Welcome to The Loop! December 2022
In each issue, you’ll learn how to take advantage of the resources that are included with your organization’s Council membership. So, take a few minutes to stay in The Loop and learn about all the ways Council services can help you do your job better.
We’ve Got the Experts
[vc_single_image image=”108139″ img_size=”500×300″]As a Council member, one of your most valuable membership benefits is exclusive access to our staff experts who can answer your toughest and most challenging public affairs questions. When we say experts, we mean it! Our team has direct experience in corporate and association public affairs management, crisis communication, digital advocacy, lobbying, global public affairs, corporate responsibility and DEI, PACs and campaign finance—and that’s just the beginning.
Our staff experts are waiting for your questions—from global public affairs to local government relations—so reach out to us today!
Trending Questions
Curious to know what other Council members are asking about? Here are some examples of questions that our staff experts have answered:
Communications & Digital Advocacy
- How do we use LinkedIn for thought leadership?
- Can you give any advice around the changes Facebook is making to their algorithm and advertising?
Corporate Responsibility
- Can you recommend a speaker/s for our Washington fly-in or event focused on CSR, ESG, Social Impact, etc.?
- What are best practices for integrating social responsibility and public affairs?
- Does the Council have any examples of ways companies have benchmarked their social impact efforts year over year?
Grassroots
- How can we use visual storytelling for advocacy?
- Do you have any strategic plans for grassroots?
- Can you provide sample fly-in agendas?
Government Relations
- Can you advise us on how to build a government affairs webpage for employees?
- Do you have examples of successful and unsuccessful Congressional testimony by CEOs?
International
- How can we create and implement a global public affairs plan?
- What are best practices for public affairs campaigning in Europe & the U.S.?
Public Affairs Management
- Can you provide survey data and benchmarking figures for internal communications strategies and campaigns in ___ industry?
- Do you have any sample job descriptions for public affairs employees?
PACs & Campaign Finance
- We reevaluate our contribution criteria annually. Do you have any guidance on conducting this reevaluation process or sample criteria?
- What’s the benchmark for average PAC participation and giving rates for a corporate PAC?
How Do I Connect with An Expert?
To connect with our experts, you can reach out by phone, email or request an in-person meeting. You’ll find their contact information and areas of expertise right here:
[email protected]
202.787.5964
- Corporate communications and media relations
- Management, strategy, and measurement of public affairs
- Trends in public affairs
[email protected]
202.787.5970
- Consulting services
- Foundation for Public Affairs
[email protected]
202.787.5969
- Campaign finance
- Political action committees (PACs)
- Political transparency
- Political compliance
[email protected]
202.787.5971
- Digital communications
- Grassroots advocacy
[email protected]
202.787.5975
- Campaign finance
- Political action committees (PACs)
[email protected]
202.787.5977
- Corporate responsibility and ESG
- Diversity and inclusion
[email protected]
202.787.5955
- Government relations: federal, state, local
- Issues management
- Stakeholder and coalition engagement
[email protected]
202.787.5978
- Policy communication
- Advocacy
[email protected]
- International public affairs
- Consulting
Check Out Our Membership Plus+ Members!
[vc_single_image image=”101643″ img_size=””]Ready to sign up for Membership Plus? For a flat annual fee of $3,000, your entire organization has unlimited access to more than 45 Council workshops a year. Join these and more organizations that are already benefitting from this membership-only training opportunity. To see the workshops on the 2023 calendar, click here.
AholdDelhaize USA
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
American Heart Association
American Homes 4 Rent
American Hospital Association
American Hotel & Lodging Association
American Petroleum Institute
American Physical Therapy Association
American Retirement Association
American Society of Anesthesiologists
America’s Essential Hospitals
APCO Worldwide
Aristotle International
Association of Washington Business
AT&T
Bayer Corporation
BD Becton Dickinson
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
Black Hills Energy
Blue Diamond Growers
Booz Allen Hamilton
BP America Inc.
Brookfield Properties
California Water Service
Capitol Canary
CFA Institute
Citigroup Inc.
Clyde Group
Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated
Comcast Corporation
Consumer Brands Association
Covanta
Crown Castle USA
CSU
CVS Health
Dominium
Edison International
Elevance Health
Everytown For Gun Safety Action Fund
Farm Credit Council
FedEx Corporation
Fidelity Investments
Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
General Mills, Inc.
Grant Thornton LLP
Grundfos
Harmony Biosciences
Hemophilia Federation of America
HP Inc.
Independence Blue Cross
Insulet Corporation
International Fresh Produce Association
International Game Technology
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
JTI
JVA Campaigns
Land O’ Lakes, Inc.
