EPA Grants Budget Training
Please be advised that the training content reflects the EPA’s grants policies at the time of the training development.
This online training course, previously titled How to Develop a Budget, introduces EPA grant applicants and recipients to key aspects of grant budget development. The training will help applicants and recipients when preparing work plans, budgets, and budget narratives for EPA grants. Throughout this training, the term grant is used as a general term to refer to both grants and cooperative agreements.
The course is divided into four modules that can be completed individually. Each module includes a list of defined abbreviations, a downloadable file of resources referenced in the module, and a keyword search. Interactive knowledge checks will help you verify your understanding of key concepts. If you need to leave a module, the last slide to be completed will be saved, and you will be able to return to that location later.
Course Modules
Module 1: General Principles and Considerations
Introduces general principles that must be considered when developing, reviewing, or revising a budget for an EPA grant. Includes guidance about required forms, cost allowability, pre-award costs, EPA in-kind assistance, cost share, program income, transferring funds, and pre-award budget revisions.
Approximately 35 minutes | Launch
Module 2: Direct Costs
Provides guidance on how to apply direct costs when preparing proposed work plans, budgets, and budget narratives. Information is provided about direct cost categories on the Standard Form 424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs), including personnel and fringe benefits, and travel, equipment, supply, contractual, and construction costs.
Approximately 60 minutes | Launch
Module 3: Other Direct Costs
Describes how to identify and calculate other direct costs that do not fit into any of the specific budget categories on the Standard Form 424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs), including rental and leasing considerations, participant support costs, and subawards.
Approximately 20 minutes | Launch
Module 4: Indirect Costs
Defines indirect cost requirements and provides examples of how to calculate and include indirect costs in an award budget.
Approximately 20 minutes | Launch
Text Versions
Each of the modules is also available as a text version.
- Module 1: General Principles and Considerations (docx)
- Module 2: Direct Costs (docx)
- Module 3: Other Direct Costs (docx)
- Module 4: Indirect Costs (docx)
Related Training
EPA Grants Management Training for Applicants and Recipients: This online training course is designed to introduce EPA grant applicants and recipients to key aspects of the entire grant life cycle, from preparation of an application through grant closeout.