Concise but accurate reports of how much a service costs can help raise funds. Potential contributors may be impressed that you know both where the money is going and how much it takes to run different parts of the program. Having solid reports of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of your program will assure donors that their contributions will have the maximum impact possible. Critics will find it harder to dismiss funding requests as being too high when a careful and complete accounting of all resources used by the program shows their true value and the true cost of providing the services. Critics also will find it more difficult to dismiss your funding requests as wasted money when you can show what is achieved as well as what is done with the funds.
Some funding agencies require regular cost analyses to justify reimbursement for services provided.
They may require that you verify your implementation of treatment procedures to account for your expenses. Many agencies set a ceiling on costs. A few agencies may even require that you demonstrate at least minimum levels of effectiveness for no more than a maximum allowable cost. These agencies and critics may be more impressed if you can show that your program not only understands the relationship between funds spent and effectiveness achieved, but also attempts to measure the social and other monetary benefits of treatment. Acknowledging that substance abuse treatment benefits society by reducing the burden of substance-abusing patients on health care and other social service and criminal justice systems helps to ensure continued funding for your program.