Reviewers reject budgets they cannot check: round numbers with no quantity, indirect costs with no basis, and later years that ignore inflation. This template phases a three-year request year by year, shows the gates and the schedule behind each year, states the rates, and lists match funding with its source and status.

The sample follows Foxhollow Group's $484,000 request for a family learning programme: $154,000, $161,700 and $168,300 over three years, with a 3% yearly pay rise, 26% fringe, 10% indirect and $120,000 of match. Replace the lines, rates, owners, dates and match sources with your own, and keep every total tied to the application form.