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Budgets Tool (Participatory Budgeting) Budgets Tool (Participatory Budgeting) ====================================== Updated 16 hours ago · 5 min read Search Search The Budgets tool enables you to run participatory budgeting exercises where community members can allocate funds, points, or custom units across different proposals. This powerful engagement tool helps you democratise decision-making by giving participants direct input into how resources are distributed. This article will guide you through creating and configuring your first Budgets tool, adding proposals, and understanding each field along the way. #### New to participatory budgeting? We recommend reading our [**Best practice guide for Participatory Budgeting**](/articles/Participatory-Budgeting-Best-Practice-Guide) article to understand how to set up effective participatory budgeting exercises that engage your community meaningfully. What is a Budgets tool? ----------------------- The Budgets tool allows you to: - Create multiple proposals that community members can review and fund - Set a total budget using money ($), points, or custom units - Define proposal costs and minimum spending requirements - Collect and analyse community priorities through budget allocation Budget tools use a **Knapsack-style** allocation method, where participants choose any combination of fixed-cost proposals within their allocated budget. ![A Budgets tool on the public site, inviting participants to choose which projects to fund.](https://engage.knowledge.civ.io/storage/bRyrne6ZgqAawHXe7kefiQdtZhBzGZPJzhjvDJzL.png) Creating a Budgets tool ----------------------- You can create a Budgets tool within any project or as a site-wide tool. 1. From the **Dashboard**, navigate to the **Projects** tab and select the relevant project (or select **Site Content** for site-wide tools). 2. In the left-hand menu, under **Participation**, select **Budgets**. 3. Click **Create Budgets**. 4. Complete the required fields (see [Budgets configuration fields](#h_03_configure_fields) below). 5. Add your proposals (see [Adding proposals](#h_04_add_proposals) below). 6. When ready, click **Publish** to make your Budgets tool live. ![The Create Budgets button on a project's Budgets list.](https://engage.knowledge.civ.io/storage/IQuj0UnIdoF1oT9R2sZaghOFqguPI5YbN29hTEGm.png) Budgets configuration fields ---------------------------- When creating or editing a Budgets tool, you'll need to configure the following fields: ### Main content fields #### Summary & Introduction text Detailed information about your Budgets tool that appears in and below the hero section. Use this space to provide context, instructions, and any important information participants need to know before allocating their budget. #### Budgets type - Choose how participants will allocate their budget: - **Points** - Use a points-based system for abstract allocation - **Money ($)** (default) - Use dollar amounts for real-world budgeting exercises - **Custom** - Create your own unit name (e.g., “votes“, “tokens“, “credits“) Your chosen budget type determines how costs and totals are displayed throughout the tool. If you select **Money ($)**, values will be prefixed with a dollar sign. For Points or Custom types, the unit name appears as a suffix. ![The Budgets type settings, with a Custom budget name and total budget field shown.](https://engage.knowledge.civ.io/storage/Vb87TyHELIhL93iYL4ScScQJXRlZosq4NzEcHu9K.png) Custom Budget #### Total budget The total amount each participant has to allocate across proposals. Enter an integer value only. **Example:** If you set the total budget to 50,000 and select Money ($) as your budget type, each participant will have $50,000 to distribute among proposals. #### Minimum spend to submit (optional) Set a minimum threshold that participants must allocate before they can submit their selections. This field is optional but can encourage participants to engage more thoroughly with the proposals. If this field is left blank, participants can submit regardless of how much of their budget they have spent, as long as they have selected at least one proposal. **Example:** If your total budget is 50,000 and you set a minimum spend of 30,000, participants must allocate at least 30,000 before the submit button becomes active. #### Custom budget name (only shown for Custom budget type) When you select **Custom** as your budget type, this field appears. Enter your custom budget name that will replace “points“ or “$“ throughout the tool. **Example:** You could use “stars“, “tokens“, “dollarydoos“, or any other term that suits your engagement context. Adding proposals ---------------- Proposals are the funding options that participants choose from when allocating their budget. Each proposal has a fixed cost and description. ![An open proposal in a Budgets tool proposal builder, headed Edit input with $450,000 beside it, holding the Proposal title, Proposal summary, Image and Proposal cost fields, the cost shown with the tool's dollar prefix, and the Done and Remove buttons at the foot.](https://engage.knowledge.civ.io/storage/4eVE1pOdzQG5Pqei8ucABQcCM8HLP29yzNsNrFeE.png) ### To add a proposal: 1. While creating or editing your Budget tool, scroll to the **Proposals** section. 2. Click **Add proposal**. 3. Complete the proposal fields (see below). 4. Click **Add Proposal** to save it. If you are reopening a proposal you have already added, that button reads **Done** instead. 5. Repeat to add additional proposals. 6. Click **Publish** to make all proposals visible on your Budget tool. ![The Proposals section of a Budgets tool, showing a mix of collapsed and one expanded proposal card.](https://engage.knowledge.civ.io/storage/Rm0zeZjDuUGQpRXJbdswXZrSQfaWyPHju1VnYDOE.png) ### Proposal fields Clicking a proposal opens it in a panel headed **Edit input**, holding **Proposal title**, **Proposal summary**, **Image** and **Proposal cost** in that order, with **Done** and **Remove** at the foot. #### Proposal title (required) The name of your proposal as it will appear on proposal cards and lists. Keep it clear and concise. **Example:** “Library technology upgrade“, “Community centre renovation“, “New playground equipment“ #### Proposal summary (optional) A short description that appears on the proposal card, written in a simplified WYSIWYG editor. It is required: a proposal will not save without one. #### Image (optional) Upload an image to make your proposal more visually engaging. Images appear on the proposal card and can help communicate what the proposal is about. #### Proposal cost (required) The fixed cost for this proposal. Enter an integer value only. The budget unit appears beside the field: **$** in front of the number for Money, and after it for Points or your custom name. **Example:** If your budget type is Money ($) and you enter 15000, it will display as “$15,000“ on the proposal card. #### Note When a proposal is collapsed in your admin view, the right-hand side displays the proposal cost with the budget unit, for example 2 points or $21,000. Was this article helpful? ------------------------- Your feedback helps us prioritise what to rewrite. Yes No [ Back to Feature Announcements ](/articles?category=8) On this page ### Still need help? Raise a request in the support portal and track it to resolution. 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