Public budgets and the revenue systems that support them are some of the most important policy instruments of our government. They reflect our values and priorities through decisions on how to tax residents and businesses and spend these collective resources. These decisions impact what families have to spend on basic needs and invest in their future, define the size of the government and its role in the national economy, and affect the lives of all Americans.

A solid understanding of budget and tax policy within our political and economic climate is crucial for anyone working in philanthropy.

Since 2004, EOF has hosted an Annual Budget and Tax Briefing to provide funders the opportunity to network colleagues and learn about and discuss pressing political developments, federal and state budget and tax battles and opportunities, and how the current landscape impacts families, workers, and communities. It is the only event of its kind focused on philanthropy and budget and tax policy.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a sweeping law that reshapes the landscape of public funding and tax equity in the United States. It makes deep cuts to vital programs like healthcare, housing, food assistance, and education while giving huge tax breaks to billionaires and corporations. This legislation will likely increase the deficit, create a more complex and unfair tax system, and make it harder to fund the services people need most. It also shifts significant administrative and eligibility burdens onto states, forcing them to either cut spending, use up emergency funds, or raise local taxes.

Join EOF and the Tax Funders Equity Network for the 2026 Budget and Tax Briefing on March 26-27, 2026, in Arlington, VA. This two-day funder briefing begins with an Ideas Showcase (March 26) on visionary and actionable approaches to revenue generation and public benefit access, followed by an analysis of the federal and state budget and tax landscape and strategizing for what comes next (March 27).

In this funder briefing, we’ll explore:

• The stakes: What’s happening at the federal and state levels and how it impacts workers, families, and our communities.
• The response: Strategies underway to shape the budget and tax fights ahead.
• The solutions: Policy and program changes needed to create stronger and more equitable revenue systems and public benefits access at every level of government now, and the visionary strategies to build a better set of policies and programs for workers, families, and our communities, in the years to come.
• The opportunity: The critical role and responsibility of funders in meeting the challenges of the moment and supporting bold solutions to build a more inclusive and equitable future.