May a local program supervisor visit elected officials in Washington, D.C.?
The threshold question is whether the costs of such a trip would be a reasonable and necessary program expense given your approved budget and the specific purposes of your grant award. In addition, assuming this first criterion is met, the OMB Cost Principles for nonprofits and institutions of higher education have an additional requirement: travel, lodging, and meal costs may be allowed only if they are incurred to offer testimony at a regularly scheduled Congressional hearing pursuant to a written request for such presentation made by the hearing’s convener. Because such costs are allowable under very limited circumstances, you should seek guidance from your program officer at the Corporation ahead of time.
