Kathryn A. Lynch, a legislative advocate from Sacramento, Calif., came to the Nonprofit Congress meeting this week with a major goal: to push for the end of Congressional earmarks to nonprofit groups.

Ms. Lynch said now is the time to begin discussions on how to stop lawmakers from doling out pork to charities and instead allow nonprofit groups themselves decide the most appropriate way to use federal money to tackle problems.

She said she believes nonprofit leaders have an opportunity to make earmarks an issue in the forthcoming Presidential election.