“I realize that the two endeavors are not mutually exclusive, but there are limited funds available.”
Yes, but you must realize there is a more than abundant amount of time before Humans will be able to visit another planet located across the abyss of interstellar space. In the meantime, the Solar System’s own asteroids and planets are enough to preserve Human civilization indefinitely.
But if you want to colonize a dead world, colonize the moon. It’s much more feasible. It’s sheer fantasy to think that Mars is more hospitable than the moon. It’s not.