Speak Up for the World's Children: Urge Congress to Release Approved UNICEF Funding
Congress approved at least $137 million to support UNICEF's core resources for children in fiscal year 2026. Contact your representatives to urge them to ensure that the U.S. government releases these critical funds before the Sept. 30 deadline. When promises aren't kept, it's children who pay the highest price.
The United States government has historically been a strong partner and leading supporter of UNICEF’s core resources — the funding that enables UNICEF to quickly respond to the children in most urgent need around the world.
Continuing this tradition, Congress approved at least $137 million in fiscal year 2026 funding for UNICEF’s core resources. This underscores the longstanding bipartisan U.S. support for UNICEF’s lifesaving work for children. However, UNICEF has not yet received these critical Congressionally approved funds.
The federal fiscal year ends on Sept. 30, 2026, creating an urgent deadline. If the funding is not transferred before the end of the fiscal year, there is a risk that it may expire and never reach UNICEF, and millions of children will suffer the consequences.
UNICEF USA is mobilizing supporters to urge members of Congress to ensure the government releases at least $137 million in fiscal year 2026 core funding before Sept. 30.
Why core resources matter
Core resources are a flexible funding source that enables UNICEF to stay and deliver in fragile contexts, sustain critical programs where other funding is scarce and provide sustained support. With core resources, UNICEF:
- Responds rapidly when humanitarian emergencies strike
- Reaches children in crises and underfunded or overlooked contexts
- Prevents and treats severe malnutrition and responds to disease outbreaks
- Provides safe water, sanitation, health care, education and other essential services
- Maintains a presence before, during and after emergencies, supporting both immediate response and longer-term systems for children
- Directs resources based on need while maintaining strong oversight and accountability
The United States government's contribution is essential to UNICEF’s lifesaving work for children.
What can you do?
Help UNICEF by contacting your member of Congress and urging for the release of at least $137 million in fiscal year 2026 core funding by the Sept. 30 deadline. This is not an ask for new funding — lawmakers must ensure that this already-approved full contribution is released before the end of the month.
HOW TO HELP
There are many ways to make a difference
War, famine, poverty, natural disasters — threats to the world's children keep coming. But UNICEF won't stop working to keep children healthy and safe.
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories — more places than any other children's organization. UNICEF has the world's largest humanitarian warehouse and, when disaster strikes, can get supplies almost anywhere within 72 hours. Constantly innovating, always advocating for a better world for children, UNICEF works to ensure that every child can grow up healthy, educated, protected and respected.
Would you like to help give all children the opportunity to reach their full potential? There are many ways to get involved.
