Two Terms to Keep Separate
A costed assumption is a priced expectation whose basis and unresolved dependencies remain visible. A confirmed contribution, for this practice aid, is a contribution supported by evidence of what an authorized party has actually committed under the applicable terms.
A number can be well calculated while the proposed payer remains unconfirmed. Missing written confirmation is an evidence gap in the file, not a universal finding about legal commitment.
Four Questions, Four Answers
| Question | What It Establishes | What It Does Not Establish |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | The priced quantity in a stated currency | Who will cover it |
| Basis | Evidence and assumptions behind that price | That the assumptions will occur |
| Confidence | How secure or uncertain those assumptions appear | Authority to commit resources |
| Authority | Who may decide, within what scope, on what evidence | That a conversation or calculated total grants approval |
These four questions are OpenAid's framing, not a funder's scoring system.
A Fictional Interpreting Contribution
A proposal includes four community sessions needing sign-language interpreting. Fictional quote QT-7, dated October 2026, prices three hours per session at 40 USD per hour. A partner's program lead said the partner “may be able to cover it.” The file identifies no partner budget line, approver or decision date and contains no written confirmation.
| Question | Answer From This File |
|---|---|
| Amount | 3 hours × 40 USD = 120 USD per session; 4 × 120 USD = 480 USD |
| Basis | QT-7 and the assumption of four three-hour sessions; not evidence of partner funding |
| Confidence | The contribution remains uncertain because the suggested payer has not confirmed it |
| Authority | The program lead's spending authority is unknown; the partner's authorized finance owner must establish it |
Reducing the plan to three sessions would produce 3 × 120 = 360 USD, but would also change the proposed scope. It would not turn an unconfirmed payer into a confirmed one.
Common Confusions
- A quote prices a service; it does not identify an agreed payer.
- A helpful contact may lack authority over the relevant funds.
- A lower cost can leave the same funding dependency unresolved.
What the Proposal May Say
This file supports “interpreting estimated at 480 USD; proposed partner contribution awaiting confirmation.” It does not support “partner funding secured.” The grants lead and partner's authorized finance owner decide whether the cost belongs in the funding request, is covered through evidenced partner authorization, or is removed through an agreed scope change.
Sources and Related Work
The Charity Commission's CC26, updated September 2026, addresses identifying risks; decision guidance, November 2020, addresses authority and records. Its 2011 partnership checklist and CC34, March 2024, concern clear arrangements between parties. All are scoped to England and Wales charities. NCVO's full cost recovery guidance, reviewed December 2022, distinguishes costs from their recovery. None approves this fictional contribution. For the broader preparation task, see consortium proposals.