Each year, the Foundation for Public Affairs, the Public Affairs Council’s 501(c)(3) research affiliate, conducts research on emerging public policy issues and trends that affect the practice of public affairs and organizations’ ability to thrive in a dynamic business environment.
Supported by Public Affairs Council member organizations and public affairs professionals from around the world, the Foundation also produces comprehensive benchmarking studies for public affairs professionals.
To learn more about contributing to the Foundation, click here. To view a list of recent contributors, click here.
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Public Affairs Trend Lab Launched in 2016, the Foundation’s Public Affairs Trend Lab explores the power of visual storytelling for advocacy, with a focus on case studies from leading companies and associations. To learn more, visit publicaffairstrendlab.com. |
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“In a fast-paced and dynamic public affairs environment with information overload, visual storytelling is critical tool to get your messages out and heard. Connecting with an audience, and engaging them are essential. The Public Affairs Council’s Trend Lab is a great resource to benchmark and share best practices on visual storytelling.”
– Marc Scarduffa, Vice President, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Pfizer, Inc.
Foundation Publications
To order copies of Foundation or Council reports, visit our online catalog or print and return a publications order form.
The Foundation’s Most Recent Reports
Taking It to the Top: Engaging Corporate Leadership in Public Policy
In government relations, the gravitas and influence that a CEO, CFO or business head can bring to bear can make a tangible difference, but engaging senior leadership takes thoughtful and strategic planning. Knowing when, and when not, to involve the C-suite is critical, along with the diligent preparation needed to ensure that leadership is ready to participate at the highest level. This report, published by the Foundation for Public Affairs, looks at case studies from leading corporations that have successfully engaged leadership in public policy, often strengthening their roles as industry leaders in the process.
Click here to order a free PDF version of the report.
Trusted Advisors: Hiring and Managing Government Affairs Consultants
Government affairs departments are often asked to do more with less, so they must work smarter. That’s why more and more executives are turning to consultants with the right knowledge and experience to get the job done. But finding the right consultant can be as difficult as finding the right internal hire. This report draws upon the expertise of dozens of government affairs executives and top-flight consultants to provide practical advice to help you collaborate effectively with your external partners.
Click here to download the report, which is free for members and non-members.
State of Corporate Public Affairs 2014-2015
The State of Corporate Public Affairs is the most comprehensive report available on how major corporations manage, fund, staff and evaluate their public affairs functions. It includes timely data on public affairs’ strategic role, budgets and staffing; challenges public affairs executives face; managing international public affairs programs; the level of CEO engagement in political involvement efforts; and how to demonstrate public affairs’ bottom-line impact.
To purchase a copy of this report, click here.
Measuring and Communicating the Value of Public Affairs
What are the most effective ways to demonstrate the value your public affairs function brings to your organization, and how can you ensure that senior management consistently views public affairs as a business necessity? Drawing upon the experiences of IBM, Cubist Pharmaceuticals, CH2M Hill and Mars, this brief Foundation for Public Affairs report provides guidance on how to meaningfully measure and communicate about public affairs efforts in a way that underscores the function’s vital role.
Click here to download the report, which is free for members and non-members.
Managing Stakeholder Engagement on a
Global Scale
This report shares strategies for fostering meaningful engagement with both internal and external stakeholders around the world. Featuring a half-dozen case studies from leading companies such as GE, Pfizer and Rio Tinto, the report demonstrates various approaches to stakeholder engagement on issues ranging from sustainability to health care. But all emphasize the importance of building and growing local relationships.
For a free PDF of the report, click here.
Building and Managing a Global
Public Affairs Function
This publication offers solutions to the unique challenges that companies face when building and maintaining a global public affairs presence. Featuring more than a dozen case studies from AstraZeneca, Dow, Shell, UPS and other leading companies, the report shares a variety of strategies for making overseas operations a success — from integrating with the business side to keeping a finger on a community’s pulse via locally based cultural liaisons.
For a free PDF of the report, click here.
Russian Renaissance? Managing Public Affairs in Today’s Russia
This report, the final installment in the Foundation for Public Affairs’ series on government relations in the BRIC countries, comes at a pivotal time for Russia. Having recently acceded to the WTO and secured PNTR status from the U.S., Russia is on course for great economic growth. But it has many ghosts from its past — including corruption, ailing infrastructure and reliance on natural resources — that it must shake in order to realize its full potential. Featuring case studies on Citi, Medtronic, Microsoft and others, the report examines the successful approaches multinationals have taken to navigate this complex environment.
