How to Build a Proposal Budget

Proposal budgets reflect a principal investigator’s best estimate of financial support necessary to carry out project or programmatic aims committed.

Direct costs should be allocable to (i.e., benefit) the project against which the costs are charged. In addition, direct cost charges to a project should be allowable, reasonable, and not prohibited by either the general or specific terms and conditions of the award.

Further information on allocability, reasonableness, and allowability of costs, including those for federal awards, is found in Chapter 6-500 of the UC Contract and Grant Manual.