Congressional Management Foundation (CMF)

Background

The Congressional Management Foundation was established in 1977 to support the trustworthiness and effectiveness of the United States Congress. It has endeavored to accomplish this through research, education, and training programs for lawmakers and their staff to make U.S. Congress more efficient. It also engages in communications and public outreach to advocate for Congress as an institution. ²

Activities

The Congressional Management Foundation advises the staff of members of Congress and various committees and institutional offices in the U.S. House and Senate, including interns, chief of staffs, and the members themselves. ² It aims to “revitalize Congress as an institution” by developing staff to become more “deliberative, functioning, and accountable.” ¹

The organization’s three major areas of consultation are “management books and guidance,” “customized management services,” and “staff training and professional development.” ²

CMF’s management books series includes its studies of U.S. Congressional staff, its Life in Congress research series, its Congressional Intern Handbook, and its self-described signature publication, Setting Course, Keeping It Local, a guidebook for both district and state officials. ²

CMF’s customized management services include various programs ranging from one-day training sessions to comprehensive analyses of an office’s systems and “problem areas.” Some programs grade senior staff on their strategies and leadership qualities, while others target junior staff and aim to bolster efficiency and quality through teambuilding exercises. ³

For more detailed training sessions, CMF offers scheduled courses throughout the year for various classes of U.S. Congressional staff. ⁴

CMF releases bi-annual research publications on the status of U.S. Congressional management strategies entitled “State of the Congress.” ⁵ Its 2024 State of the Congress report found that the majority of senior staffers from both major political parties believe U.S. Congress is “not functioning as it should,” that it is important for offices to work across party lines, and discovered that a majority of staff feel anxious about insults and incivility from the other party. ⁶

CMF links users to articles and research reports from other legislative consultants, such as the World Bank Group, the Open Government Partnership, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. ⁵

Financials

In 2022, the Congressional Management Foundation reported income of $1,439,329, expenses of $1,525,199, and net assets of $596,626. ⁷

Funding

The Congressional Management Foundation states that it is funded by donations from “associations, corporations, foundations and individuals,” whom it describes as supporters of “public service and a healthier democracy.” ²

CMF’s bi-annual State of the Congress studies are funded by Business for America, the Hewlett Foundation’s U.S. Democracy Program, Salesforce, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). ⁶

Leadership

As of 2024, Bradford Fitch was the president and chief executive officer of the Congressional Management Foundation. ⁸ The chair of the board was Amy Sandgren Plaster, a senior advisor with HillStaffer, LLC. ⁹