Two important ingredients for funding your CX office are time and money. The information provided will help give you a general overview of the funding process, along with examples and timelines.
At CXD we acknowledge that each organization’s funding and budget have their own unique processes. Therefore, we recommend that each organization initiates a conversation with their Chief Finance Office (CFO) or funding representative as soon as possible to confirm the availability of any resources.
You will find various financial guidance documents below, including:
- Budget planning
- Budget formulation
- Overview of the budget process
- Budget execution
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Writing Your Funding Justification
Write your CX Funding Justification to help stakeholders better understand department initiatives, strategic goals & performance outcomes. It will inform government decision-making and justify the requested funding levels.
How to use the CX Toolkit
Major Steps in the Congressional Phase
Understanding the federal budget overview and timeline is crucial for anyone involved in developing a Customer Experience (CX) Strategy within the federal government. The federal budget outlines the allocation of resources and priorities for the upcoming fiscal year, impacting all agencies and initiatives. Familiarity with this process ensures that CX strategies align with national goals and funding cycles, enabling better planning and implementation. Accessing the federal budget overview and timeline allows federal employees to anticipate funding changes and strategically adjust their plans to maximize effectiveness. The tables below outline the major phases and deadlines of the Congressional and Execution phases.
| What Happens? | When? |
|---|---|
| Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reports to Budget Committees on the economic and budget outlook. | January |
| CBO re-estimates the President's Budget based on their economic and technical assumptions. | February |
| Other committees submit "views and estimates" to House and Senate Budget Committees. Committees indicate their preferences regarding budgetary matters for which they are responsible. | Within 6 weeks of budget transmittal |
| The Congress completes action on the concurrent resolution on the budget. The Congress commits itself to broad spending and revenue levels by passing a budget resolution. | April 15 |
| The Congress needs to complete action on appropriations bills for the upcoming fiscal year or provide a "continuing resolution" (a stop-gap appropriation law). | September 30 |
Major Steps in the Execution Phase
| What Happens? | When? |
|---|---|
| Fiscal year begins. | October 1 |
| OMB apportions funds made available in the annual appropriations process and other available funds. Agencies submit apportionment requests to OMB for each budget account by August 21 or within 10 calendar days after the approval of the appropriation, whichever is later. OMB approves or modifies the apportionment specifying the amount of funds agencies may use by time period, program, project, or activity. | September 10 (or within 30 days after approval of a spending bill) |
| Agencies incur obligations and make outlays to carry out the funded programs, projects, and activities. Agencies hire people, enter into contracts, and enter into grant agreements, etc., in order to carry out their programs, projects, and activities. Agencies record obligations and outlays pursuant to administrative control of funds procedures (see Appendix H), report to Treasury (see the Treasury Fiscal Requirements Manual and section 130) and prepare financial statements. | Throughout the fiscal year |
| Fiscal year ends. | September 30 |
| Expired phase (no-year funds do not have an expired phase). Agencies disburse against obligated balances and adjust obligated balances to reflect actual obligations during the period of availability. Agencies continue to record obligations and outlays pursuant to administrative control of funds procedures, report to Treasury, and prepare financial statements. | Until September 30, fifth year after funds expire |