How to Write a Budget Narrative for Your Adult Literacy Program
Learning to read, furthering education and developing English language skills are important steps that can create numerous opportunities for adult learners in their personal, professional and economic lives. Many people dedicated to teaching these skills to adults are likely be nonprofit program leaders. Many adult learning programs are funded by grants, and budget narratives are essential components for grant funding. Writing a successful budget narrative that is specific to an adult literacy program can be a major factor in helping the program meet its goals.
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Things You'll Need
- Grant Instructions and/or applications
- Program description
- Initial program budget
- List of paid staff members
- List of program needs
Instructions
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Read and understand all the grant instructions carefully and follow up with a foundation representative if you have questions before preparing the budget narrative. If the grant is specifically funding adult literacy programs, there may be additional questions about the types of direct services you provide for adult learners. If the application is for general nonprofit organizations, be prepared to show how your program provides literacy assistance.
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Use your budget as a summary and explain how you determined the budget numbers for your adult literacy program. Unless the grant application asks for a different format, write the justification for each line item in the order they appear on the budget and explain how each line item will benefit the objectives of your program: adult literacy instruction, family literacy and/or ESL language development.
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Explain thoroughly how the program description and its goals and objectives rely on major cost items in the budget, and how these items will create success for the program. For an adult literacy program, these items most likely include--but are not limited to--staff, rent, educational materials, technology and equipment.
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Read through your explanations and ensure that you have fully stated how the budget figures were determined for each line item. Do not include information from specific vendors or individualized bids unless the form specifically asks for it.
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Describe the paid program staff members' duties. Teachers and administrators will be on staff and will run the organization and execute the program. Conduct research to see if their salaries are comparable with other local agencies with these positions.
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Explain line item totals using as much detail and numerical factors as possible. Never pad or round any numbers in the budget or in the narrative; use only actual numbers.
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Read through the narrative and compare your explanations with the budget sheet. If there are any amounts that seem unreasonable or unnecessary, do your best to explain how they will truly benefit the literacy aspects for participants of the program. Adjust the budget if items don't clearly benefit adult literacy efforts.
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Keep the narrative simple, but ensure that you have enough details; the more the better. Explain your projected outcomes for the program and how your activities will impact each adult learner. Show a preliminary time frame and illustrate the success you expect for students. Explaining these details will show your commitment and care for the program and its objectives. Do not use lengthy explanations. Communicate essential information in clear, concise sentences.
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Tips & Warnings
Clear and organized budget narratives show granting organizations that your program objectives and activities are also clear and organized.
Ask someone within the program and someone who is unaffiliated with the program to proofread your narrative. See what questions they have and adjust your narrative accordingly.
The grant preparation process is difficult and time-consuming. Following all the steps and instructions on an application never ensures that a proposal will be funded. The process often takes a lot of practice before funding is achieved.
References
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