Grant Budget Guide

A skill for preparing realistic, well-justified research grant budgets. Covers common budget categories across major funding agencies (NSF, NIH, ERC, EPSRC, NSERC), cost estimation methods, budget justification writing, common mistakes that trigger reviewer concerns, and strategies for handling budget cuts during negotiation.

Budget Categories

Standard Budget Structure

Most funding agencies use similar budget categories, though terminology and rules vary. Understanding the universal structure helps when applying to any funder.

Standard Grant Budget Categories:

1. PERSONNEL (typically 50-70% of total)
   a. Principal Investigator (PI) salary + benefits
   b. Co-PI salary + benefits
   c. Postdoctoral researchers
   d. Graduate research assistants (stipend + tuition)
   e. Undergraduate assistants