The Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to promoting a more effective Congress. CMF has pursued this mission for more than 30 years by working internally with Member offices, committees, leadership, and institutional offices in the House and Senate to foster improved management practices. 

As a nonprofit, CMF relies on grants and contributions from corporations, associations, foundations and individuals to support our activities, which include making our services and publications accessible to congressional offices with limited budgets.

By supporting CMF, our partners are providing a public service to Congress.  A Congress that is more efficient is also more effective.

Simply put, CMF advocates good government through good management.

management books and research tailored for congress

Though there are ample books on the general topic of "management," only CMF produces publications adapted to the unique congressional environment. Our management handbooks for congressional staff include:

• Setting Course: A Congressional Management Guide;
• Frontline Management: A Guide for Congressional District/State Offices;
• The Insider's Guide to Research on Capitol Hill; and the
• Congressional Intern Handbook: A Guide for Interns and Newcomers to Capitol Hill.

CMF also conducts research on timely topics of importance to managers in congressional offices, which has resulted in reports such as:

• Communicating with Congress: How the Internet Has Changed Citizen Engagement;
  
• 2007 Gold Mouse Report: Lessons from the Best Web Sites on Capitol Hill;
  
• Communicating with Congress: How Capitol Hill is Coping with the Surge in Citizen Advocacy;
  
• Studies on House and Senate office compensation and benefit practices; and
  
• A brief on managing the transition process for new committee chairs.

office management services

CMF provides a range of confidential services to congressional offices including:

• Office retreats that typically focus on strategic planning, office operations, team building, and DC-district/state office relations;
  
• Comprehensive assessments to examine office operations and personnel, identify office strengths and weaknesses, and develop strategies for improving performance; and
  
• Workshops to improve constituent correspondence management.
  

staff training

To meet the distinct needs of congressional offices, CMF provides free training workshops to top level congressional staff on topics including:

• Strategic planning;
  
• Performance reviews and staff development;
  
• Employee engagement and retention;
  
• Leadership and management skills;
  
• Strategic communications, including constituent mail and e-mail, Web sites, and e-newsletters;
• Setting up your office and navigating the first 90 days (Member-elect staff orientation);
• How to utilize staff and financial resources to provide outstanding constituent service; and
  
• Improving internal office communications and DC-district/state office relations.