Locust Street Group
LyondellBasell
Magna
Marsh McLennan
MasterCard International LLC
McDonald’s Corporation
MetLife
Micron Technology, Inc.
MidAmerican Energy Company
Mondelez International
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors
National Electrical Contractors Association, Inc.
National Grid USA, Inc
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Neste
Novartis
Pac/West Strategies
PATRI Public Policy & Public Affairs Inc.
Plains All American Pipeline
POET
Quorum
Rational 360
Salt River Project
Sasol North America
Smiths Group
Susan G. Komen
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
UpHealth, Inc.
Visa Inc.
VMware
VOX Global
Zurich Insurance Group
Join today at pac.org/plus [/vc_toggle]
Attract the Attention of Decision-Makers in Congress
[vc_single_image image=”116949″ img_size=”large”]At this year’s Digital Media & Advocacy Summit, speakers Amber English Coleman (from the Office of Congresswoman Nikema Williams) and Lauren Reddington (from the Office of U.S. Senator Roy Blunt) shared insight into Capitol Hill staffers’ perspectives on digital media. Their advice can assist organizations in cutting through the noise and attracting the attention of key decision-makers in the halls of Congress.
Here are a few of their takeaways:
Members of Congress use stories to persuade their colleagues when fighting to pass legislation. They share the stories that inspired them to take action on an issue in the hopes that those stories will inspire others as well. Stories are among the most powerful tools advocates have because they make policy personal. When reaching out to members for support on your issue, share the stories that made you passionate about your issue and, if possible, connect them to the people the stories are about. Just be sure to confirm that the office can share the stories you’ve provided.
Run with the news cycle.
Advocacy has a narrow focus, but congressional offices have many competing priorities. Don’t let your issue get lost in the noise. Refining your communication strategies can help capture the attention of your audience. Congressional comms teams run with the news cycle, so consider applying that lens to your advocacy. You don’t need to change the issue, but you can tailor it to fit what’s going on within Congress or, more broadly, the world.
Do your homework.
Demonstrate that you are making your ask in good faith and not just sending a blanket email to a large but unconnected group of members and their staff. Start off by searching who the member has paired with most often on legislation related to your issue and consider doing a joint ask. If both of their comms departments work together on an issue, then a collaborative effort between the two offices is a more feasible lift.
Focus on relationship building.
Don’t think of this outreach as a one-step process of sending an email. Instead, view it as the beginning of a conversation. You can continue to work with an office beyond the introduction of legislation. And don’t take your foot off the gas because your issue might get lost among the office’s other priorities. If you’re already aligned with an office, keep track of when you’ve last spoken to ensure you don’t inundate them with communications. Also, don’t forget the state and district level staffers outside of D.C. These folks often know the people on the ground and can advise on what issues are top of mind in different areas and which stakeholders you can meet with in those areas.
Carefully consider your outreach avenues.
As more new members of Congress have a strong understanding of digital, the dynamics of advocate communication channels continue to shift. It’s important to consider the speed that your message will reach a member. A few key social media comments or an influx of calls to a member’s office is usually more effective than a bunch of form emails.
When making an ask, reach out early to let the member know what’s coming up, share the hook and explain why it’s a good fit for them specifically. Package your stories as emails and make them as barrier-free as possible – include video, audio, transcript, etc. Keep in mind that you’re building a relationship, so don’t feel the need to send all of this at once. Start with a teaser, and build from there.[/vc_toggle]
Welcome New Members!
[vc_single_image image=”91972″]The Public Affairs Council is delighted to welcome the following new members to our community of nearly 12,000 public affairs practitioners! If you’d like to see a full list of member organizations, you can view them here.
Acento Public Affairs
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP
Alameda Alliance for Health
American Exploration & Production Council
American Homes 4 Rent
American Hotel & Lodging Association
American Retirement Association
American Society of Anesthesiologists
America’s Essential Hospitals
Apeel Sciences
Arca Continental
Arnold Ventures
Association of Washington Business
Bacardi Martini Inc.
Banco Santander (Brasil) SA
Boehringer Ingelheim Corporate Center GmbH
Brian Communications
Brookfield Properties
BSA | The Software Alliance
Bunge North America, Inc.
California Strategies, LLC
Central European Consulting Sp. z o.o.
Cerus Corporation
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
Children’s Hospital Association
Clyde Group
Congressional Management Foundation
Constellation Energy Corporation
Covanta
Credit Union National Association
Cross Screen Media
CURA Strategies
Delaware North Companies
Dominium
DonorBureau
Electo Analytics
Electronic Transactions Association
Exact Sciences
Federation of Exchange Accommodators
FEICA a.i.s.b.l.
FoodCorps
Forbright Bank
George W. Bush Institute
GOJO Industries
GoodRx, Inc
Greater Tampa REALTORS
Grundfos
Harmony Biosciences
HP Inc.
