What Next? What happens after the proposal is approved? It is important to remember that while preparing the budget, you often will be required to report back to the funder on a line item basis. In other words, at the completion of the project, you may need to include a comparison between the budget you submitted with the proposal, and the amount of money you actually spent. Some funders will require that you explain variations of a significant greater or lesser amount. Above all, the project budget is a document that will live with you for the entire duration of the project. Preparing it accurately, and presenting it as a well-organized component of the proposal can be essential in the success of your fundraising campaign.