Alliance Report

Nov. 6, 2026

Issue 26/23

The leading voice of nonprofits on postal issues for over 45 years.

The Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers is a 501 (c)(4) nonprofit organization established by nonprofits for nonprofits.

Election Results and Postal Oversight

Following this week’s election results, many are asking what the impacts are on the Congressional committees that oversee the Postal Service. We take a look below at the changes in terms of those serving on the committees prior to the midterms, but it won’t be until January/February when the newly formed Congress finalizes committee roles that the impact can be fully understood, so stay tuned! Just because someone was a member of a committee/subcommittee prior to the midterms, does not mean they will stay on that committee in the new Congress.

House – Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. In the House of Representatives, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has oversight responsibility for the U.S. Postal Service. Prior to the mid-term elections, this committee was chaired by James Comer (R-KY) and Robert Garcia (D-CA) served as ranking minority member. Both won their midterm elections, and Garcia has already made a bid for leadership of the oversight committee.

Republican committee members prior to the elections included the following (those in bold are no longer in their positions): Jim Jordan (R-OH), Michael Turner (R-OH), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Michael Cloud (R-TX), Gary Palmer (R-AL), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Nancy Mace (R-SC), Pat Fallon (R-TX), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Scott Perry (R-PA), William Timmons (R-SC), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Lauren Boebert (R-CO) (race not yet called), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Nick Langworthy (R-NY), Eric Burlison (R-MO), Eli Crane (R-AZ), Brian Jack (R-GA), John McGuire (R-VA), Brandon Gill (R-TX), and Rich McCormick (R-GA).

Democratic committee members prior to the elections included the following (those in bold are no longer in their positions): Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD), Shontel Brown (D-OH), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Greg Casar (D-TX), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Emily Randall (D-WA), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Dave Min (D-CA), James Walkinshaw (D-VA), Christian Menefee (D-TX), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI).

Within the House oversight, there is also the Subcommittee on Government Operations, which also focuses on the USPS. Prior to the mid-term elections, this subcommittee was chaired by Pete Sessions (R-TX) and Kweisi Mfume (D-MD) served as ranking minority member, both of whom won their midterm elections. Republican committee members prior to the elections included the following (those in bold are no longer in their positions): Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Gary Palmer (R-AL), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Brian Jack (R-GA), and Brandon Gill (R-TX).

Democratic subcommittee members prior to the elections included the following (those in bold are no longer in their positions): Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), and Emily Randall (D-WA).

Postal Caucus. In addition to the official committees charged with oversight of the USPS, a House group has formed calling itself the “Postal Caucus.” The bipartisan group is led by Jack Bergman (R-MI), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), and Chris Pappas (D-NH), and has over 40 official members. Of those members, only two, Tom Kean (R-NJ) and Don Bacon (R-NE) are no longer in their positions following the midterm elections.

Senate – Committee Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC). In the Senate, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) has oversight of the Postal Service. Before the midterm elections, the committee was chaired by Rand Paul (R-KY) and Gary Peters (D-MI) served as ranking minority member. While Paul’s term was not up yet, Peters is retiring. Republican committee members prior to the elections included the following (those in bold are no longer in their positions): Ron Johnson (R-WI), James Lankford (R-OK), Rick Scott (R-FL), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Ashley Moody (R-FL).

Democratic subcommittee members prior to the elections included the following (all have remained in their positions): Margaret Hassan (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

What It Means So Far… Although committee roles won’t be known until the new Congress convenes in 2027, there are some early impacts that can be seen already. Leadership of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC) will change since incumbent Democrat Gary Peters is retiring. Leadership of the oversight committee on the House side also may see changes, with Democrat Robert Garcia making a bid for committee leadership.

In addition, with reportedly over 100 new members of Congress coming in, education on postal issues will be essential, whether any of the new members end up on postal oversight committees or not.

