Budgeting and Fundraising Discussion
Residents review the estimated costs for the event, discuss potential sources of funding such as community donations, local business sponsorship, or small grants, and finalize a realistic budget plan.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
budget
A plan for how to spend money on a project or event. In this dialogue, it refers to the total cost needed for the neighborhood event, like $3,000 for decorations and security.
preliminary
Something done at the beginning or as a first step, often not final. Here, 'preliminary estimate' means an initial guess of costs before making a final plan.
fundraising
The activity of collecting money for a cause or event. In the context, it's about raising $3,000 through donations and sponsorships for the community event.
donations
Money or items given freely to support something, without expecting payment back. Community donations are gifts from neighbors to help fund the event.
sponsorship
Support from a company or person, often giving money in exchange for advertising or recognition. Local businesses might sponsor the event for positive publicity.
grants
Money given by governments or organizations for a specific purpose, usually without needing to repay. Small grants are available for community initiatives but may take time to apply for.
achievable
Possible to do or reach with effort. In the dialogue, a budget split into $1,500 donations and $1,500 sponsorships is described as more achievable than the full $3,000 at once.
proposal
A written plan or offer to do something, often to persuade others. A sponsorship proposal highlights benefits like media exposure to attract sponsors.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Alright everyone, let's dive into the budget for our neighborhood event.
This sentence starts a discussion and uses 'dive into' as an idiom meaning to start examining something in detail. It's useful for leading group talks about plans; the imperative 'let's' invites participation. Good for intermediate learners to practice starting meetings.
That's a bit higher than I anticipated.
Expresses surprise about a cost being more than expected. 'A bit higher' softens the criticism, and 'anticipated' means 'expected.' Useful in negotiations or planning to politely react to numbers; teaches comparative adjectives.
I was thinking we could approach local businesses for sponsorship.
Suggests an idea using 'I was thinking' for polite proposals, and 'approach' means to contact someone. 'We could' shows possibility. This pattern is practical for suggesting solutions in team discussions, especially fundraising ideas.
We could offer different sponsorship tiers.
Proposes options with 'could offer' for suggestions, and 'tiers' means levels or categories. Useful for business or event planning to describe varying levels of support; helps learners use modal verbs for hypothetical ideas.
For now, I think focusing on community donations and local business sponsorships will be our most effective strategy.
Gives an opinion with 'I think' and future prediction with 'will be.' 'Focusing on' means concentrating efforts. This is great for prioritizing in plans; teaches conditional thinking and strategy vocabulary.
We'll need a clear presentation for potential sponsors.
States a future need with 'we'll need' (will + need). 'Potential sponsors' means possible ones. Useful for task assignment in projects; practices future tense for necessities in professional contexts.
We can highlight the number of attendees, the positive impact on the neighborhood, and the media exposure they'd receive.
Uses 'can highlight' for ability to emphasize points, with a list of benefits. 'They'd receive' is 'they would receive' for conditional benefits. Practical for persuasive writing or speaking in proposals; shows parallel structure in lists.
Let's finalize the projected budget breakdown, and then we can assign tasks.
Suggests next steps with 'let's finalize' and 'we can assign.' 'Projected' means estimated for the future, 'breakdown' means detailed division. Ideal for wrapping up meetings; teaches sequencing with 'and then' and imperatives.