Skip to main content

Introducing the Funding Allocator Budget Question format

Jay Dawkins avatar
Written by Jay Dawkins
Updated this week

Why We Created It

Traditional surveys capture opinions—but they don’t force residents to confront budget constraints and scarce resources. The Funding Allocator introduces a fixed purse of dollars or points, turning abstract preferences into practical trade‑offs.

What It’s Great For

Use Case

Typical Owner

Outcome

Participatory budgeting for annual CIP

Budget & Finance

Ranked, cost‑aware project list

Transportation project prioritization

MPO / DOT

Priorities for STIP or MTP

Thematic funding (Comprehensive Plan, parks, public safety)

Planning

Clear community mandate on focus areas

How It Works

  1. Set a Budget – Define total funds and an optional minimum spend.

  2. Add Projects – Each card includes title, description, image, and max cost.

  3. Residents Allocate Funds – Slider UI shows live remaining balance and blocks overspend.

  4. Submit + Confirm – Optional contact capture and email opt‑in.

  5. Analyze Results – Dashboard summarizes totals, averages, and “best‑fit” project bundles; export to CSV/XLSX for deeper analysis.

Customization Options

  • Layout – 1‑ to 4‑column grid or single‑column list.

  • Image Aspect Ratios – Wide (16:9), standard (4:3), or square (1:1). Images auto‑optimize for mobile/desktop.

  • Max Cost per Project – Match reality or allow full‑budget allocation.

  • Randomize Order – Reduce first‑choice bias with one click.

  • Contact Fields – Use account‑level defaults or add custom fields (e.g., address, district).

  • Opt‑In & Auto‑Email – Trigger a follow‑up campaign immediately after submission.

  • View‑Only Mode – Keep results visible after the question closes, locking further edits.

Introduction to Funding Allocator

How to Get Started

  1. Open Your Project → Add Question → Funding Allocator.

  2. Enter a concise question prompt (e.g., “Allocate $1,000 across these capital projects”).

  3. Set Budget and (optional) Minimum Required Allocation.

  4. Choose Layout and Aspect Ratio.

  5. Click Add Option for each project, supplying title, description, image, and max cost.

  6. Decide on Randomization and Contact Collection settings.

  7. Publish and share your survey link.

  8. Monitor the Results Dashboard for real‑time participation counts.

  9. Export data in the Results & Data tab to report on selected priorities and allocated amounts for analysis.

Did this answer your question?