Alliance for Justice’s Bolder Advocacy Program Mobilizes 112 Organizations to Oppose OMB Proposal That Threatens Nonprofit Advocacy and Voter Engagement

Read the comment here

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 14, 2026 – Alliance for Justice’s (AFJ) Bolder Advocacy program has coordinated a coalition of 112 organizations representing a broad cross-section of the nonprofit sector in submitting a public comment opposing a proposed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rule that would significantly expand restrictions on how federally funded nonprofits engage in voter registration, issue advocacy, and public education.

The comment was submitted in response to OMB’s proposed changes to the Uniform Guidance governing federal financial assistance (OMB 2026-0034). It warns that the rule would undermine nonprofits’ ability to serve communities by creating sweeping new limitations on civic engagement and public policy advocacy that are essential to their missions.

Impacts of the proposed rule could chill nonprofit advocacy and civic engagement, create unnecessary confusion beyond existing lobbying restrictions, limit the ability of nonprofits to educate policymakers and the public, and undermine evidence-based policymaking by restricting information from organizations with deep community expertise.

“This proposed rule is not about improving accountability ­— it’s about silencing advocates,” said Rachel Rossi, President of Alliance for Justice. “At a time when communities need nonprofit organizations to help people understand how public policy affects their lives, and providing services the government is cutting, this rule would discourage organizations from speaking out and engaging the people they serve. Attempts to politicize federal grantmaking threatens both our democracy and the communities that rely on these organizations every day.”

Nonprofits play an indispensable role in educating policymakers, connecting government to communities, and ensuring that federal programs reflect the realities facing the people they are designed to serve. Existing federal grant rules already prohibit the use of grant funds for lobbying, making the proposed changes both unnecessary and harmful.

“Nonprofits should never have to choose between accepting federal funding and speaking up for the communities they serve,” said Natalie Ossenfort, Senior Program Director of AFJ’s Bolder Advocacy. “These proposed changes would create uncertainty that could cause organizations to self-censor lawful advocacy and civic engagement out of fear of jeopardizing critical funding. That’s why organizations from across the nonprofit sector came together to urge OMB to reject these harmful provisions.”