Representative Rebecca Balint is accepting application interest forms for FY2026 Community Project Funding until end of day on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Organizations are encouraged to submit their requests early to accommodate corrections that need to be made or questions that need to be answered before the deadline.
What Is Community Project Funding?
Community Project Funding request (CPF), formerly known as Earmarks, are specific projects selected by Members of the US House of Representatives for funding in the annual federal budget. These requests offer an opportunity for municipalities and other eligible entities to obtain a one-time allocation of federal funds for projects. The process of direct federal investment is called Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) in the Senate.
To qualify for funding, a project must be eligible under the accounts (programs) designated by the House. Each program has different requirements, just like regular federal grants.
How To Submit an Application for Consideration by Representative Balint
Representative Balint is accepting CPF requests at Rep. Balint FY26 Community Project Funding Interest Form. You do not need to create an account or to log in to apply.
Please review the FY2025 guidelines and the eligible accounts before filling out the form. If your project does not appear to be eligible under the 2025 guidelines and you would be interested in reviewing the 2026 guidelines when they are available, please indicate that in the application interest form on Question 7.
What You Should Know
If your project is awarded funding:
- You do not receive a cash award from the federal government. Funding is assigned to a federal agency (then sometimes a state agency).
- You will be required to submit an application for funding to your project's assigned agency, but you will be assured of a grant award.
- Awarded funding will be subject to all federal grant requirements and the requirements of the federal program through which they pass.
- Funds may not be available for 1-4 years based on an agency's capacity to administer the funds. Most awardees wait 1-2 years after learning they will receive funding.
Advice for Prospective Applicants
- This funding cannot be used to support programming and is not available to for-profit organizations.
- Organizations are strongly encouraged to consider applying for other grants before seeking CDS funds. Email bwaninger@vlct.org if you would like assistance identifying additional funding opportunities for your project.
- Projects benefit from advanced discussion with Congressional staff. Please contact Thomas Renner at Thomas.Renner@mail.house.gov with questions or to discuss your project.
- Be sure you review the specific list of the accounts for CPF request and their eligibility requirements. It can be helpful to review the previous year's awards to understand which types of project match which accounts.
- It can be helpful to speak with the federal or state agency to which your project may be assigned if awarded funds, or at least to review their program requirements. This will help you understand the requirements you will be asked to meet so that you understand what grant-related activities need to be incorporated into your timeline and budget.