Formula that returns the text in another cell NOT a Lookup

I have a workbook that I am trying to automate a bit. I track grant expenses in one workbook and I track the actual payments in another (no other reason than necessity).

Is there a formula, other than V or H Lookup that would return the text from a cell? I need the description of the expense to translate from one workbook to the other without having to do it manually. The formula is dependent upon whether a particular grant is being used so I've coded the grants 1, 2, 3, etc. I've been doing it manually for years but we have grown so much that it's a massive endeavor and needs to be automated / restructured.

I've tried "If" statements but they return a value of "0". I tried to combine an "If" with a "Left" but I was unsuccessful. I do fine with the easy formulas....it's thinking through these type that I'm not so good at.

=SUMIF('[2013 NHC Fund status.xlsx]Patient Exp Tracking 2013'!$L$7,48,'[2013 NHC Fund status.xlsx]Patient Exp Tracking 2013'!$M$7)
Will return the $ value I need but I cannot determine how to write a formula to pull the description (text) into the other workbook.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks :0)

The way the spreadsheet is set up, the V or H Lookup won't be effective. The data is such that one code represents multiple entries but the description is what is different. And it could be that I don't understand it well enough to make it work, but I really don't think it will in this instance. (?)

My work won't allow me to upload to the internet, it's blocked.
I can type a general idea if you think that might help. (??)

The workbook/sheet I want information to go into is set up:
Account Code / Invoice Date / Vendor / Description / Invoice Amt $ / Balance $

The workbook/sheet (totally separate) I want the ifnormation to come from is set up:
Date Paid / Month of Svs / Grant Code / Grant /Op Exp / Grant Code / Grant /Op Exp / Description / Payment Info

There are about 9 of the sections "Grant Code / Grant /Op Exp" because they all fall into different accounting units. We have a large AP department, what I am doing is keeping track of what is spent in Grants vs Op Exp for my department. We have let's say grants 1-5 and each grant code is the "KEY" to bringing the information back to the correct spreadsheet in the separate workbook. "=If(grantcode,1,description)" is what I want but don't know how to get.

Hope this description is helpful.