Federal appropriations provide annual discretionary funding for our government to carry out its mission and, in turn, spur various organizations towards efficiencies and achievements. Whether you serve an entity interested in the government’s work in disease research or a nonprofit hospital requesting community project funding for infrastructure needs, it is important for those seeking funding provided through Congress’ annual appropriations cycle to understand the process and current legislative landscape.

This year more than most, the process is complex – with timelines that abut and potentially overlap. Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 began on October 1, 2023; in the absence of completed spending bills, government programs are currently being funded via a series of short-term stop-gap funding bills. Lawmakers are still negotiating FY 2024 funding levels, which will expire on September 30. FY 2025 begins on October 1, and the process for determining appropriations for the upcoming fiscal year will begin shortly.