Increased financial expertise focused on divisions, local sections, and other component groups

The Committee on Budget and Finance (B&F) in 2000 was not the same as it was in 1893 when it was first formed, and B&F in 2026 cannot be the same as it was in 2000. Global financial markets and geopolitical uncertainties mandate that the American Chemical Society has agile structures and processes to manage its complicated financial portfolio in 2026. Increased needs of member component groups—such as local sections and divisions—in managing their financial resources mandate that ACS provide easily accessible guidance and information.B&F must continue to evolve to best serve the society, its members, and the chemistry enterprise. Two previous Comments by Natalie LaFranzo that appeared in C&EN in May 2025 and August 2025 described the process that ACS used to identify changes that could help ensure that we continue to have the resources to make a difference and, very importantly, increase our commitment to local sections, divisions, committees, and other component groups in the management of their financial resources.The plan is based on establishing a Finance Committee and modifying the charge to B&F. The Finance Committee would oversee ACS enterprise finances and would include ACS members and external experts willing to dedicate their time to ensure that all relevant factors, internal and external, are considered in our financial decisions. We must ensure the continued financial strength of ACS for the next 150 years. The elected members of the ACS Board of Directors will continue to have the final say in budget approval.B&F would be renamed the Committee