Coalition Building and Management

Public Strategies builds and manages coalitions to provide our clients with a solid infrastructure of supporters to back their public affairs initiatives.

Having overseen the development and direction of dozens of coalitions nationwide, we know what works and what does not. Most importantly, we know there is no one-size-fits-all model; coalition strength depends upon the players, the resources and the timing.

Through a strategic blend of research, intensely targeted message development and delivery, and coalition building, Public Strategies can effectively highlight community-wide benefits, facilitate conversions of public opinion and assist your organization to victory.

Successful coalition building consists of these essential elements:

• Member organization — Coalitions join diverse interests and perspectives on a single issue. Sometimes, the stakeholders/potential coalition members are industry competitors, or former foes on other issues. Whatever the nuance, Public Strategies has a track record of successfully focusing different groups toward a unified effort.

• Third-party recruitment — Public Strategies combines common-sense observation with tried-and-true research, uncovering where decision-makers stand and how people respond to various facts and positions. Using our findings, we identify stakeholders/potential coalition members, then craft compelling messages to inform and persuade each to join the effort.

• Steady communications — Continual communication — via the right combination of grassroots contact, traditional mail, e-mail, a Web site, advertising and lobbying — helps coalition members feel included, informed, and involved with the issues and activities of the group. Simultaneously, we develop relationships with the media to position the coalition as a dependable and trustworthy source.

• Lobbying coordination — Public Strategies unites internal and external lobbying forces, to produce a talented team able to gather and disseminate real-time information directly from elected officials and their staffs. With accurate, fresh information, we can put the right strategy to work before adversaries have a chance to act.

• Coalition mobilization — Once the coalition is established, and members are knowledgeable about the issue and committed to the cause, they can become dynamic, effective advocates whenever the debate reaches an important decision point. Using a proven arsenal of communications tactics and techniques, Public Strategies can move coalition members to almost immediate action, delivering their message to decision-makers through the right combination of traditional mail, e-mail, fax, telephone or face-to-face contact.