In a time of diminishing resources and increased accountability, it is important for school leaders to make the most of every dollar they spend. One approach to ensuring responsible resource allocation is to closely examine the organizational culture surrounding decision making and provide a structure and process to incorporate research and data analysis. A resource allocation request protocol is a valuable element in the consideration of any major expenditure. Developing and implementing the process require effort and forethought; the result is more information on which to base resource allocation decisions.