Per Diem

  • Sometimes cash on-hand is needed for minor incidentals and “Per Diem” (cash to participants for lunch and bus fares) expenses.
    • You may request an advance on a traditional expense report. Request funds well in advance of when they will be needed.
    • When issuing per diem allowances to participants, use the “Per Diem Cash Receipts Form” included in the Urban Program Expense and Advance Report.
    • Remember that all allowances should be reasonable and not excessive.
      • Appropriate allowances, depending on the meal and project location, might range from $5 to $15 per meal per person. Do not exceed $39 per day per person.
      • Be sure to be very detailed when describing how the per diem cash will be used. Include the number of days, which meals, and how many people each amount covers.
    • To account for advances (and all other expenses), please use the Urban Program Expense and Advance Report.

Urban Program Checklist