In conjunction with capital project analysis, financial managers must determine how the company will fund the approved projects. Financial managers review each project's estimated capital costs and forecasted cash flow projections and develop an estimate of the Additional Funding Needed (AFN). AFN is best described by which of the following statements?

A. The proportion of the firm's earnings retained to finance business expansion.

B. The funding obtained by routine business transactions with the company's vendors.

C. The total amount needed to do all the company's proposed capital projects in the upcoming year.

D. The externally sourced funding required in the form of either debt or equity to fund the approved capital projects (above what can be funded by the firm from retained earnings or spontaneous financing from vendors).