Husch Blackwell Strategies+
InnovAge, Inc.
Interel Management Group S.A.
International Fresh Produce Association
Invest in the USA
Islamic Relief USA
JobsOhio
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Kindred People AB
Leidar SA
Lockton Companies
Marsh McLennan
MasterCard International LLC
MENTOR
MESH Advisors, llc
MetLife
MidAmerican Energy Company
National Association of Federally Insured Credit Unions
National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation
National Grid USA, Inc
National Journal
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National University System
National Wooden Pallet & Container Association
NEC Corporation of America
Neste
New Orleans & Company
NextEra Energy, Inc.
Novartis
Okta
Pac/West Strategies
Pennsylvania American Water
Personal Care Products Council
Plastics Industry Association
POET
Prompt.io
Rasky Partners
Rational 360
Riverfront Strategy Group
Sapphire Strategies
Sasol North America
Sazerac Co.
Sidecar Health, Inc.
SmileDirectClub
Southwest Transplant Alliance
STATLER NAGLE LLC
Stericycle, Inc.
The ALS Association
The Conafay Group
The Food Industry Association
The Nature Conservancy
The SAFE Foundation
Toy Industries of Europe
U.S. Venture
UpHealth, Inc.
VMware
Waterfront Toronto
Waxman Strategies
Webster Bank, N.A.
Western Alliance Bank
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston
Zscaler, Inc[/vc_toggle]
2022 Salary Surveys Available
[vc_single_image image=”114526″ img_size=”large”]The results of our 2022 PAC, Grassroots and Government Relations Salary Surveys are now available. Thank you to all who participated!
Method: Respondents were split into categories based on how their job time is allocated, and each group answered questions on salary, bonuses, other compensation details and key job responsibilities. All responses were confidential and results are presented in aggregate.
Use this information to help negotiate for a raise or promotion: The reports provide comprehensive data that can be used to benchmark salaries in grassroots, PAC management and government relations. The surveys report on the average and median salaries across several key indicators, including title, organization type, education, experience and location.
Cost: The surveys are $149 each or $399 for all three.
Changing Workforce Trends in Government Relations
[vc_single_image image=”116952″ img_size=”large”]At the State and Local Government Relations Conference, speakers Jill Birnbaum of the American Heart Association and Michael Meehan of Squared Communications discussed changing workforce trends in the government relations landscape at the state and local level.
Many organizations are seeing an increase in turnover due to COVID- and salary-related challenges. Pay is an important factor for recruitment and retention, but keeping up with the cost of living isn’t always an option. The shift toward remote work has added to the retention challenge as teams struggle to collaborate with colleagues they’ve never met.
Jill and Michael shared tips from their own experiences and discussed ideas for how to succeed in spite of emerging challenges.
Here are a few of their takeaways:
One of the leading reasons employees leave a job is because they don’t believe their current company offers room to advance. This often stems from a scarcity of openings at the senior level. To combat this, companies need to be proactive in giving their employees ample opportunities to progress. Broadening your middle management tier is one solution that allows for continued growth between entry and senior levels. Develop the talent you have by facilitating an environment that allows employees to use their personal passions as guidance for the team’s government relations efforts.
Carefully consider how you build your teams.
Examine your hiring process. As the war for talent continues, review each step in your process and consider how you can streamline. Allowing potential new recruits the opportunity to work remotely provides flexibility for hiring, but don’t discount the challenges posed by managing remotely. It’s imperative your team carefully considers your plan for remote and in-person work. Another draw for new talent is the benefits package. Providing new employees immediate access to benefits like tuition assistance or paid family leave that they’d typically have to wait to take advantage of could be a major asset to your organization’s recruiting ability.
Build diverse pipelines.
Companies are focusing on building diversity in the workforce. Internally, teams are increasing investments in building diversity. They’re working proactively to change the way they engage in government relations work by examining their efforts around their own policy, practice and culture. Think proactively about everything you do within your department to build diversity. It’s important to consider the step-by-step approach you implement as you work toward racial equity in the workplace, and continue to assess that process regularly. Consider examining your pipelines for attracting diverse talent, and develop new systems to recruit and hire from, such as paid internships.
Invest in your organization’s culture.
As state government relations becomes increasingly important in the overall government relations landscape, many organizations are looking to build out their teams. However, some of these efforts have encountered low support from board members who don’t realize the value of government relations efforts beyond the federal level. When advocating for larger state and local teams, investment and culture are two important factors to note. Federal, state and local teams can and should work together to find success. Organizations must show that they value these teams equally and understand that grassroots organizers and local governments can also create change and be leaders.[/vc_toggle]