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NEW! FY27 Community Project Funding (Calendar Year 2026)

 

Dear Stakeholders in the IL-7th Congressional District: 

Thank you for your interest in sharing your requests for funding federal programs.  The federal appropriations process allows policymakers to share which spending priorities are most important to members and their constituents.  On February 25, 2026, the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee released guidance and deadlines for funding requests. Below is information you will need about the process and links to the eligibility criteria for the different areas. 

Importantly, given the extremely short deadlines, if you want to apply for project funding, please contact Jill Hunter-Williams in my DC office at (202) 340-2700 to understand your eligibility and necessary steps.  

Sincerely,

Danny K. Davis

Member of Congress

 

DEADLINES FOR PROJECT REQUESTS 

 

Friday, 3/6/26 for requests within:     

 

Friday, 3/13/26 for requests within:   

 

Available Accounts for Project Requests.  The FY27 project options remain substantially limited. You can find a list of accounts available for project requests here. 

Excluded Accounts.  The accounts prioritize government applicants and rural areas.  There are no opportunities for projects in the following areas:

  • Department of Defense           

  • Financial Services and General Government 

  • Legislative Branch

  • National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs

 

Exclusion of Museums, For-Profit Entities, Memorials, and Commemoratives from All Projects.  Similar to last year, these entities cannot apply for any project funding. 

 

Nonprofits Have Limited Eligibility for Most Grants.  In general, the FY27 projects prioritize government entities.   For Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) accounts, only law-enforcement-focused non-profits with partnerships with local law enforcement are eligible for the Byrne JAG grants.  For NASA, the only nonprofits eligible are colleges and universities.  For the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Economic Development Initiative (EDI) grants, the only non-profits eligible are public institutions of higher education, HBCUs, or tribal colleges. 

 

Health Facility Construction and Equipment Funding Only for Certain Entities.  This year, projects are allowed under the Health Resources and Services Administration for Health Facilities Construction and Assistance account. However, eligible recipients are only:

  • State, local, and Tribal governments. 

  • Non-profit entities that are: (1) certified rural health clinics, (2) Federally Qualified Health Centers, (3) designated Critical Access Hospitals; or (4) hospitals located in areas that meet HRSA’s definition of rural: https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/about-us/definition/index.html.

  • A General Provision prohibits the award of funding for projects to expend funds for any abortion. The following entities are not eligible for LHHS community project funding: 

    • Entities that perform or promote abortions, including providing referrals, counseling, lobbying, and training related to abortions; furnish or develop any item intended to procure abortions; or provide financial support for such entities. The exceptions described in section 507(a) of division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (P.L. 119–75) shall apply.   Here is the Exception Language:  P.L. 119-75, Division B, SEC. 507. (a) The limitations established in the preceding section shall not apply to an abortion— (1) if the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest; or (2) in the case where a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a life- endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed. (b) Nothing in the preceding section shall be construed as prohibiting the expenditure by a State, locality, entity, or private person of State, local, or private funds (other than a State’s or locality’s contribution of Medicaid matching funds). (c) Nothing in the preceding section shall be construed as restricting the ability of any managed care provider from offering abortion coverage or the ability of a State or locality to contract separately with such a provider for such coverage with State funds (other than a State’s or locality’s contribution of Medicaid matching funds). (d)(1) None of the funds made available in this Act may be made available to a Federal agency or program, or to a State or local government, if such agency, program, or government subjects any institutional or individual health care entity to discrimination on the basis that the health care entity does not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions. (2) In this subsection, the term ‘‘health care entity’’ includes an individual physician or other health care professional, a hospital, a provider-sponsored organization, a health maintenance organization, a health insurance plan, or any other kind of health care facility, organization, or plan. 

    • Entities that conduct research using embryonic stem cells (if such tissue is obtained pursuant to an induced abortion) or human germline gene modification.

    • Entities that facilitate, promote access to, or refer for psychological, behavioral, or medical interventions performed for the purposes of intentionally changing the body of an individual (including by disrupting the body’s development, inhibiting its natural functions, or modifying its appearance) to no longer correspond to the individual’s biological sex. 

 

Projects Must Demonstrate Community Support.  The Appropriations Committee made clear that community engagement and support are crucial in determining which projects are worthy of federal funding.  If your organization plans to apply for Community Project Funding, your application will need to include evidence of community support, such as:

  • Letters of support from elected officials or newspaper editorial boards;
  • Press articles highlighting the need for the project;
  • Projects listed on state intended use plans, community development plans, or other publicly available planning documents; or
  • Resolutions passed by city councils or boards. 

To make a Community Project Funding request to Rep. Davis, please complete this Project Request Form:   https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/5UPhXjNYyi?origin=lprLink

If you have multiple requests, please submit a separate form for each request. 

 

Program Funding/Language Requests

 

DEADLINE:  Friday, March 13, 2026.

There are 2 types of program requests – requests for a certain level of funding or language requests that direct or suggest certain agency or department actions. Program funding requests ask for a certain amount of funding for a particular program. The request can be for a specific funding level, to support the President’s Budget Request, to support the FY26 enacted funding level, to generally support robust funding, or to zero out funding. Examples of program requests are:

  • Increased funding for the 21st Century Learning Centers Program;
  • Include $25 million for the Predominantly Black Institutions Grants; or
  • Sign the group letter by a certain Representative for full funding for Head Start;
  • Sign the group letter that would include report language in support of trauma funding for homeless families; or
  • Include bill language for $150 million for the Reemployment Opportunities Program.  

Program language requests suggest Congressional intent that an agency focus on a certain policy or take a certain action related to a specific program. Language requests can be for “bill” language that have the force of law and direct an agency to take a specific action or “report” language that recommends an agency prioritize certain policies or actions.  Examples of language requests are:

To submit a programmatic or language request, please email Jill.Hunter-Williams@mail.house.gov and William.Miles@mail.house.gov.   IN THE SUBJECT LINE, please specify “FY27 PROGRAM REQUEST – [topic]” or “FY27 LANGUAGE REQUEST – [topic]” to help us identify your request correctly. Please include in the email as much detail about your request as possible including if there is a group letter supporting the request, whether the request is for report language or programmatic funding, the specific account/program associated with the request, the subcommittee of jurisdiction, and a short description of why the request is important.    

 

Questions?

Please address any Appropriations questions to Jill Hunter-Williams at Jill.Hunter-Williams@mail.house.gov or (202) 340-2700 call our DC Office at (202) 225-5006.