Burns Media Intelligence for Professionals
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Budget Narrative Builder

Fill out the form below for each cost category. We’ll generate a federal-format budget narrative aligned to 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance) ready to paste or print into your grant application. Categories appear in the same order Grants.gov SF-424A expects them.

1. Project basics
2. Personnel (A)

Add each role separately. Annual salary × % FTE × project months ÷ 12 = position cost.

Total Personnel: $0
3. Fringe Benefits (B)
Total Fringe: $0
4. Travel (C)

Per-trip detail. Use GSA per-diem rates.

Total Travel: $0
5. Equipment (D)

Items with unit cost ≥ $5,000 and useful life > 1 year. Anything cheaper goes in Supplies.

Total Equipment: $0
6. Supplies (E)
Total Supplies: $0
7. Contractual (F)

Subawards, consultants, contractors providing project services.

Total Contractual: $0
8. Other (H)

Costs not fitting elsewhere (publication, communications, conference fees, participant support).

Total Other: $0
9. Indirect Costs (J)

Applied to Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC) — excludes equipment, contracts > $25K (only first $25K counts), and participant support.

Total Indirect: $0

About this tool: Generates a starter narrative aligned to 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance). Always verify cost-allowability against the specific NOFO and your federally-negotiated indirect rate agreement (if any). Many programs cap indirect at the de minimis 10% MTDC; some allow your federally-negotiated rate; a few require waiver. Read the NOFO.