OMB Watch announces the pilot launch of NPAction, a new online resource for nonprofit advocacy. NPAction is being developed as a vibrant central advocacy hub that provides nonprofits access to information about rules governing policy participation, examples of successful and unsuccessful efforts, and identification of key resources. Our goal is to increase the awareness of groups already engaged in public policy participation, and to, thereby, enhance opportunities for building communities of interest among new and emerging and existing public policy participators. We are working live behind the scenes to continuously improve our offerings. Nonprofits are therefore encouraged to actively explore what's available, suggest their own ideas for resources to add, and provide comments on our work to date. Visit NPAction today!

While the capacity to engage citizens in greater civic participation and interaction with goverment, questions linger as to whether the willingness of citizens to engage through digital government, especially those at the margins-- like young people.

Send us your comments on the Universal Identifier for Grant Applicants by visiting our forum on grant streamlining. As part of its effort to streamline the federal grants process, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed that each nonprofit grant applicant be assigned a single identification number through the Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) -- the same system used by for-profit corporations for federal contracts.

With Republicans taking control of the Senate, President Bush's stalled proposal to increase federal funding of faith-based organizations likely moves to the front burner. In the meantime, however, the administration is moving forward with administrative reforms of agency grant programs. “We really want the legislation badly,” Jim Towey, director of the White House’s faith-based office, told the Washington Post on Aug. 31, “but this office isn’t just about federal legislation. This office is going to more forward with the president’s initiative.”