Center for Community Change – www.communitychange.org

Offers “policy action alerts” via email to show how particular issues are being treated as the budget process moves through Congress. Also has a “Budget Advocacy Toolkit” for grassroots groups—plus “Congressional Budget Process: A Timeline and Opportunities for Action,” which provides a month-by-month breakdown of the budget process; “Key Actors in the Budget Fight,” listing Senators and Representatives who will have a major impact on the final outcome and how to contact them; and a “Primer on Budget Reconciliation,” which pinpoints specific programs that are being threatened.

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities – www.cbpp.org

Well-respected, liberal-leaning think tank that analyzes federal (and some state) budgets. Especially strong in the areas of family and welfare policy, health policy, and housing and community development. Reports on planned cuts in domestic discretionary programs and impact on funding levels for new fiscal year.

Congressional Budget Office – www.cbo.gov

Does a comprehensive, impartial analysis of the President’s budget proposals for each fiscal year. Website breaks down implications for funding in specific categories (education, energy, environment, housing, health, etc.). Also publishes monthly budget reviews and current budget projections.

Coalition on Human Needs – www.chn.org

An umbrella group of civil rights, legal services, religious, and labor organizations. Posts periodic policy analyses and research papers about the budget’s impact on disadvantaged populations (e.g., “How the Federal Budget Affects State Human Needs Programs”) as well as advocacy guides (e.g., “How to Talk about the Impact of Federal Budget Cuts on the People in Your State”).

National Conference of State Legislatures – www.ncsl.org

Monitors federal legislation for impact on state budgets; also monitors federal budget proposals for same purpose. Website contains very detailed analysis of pending legislation affecting new and existing programs and any erosion of block grants to states.

OMBWatch – www.ombwatch.org

Watchdog group that monitors budget and grants policy. Website features a blog devoted to the federal budget, with daily posts that track all the latest developments. “Appropriations/Spending” section of site follows mark-ups of Congressional budget resolutions and offers brief analyses. (Also—“ Nonprofit Advocacy” section of website is useful for staying on top of e-grants, grants streamlining, and grant recipients’ rights and responsibilities.)

Urban Institute – www.urban.org

Venerable nonpartisan think tank that monitors issues such as block grants, welfare reform, state responses to budget cutbacks. (Also—Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy has good materials on outcomes and “performance indicators.” And “Policy Decoder” is a handy reference tool for interpreting Washington-speak terminology.)