There’s power in numbers. With any public affairs campaign, you’re more likely to have a successful outcome when you have people rallying behind you, contacting local lawmakers, and raising awareness.
But a group of likeminded, passionate supporters doesn’t always come together naturally. For a big win, you need more than friends and family in your corner. Your campaign needs to be backed by specific groups who are strong enough to sway decision makers. Policy makers are MUCH more likely to pass a bill or an amendment if they know several important groups are also fighting for your cause.
That’s where a lobbying and public affairs firm like Tenax Strategies can help. We can show you exactly how to locate and target stakeholder groups, form a coalition, and get the right people on board with your campaign to achieve your objectives.
But before we walk you through our process, let’s get on the same page about the purpose and value of building a coalition in the first place.
Coalition-Building for Public Affairs
Coalitions are groups of campaign stakeholders, such as employees, customers, friends, and community members, who come together for a common purpose. All separate parties assemble into one unified body and mobilize to fight for or against a piece of legislation.
Together, the coalition works to deliver clear, unified messaging , influence decision makers, and demonstrate the range of parties that are invested in the outcome. The more wide-ranging and diverse the coalition, the more likely it is to impact lawmakers.
Determining who should be part of a coalition requires research and strategic thinking. An issue must be considered from all angles to determine which groups might be impacted—and therefore are candidates for joining the cause. Having the right campaign message is crucial for educating and securing the involvement of potential coalition members.
Identifying Coalition Members
Building a coalition typically starts with one client who represents a particular business interest or industry and has a cause they’re passionate about. They don’t bring a coalition of different voices to the table—but that’s where the expertise of a public affairs firm comes in.
The most obvious coalition members are other groups or companies in the same industry as the client. While it is important to bring those organizations and individuals on board, it isn’t enough. If legislative change is driven solely by one sector, legislators will likely assume that the group is only acting out of self interest. Building a large, diverse, powerful group of supporters offers the chance to have much greater influence on Beacon Hill, Boston City Hall and Capitol Hill.
To form a coalition, we consider the cause our client wants to champion from every possible angle. Who else might have a vested interest in the change they are proposing? What other groups will be affected by this potential piece of legislation? Once we have identified potential interests and angles, we thoroughly research all potential groups that might be viable for our coalition.
Engaging the Coalition
After identifying groups of potential stakeholders, outreach and coalition-building begins. At this stage, we have to convey the right message to win over these groups and individuals and encourage them to join the coalition. Our team crafts clear, targeted messaging that describes the issue and is designed to uniquely appeal to each sector we are trying to reach.
Once the messaging has been created, we spend time educating members of each group and working to bring them on board. Sometimes that conversion happened with an entire group all at once; other times, it requires convincing one individual at a time.
To build a successful campaign, you need the right people on your side. For help strategizing, establishing, and engaging a coalition to back your cause, contact Tenax Strategies today .
The post How to Build a Coalition for a Public Affairs Campaign appeared first on Tenax Strategies.