For a free PDF of the report, click here.
A Shared Vision for Corporate Good: How Smart Companies Are Creating Value Through CSR and Public Affairs
This report explores the value of corporate social responsibility at a time of increasing social needs and rising public expectations for companies. Featuring case studies from Alcoa, ARAMARK, Johnson & Johnson and others, the report profiles the innovative strategies companies are using to create value for their organizations and society.
For a free PDF of this report, click here.
Beyond Control: How Social Media and Mobile Communication Are Changing Public Affairs
This report, which explores the Internet’s impact on the field of public affairs, is a valuable guide for PA professionals who are either developing a social media strategy or expanding an existing one. This in-depth report features case studies from GE, Eli Lilly, Union Pacific and others; excerpts from the social media policies of Intel Corp., Ford Motor Co., Duke Energy and more; tips on pitfalls to avoid and strategies to embrace; and much more.
For a free PDF of the report, click here.
O Momento Mágico: Managing Public Affairs in Brazil
The fourth installment in the Foundation for Public Affairs’ series on working with officials, the media, associations and others in major overseas markets, this report explores the art of navigating the world’s eighth largest economy — which is expected to rise to fifth place, overtaking both France and Britain, by 2016. The report, sponsored by PATRI, examines public and private partnerships, the use of social media, corporate citizenship programs and much more.
For a free PDF of the report, click here.
International Public Affairs Reports
Opening Doors in Brussels: Managing Government Relations in the EU
With the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, the institutions of the European Union are coming into greater focus. International public affairs practitioners need to be well-acquainted with these institutions in order to develop key relationships with European stakeholders. Based on interviews with practitioners and experts on the EU, this study is a primer for conducting effective government relations activities in Brussels.
For a free PDF of the report, click here.
The Jugaad Principle: Managing Government Relations in India
Jugaad, a Hindi term that suggests an innovative fix to a challenge, is a notion worth embracing by companies looking to do business in India. Sponsored by APCO Worldwide, this report utilizes case studies and interviews with corporate practitioners and Indian experts to provide a picture of government relations in this important emerging economy.
For a free PDF of the report, click here.
Good Guanxi: Managing Government Relations in China
In this groundbreaking report, you will find case studies and interviews with Chinese experts to provide an up-to-the-minute picture of government relations in China. The report also offers practical advice on securing meetings with government officials, overcoming intellectual property disputes and finding “win-wins” for both sides in a negotiation.
For a free PDF of the report, click here.
Risk, Transparency and Other Popular Subjects
Managing Risk: Public Affairs and Enterprise Risk Management
As companies recover from an intense global downturn, they find themselves subjected to a host of operational, political, economic and governmental risks. In response, the discipline of enterprise risk management (ERM) attempts to aggregate the management of these risks into a single set of processes. This new study examines how public affairs practitioners can participate in and influence ERM in their companies.
For a free PDF of the report, click here.
The Role of Transparency in Corporate Public Affairs
With companies being asked — or even required — to be more open about their operations, community activities and political involvement, public affairs practitioners are struggling to identify the appropriate level of transparency for their organizations. This study, based on interviews with corporate practitioners, consultants and academics, examines how companies are adapting their public affairs strategies to account for today’s greater emphasis on transparency. The report provides case studies and guidance to help companies manage their efforts toward greater openness.
For a free PDF of the report, click here.
When Disaster Strikes: A New Guide to Crisis Management
With the Internet, blogging and the 24-hour news cycle, companies must manage crises with fundamentally new stakeholders and timelines. The report provides ideas for corporate public affairs managers to prepare for a crisis by anticipating needs and potential responses, integrate public affairs strategies into their processes, understand the impact of new media and technology and rebuild reputations following a crisis.
For a free PDF of the report, click here.
Promoting CEO Engagement in Public Affairs
An in-depth look at the best strategies for developing and enhancing CEO interaction with external audiences, as well as selecting the most appropriate engagement opportunities for CEOs. Highlights include success stories in which enhanced CEO involvement in public affairs produced measurable benefits for the company.
For a free PDF of the report, click here.
To access more of the Foundation’s research, visit our archive.