Don’t blink. The 2026 earmark process is already underway. And there’s still time for nonprofits and their communities to benefit from congressionally-directed funding.
Nonprofit organizations across the country are leveraging the earmark process not just to advance community projects, but to build sustained, constructive engagement with Members of Congress and their staff. The government funding bills Congress wrapped up earlier this month underscore how many dollars are at stake.
In the most recent earmark cycle, a majority of lawmakers requested over $16 billion worth, and support in Congress for the earmark process continues to grow. House Republicans are reportedly considering expanding the opportunity for partnerships by permitting earmarks under the Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services, which the Senate already allows and could further benefit the nonprofit sector.
Earmarks give lawmakers a direct way to steer federal dollars toward projects they believe will deliver clear benefits for their communities. By backing specific, locally supported initiatives, Members of Congress can ensure federal funding serves their constituents, giving lawmakers a vested interest in collaborating with local organizations, including their nonprofit communities.
Since earmarks returned in 2021, nonprofits and lawmakers have collaborated on thousands of projects, including the construction, restoration, and improvement projects for public buildings, childcare centers, and community gathering spaces; capital investments to expand access to affordable food; and infrastructure development aimed at boosting workforce training and access to essential services.
It can be difficult to know where – or how – to begin engaging with federal policymakers, particularly when the fast-paced legislative process feels inaccessible. The earmark process offers a clear, collaborative entry point, giving nonprofits a reason to work directly with Members of Congress and their staff around concrete, community-based projects while building trust and familiarity over time.
The time to act is now. Many congressional offices have begun soliciting project requests, and a collaborative mindset is crucial to success. Nonprofit leaders should discuss with their board and broader networks how they might partner with local policymakers to realize their shared goals.
For nonprofits impacted by unpredictable government funding cuts, work on an earmark request that can be signed into law offers a partial antidote to this uncertainty. And it’s important to keep in mind how benefits go well beyond funding. As more nonprofits engage regularly with federal policymakers, the entire sector becomes stronger and better represented on Capitol Hill.