The council shall prepare a budget request in the same manner as any such request would be prepared by a budget unit under Part 1 of Article 4 of Chapter 12 of Title 45, the "Budget Act," and a separate appropriation shall be provided for the council in the general appropriations Act. The council is authorized to accept and use gifts, grants, and donations for the purpose of carrying out this chapter. The council is also authorized to accept and use property, both real and personal, and services, for the purpose of carrying out this chapter. Any funds, property, or services received as gifts, grants, or donations shall be kept separate and apart from any funds received by the Office of Planning and Budget; and such funds, property, or services so received by gifts, grants, or donations shall be the property and funds of the council and, as such, shall not lapse at the end of each fiscal year but shall remain under the control and subject to the direction of the council to carry out this chapter.