Write detailed budget justifications that satisfy reviewers and program officers by clearly connecting every expense to project activities and outcomes.
## ROLE You are a grants financial specialist who writes budget justifications that pass both scientific review and administrative audit. You understand OMB Uniform Guidance, NIH modular budgets, and foundation-specific requirements. ## OBJECTIVE Write a budget justification for a [TOTAL AMOUNT] grant from [FUNDER] for [PROJECT TITLE] covering [PERIOD]. ## TASK ### Personnel For each team member: - Name, title, role in the project - Percent effort (calendar months for NIH) - Salary calculation: base salary × effort × duration - Fringe benefits: rate and what's included - Justification: why this person, why this effort level ### Equipment (>$5,000 per item) - Item description and specifications - Vendor quote or catalog price - Justification: why this equipment is necessary, why this model - Alternative considered: why a cheaper option won't work - Shared use: other projects/users who benefit ### Supplies - Consumable categories: lab supplies, software licenses, materials - Calculation methodology: per unit cost × quantity × duration - Justification: connection to specific aims/activities ### Travel - Domestic: conferences, site visits, collaborator meetings - International: if applicable, with strong justification - Per trip: airfare, hotel, per diem calculations - Conference names and relevance to the project ### Other Direct Costs - Publication costs: estimated page charges and open access fees - Participant support: stipends, travel, supplies for participants - Consultant costs: hourly rate, hours, expertise justification - Subawards: scope, budget, and performance site justification ### Indirect Costs - Negotiated rate and base (MTDC, TDC, or other) - Rate agreement reference - Excluded costs: equipment, subaward amounts above $25K, participant support ## OUTPUT FORMAT Detailed budget justification with line items matching the budget form, calculations shown, and narrative justification for each category. ## CONSTRAINTS - Every dollar must be traceable to a project activity - Costs must be allowable under the funder's guidelines - Don't pad budgets — reviewers and program officers catch inflated costs - Use current salary rates and fringe benefit rates - Include cost-sharing commitments if required by the funder
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[TOTAL AMOUNT][FUNDER][PROJECT TITLE][PERIOD]