Federal funding and policy, made practical.
Cairn helps organizations understand how federal dollars and decisions move, build effective strategies, and engage Congress and federal agencies.
How Cairn can help
Cairn helps organizations understand federal funding, build effective policy and government strategies, and turn complex federal decisions into practical next steps.
Federal Budget & Funding Analysis
Trace how federal money moves, identify execution risks and opportunities, and turn complex budget information into clear findings.
Learn more →Federal Affairs & Government Relations
Develop and carry out credible strategies for congressional and agency engagement, legislation, appropriations, contracts, pilots, and partnerships.
Learn more →Policy Research & Coalition Strategy
Build the evidence, policy options, and shared strategy needed to move complex public-interest work forward.
Learn more →Senior experience. Direct, practical counsel.
Cairn is led by John Rapp, a former senior federal executive with more than 20 years of federal experience. Clients work directly with John to understand how government decisions are made, how federal money moves, and how to turn that knowledge into practical strategy.
The work is rigorous, candid about uncertainty, and designed to help leaders make decisions—not simply produce another report.
About Cairn
John Rapp · Founder and Principal
Turning federal complexity into usable decisions.
Federal conservation funding diagnostic
Reconstructed the flow of federal conservation funding, analyzed the difference between authorized and executed funding, and developed a documented dataset and leadership briefings.
Strategy for an environmental technology company
Developed federal priorities, stakeholder maps, agency and congressional engagement plans, briefing materials, and ongoing policy and appropriations monitoring.
Budget and appropriations analysis
Analyzed federal wildfire budgets, appropriations, agency implementation, and policy options to support coalition strategy and decision-making.
Need clarity on a federal funding or policy challenge?
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