LSC president outlines 2026 strategy, flags White House FY27 proposal as challenge and opportunity
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Summary
President Ron presented LSC's 2026 strategy emphasizing bipartisan legislative outreach, stakeholder activation, communications and legal preparedness; he warned the White House is expected to propose eliminating LSC in the FY27 budget and urged board engagement to counter that proposal.
Ron, presenting the president’s report, laid out a four-part strategy for 2026: deepen bipartisan legislative outreach, activate external stakeholder validators (business, tech, faith and veterans groups), strengthen mass and targeted communications, and maintain a proactive legal approach.
On the budget front, Ron told the board he expects the White House to propose eliminating LSC in its FY27 budget request and framed that prospect as both a threat and an opportunity: "It really enables us to sharpen the conversation," he said, adding that strong bipartisan congressional support gives LSC an opening to press its case.
Maria de Bouvier, communication strategist for LSC, described an integrated communications framework built on owned channels (website, social media, video), earned media (op-eds and partner validators) and limited paid media, and said early paid-media experiments have exceeded industry benchmarks. She said Q1 messaging priorities include educational messaging about civil legal services, clear factual communications about LSC's FY27 budget request and impact storytelling.
The president and staff asked board members to participate in district outreach and stakeholder meetings; they also highlighted the role of the client leadership council and leaders and emerging leaders councils in amplifying LSC’s message.