Study Finds Widespread Government Funding Disruptions for Nonprofits in 2025

A new study from the Urban Institute, The Prevalence, Persistence, and Financial Implications of Government Funding Disruptions for Nonprofits in 2025, finds that “35% of U.S. nonprofits experienced government funding disruptions, including funding loss, payment delays, freezes, and stop work orders,” according to the National Council of Nonprofits.

“Disruptions were more common among nonprofits serving people experiencing poverty, Black and Hispanic or Latino communities,” it reported, “and families receiving public assistance, with roughly 46% of organizations serving these populations reporting disruptions.” “Nearly half of affected nonprofits experienced at least one disruption lasting 12 weeks or longer,” it said noting that “[t]hese findings underscore how unpredictable government funding threatens nonprofits’ ability to sustain programs, support their workforces, and meet growing community needs, and they reinforce the importance of continuity and timely payments to deliver essential services to communities.”

USPS Board of Governors to Meet Nov. 9-10

The USPS Board of Governors will hold its next meeting on November 9 (closed) and November 10 (open) in Washington DC. Included on its meeting agenda are remarks from the Chairwoman of the Board and the Postmaster General, election of a new chair and vice chair, the FY2026 Annual Financial Report and the FY2026 Annual Report to Congress, the FY2027 Integrated Financial Plan and Liquidity Outlook, the FY2028 Congressional Reimbursement Request, the Annual Service Performance Report and approval of the agenda for the next meeting, scheduled for February 2027.

Know the USPS Rules on Nonprofit Return Addresses

The Alliance has heard recent reports from members about the USPS rejecting Nonprofit Marketing Mail because of issues with the nonprofit return address. We would like to share resources and information to help nonprofits (and their service providers) avoid some common pitfalls with return addressing that could jeopardize their ability to qualify the mail at Nonprofit rates.

Resources: Rules pertaining to Nonprofit Marketing Mail return address can be found in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) section 703.1.5, USPS Customer Support Ruling 124 (Identification of Nonprofit USPS Marketing Mail Matter (a.k.a. and d.b.a.)), USPS Customer Support Ruling 140 (Celebrity” Names on Nonprofit USPS Marketing Mail), and USPS Customer Support Ruling 336 (Identification of Nonprofit USPS Marketing Mail Matter).

PO Box Return Address. According to the USPS, the nonprofit organization can use a PO Box in their return address as long as it belongs to the nonprofit entity in the original NPA (Nonprofit Authorization).

Acronyms. Some nonprofits have reported issues when using the nonprofit organization acronym vs. spelling out the full nonprofit name. According to the USPS’ rules, acronyms can only be used if “well recognized.” Since this rule is very subjective (what is well recognized to one individual may not be the same as for another individual), be careful on this one. When in doubt, check with the USPS before using.

Celebrity Names. Another example we are hearing reported lately has to do with the nonprofit using “celebrity” names in the return address. USPS Customer Support Ruling 140 specifically deals with the question of using the name of a politician, celebrity or other “endorser.” It notes that “[p]seudonyms or bogus names of persons or organizations may not be used.” If a name and return address are used, it must be that of the authorized nonprofit organization. “A well-recognized alternative designation (e.g., ‘The March of Dimes’) or abbreviation (e.g., ‘AFL-CIO’) may be used rather than the full organization name,” the ruling notes.

“The name of a celebrity, politician, or other ‘endorser’ would not be a well-recognized alternative description or abbreviation for a nonprofit organization,” the CSR says, noting that “[t]herefore, such a name is not permitted to appear by itself on the outside of mailpieces to be mailed at the nonprofit prices by the authorized organization.” “However,” it notes, “Postal Service regulations do not prohibit the inclusion of such a ‘celebrity’ name on the mailpieces (or contents) of authorized nonprofit organizations, as long as the pieces are the authorized organization’s ‘own matter’ and also bear the correct name and address of the authorized nonprofit organization.”

In simple terms, celebrity names can be used if the return address also includes the correct name and address of the authorized nonprofit organization.

