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Resources

BUDGETING RESOURCES

Budget Worksheet

This Budget Worksheet from Beyond the Bell is an easy-to-use, straightforward way to begin your budgeting process.

Federal Funding Guide

Check out this federal funding guide from the Wallace Foundation for an in-depth look at a wide range of federal funding streams. You may be able to leverage some of these, while others might be best suited to program partners. Together you can braid funds to best meet the needs of the young people you serve together.

Summer Budget

This Summer Budget resource from Wallace Foundation is a robust “how-to” that includes a detailed Excel spreadsheet that you can modify to fit the needs of your program. Be sure to click on the “Summer Budget” link to reach the Excel spreadsheet. Or try this Modified Summer Budget adapted by MDE.

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