What to do if your nonprofit mail is rejected… As most nonprofits likely know, if you have a mailing rejected for nonprofit postage rate eligibility by a local USPS acceptance site, you can appeal the ruling to the USPS national Pricing & Classification Service Center (PCSC). Be sure to keep copies of the mailpiece image/design as well as the letter received from the local acceptance unit to submit with your appeal. Appeals must be submitted to the local Postmaster within 30 days of receiving the original decision, and there is a process for requesting an oral decision in cases where timing is critical.

USPS Management Changes

The USPS on October 30, 2026, announced the retirement of Peter Pastre, USPS Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy. The USPS has not yet announced who will be filling the now-vacant position.

The USPS on October 30, 2026, also announced the officer appointment of Fiona Machado as Vice President, Regulatory Pricing and Costing. Machado had been acting in the role since May following the retirement of Sharon Owens from the position.

2027 National Postal Forum to Feature “Nonprofit Day”

The Alliance is excited to announce that the 2027 National Postal Forum will include a special “Nonprofit Day.” The NPF will be held May 16-19, 2027, in Orlando FL, and Nonprofit Day will be Tuesday, May 18, 2027. For a $300 registration fee, attendees can attend all the NPF events on May 18^th, including the General Session, educational sessions, lunch, the Exhibit Hall, and Exhibit Hall reception to be held that day.

“We’ve been working with NPF on the concept of a nonprofit focused day at NPF for a long time,” said Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers Executive Director Kathleen Siviter, “and it will be wonderful to see it come to fruition at the 2027 event.” “It’s just another example of how the NPF is working to bring great educational content to all sectors of the mailing industry,” she said. The Alliance is submitting several session proposals for inclusion that day, and will be putting together nonprofit panels for each session that is approved. In addition, the Alliance will have a booth in the Exhibit Hall.

Registration is open — simply go to the NPF web site (https://www.npf.org/), click on the “Register Now” button at the top right, then select the Nonprofit Day registration type when you register.

We encourage all Alliance members and sponsors to spread the word about this unique opportunity for nonprofits and their service providers to not only attend the National Postal Forum, but to meet with the Alliance and learn more about the important work we do on their behalf. Members interested in presenting at the event should contact Kathleen Siviter (kathy@nonprofitmailers.org). More details will be published as they become available.

Into the Postal Weeds…

For those who live in the “postal weeds,” and are looking for news on mail entry, preparation, discounts, incentives, and more, this column in the Alliance Report will be right up your alley! We won’t go all the way into the weeds…but we will offer up highlights on useful resources and mailing standard changes.

· Updated List of MTAC Groups – Anyone can Participate. The Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) has published an updated list of User Groups, Task Teams and Workgroups. Anyone can participate on User Groups or Workgroups, but Task Team participation is by invitation only. Check out the list – if there is a group you are interested in joining, reach out to the USPS or industry leader (contact Kathy Siviter at kathy@nonprofitmailers.org if you need someone’s contact info).

Last Chance — Register Now for Nov. 10^th Alliance Nonprofit Direct Mail Session for NPF Delivered™ Series

The Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers will be presenting an education session as part of the National Postal Forum (NPF) Delivered™ webinar series. The Alliance session, Why Direct Mail Still Delivers for Nonprofits, will be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm EST and registration is open at https://www.npf.org/delivered. The session description appears below:

“Direct mail remains a vital fundraising channel for nonprofits, helping organizations build donor relationships while advancing the missions and communities they serve. Join nonprofit and industry leaders for a timely look at nonprofit postage rates, emerging mail trends, and the strategies organizations use to acquire, retain, reactivate and steward donors. Explore how direct mail has evolved as a media channel, how attribution and measurement are changing, and how nonprofits can better understand what’s working. Gain practical insights for managing postage costs, demonstrating ROI and making informed fundraising decisions that strengthen campaign performance.”

The webinar panel will include Alliance Board member Tracey Burgoon, Chief Development Officer, Disabled American Veterans (DAV); Alliance sponsor member Greg Fox, Chief Strategy Officer, Moore; and Kathleen Siviter, Executive Director of the Alliance.

Alliance Report, Nov. 6, 2026 (26-23)