There are perks to being a member of the Council

We’re glad you’re here!

As a member of the Public Affairs Council, you and your team have access to all member benefits, including comprehensive executive education, customized advice from public affairs experts, free legal guidance on campaign finance and lobbying, an extensive virtual resource library and exclusive networking opportunities.

You’ll soon receive weekly “Council Essentials” emails introducing our team and exclusive resources; alternatively, read them all below for a membership jumpstart.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a customized orientation for you and your colleagues, please email us at [email protected].

Getting Started
1: Executive Education
2: Customized Advice from Staff Experts
3: Engage with Your Community
4: Research, News and Trends Just for You
5: Connect with Your Peers with Council Connect!
6: Exclusive Analysis from Nathan Gonzales
7: Answers to Your toughest Compliance Questions
8: A News Source That Makes an “Impact!”
9: Customized Training, Benchmarking Consulting and More!
10: Our Social Impact and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Priorities
11: Access Global Public Affairs Experts and Resources
12: Earn Your Certificate

Getting Started

We are delighted that you are amongst the more than 750 organizations and 13,000 public affairs professionals worldwide who are working together to share best practices and advance the field of public affairs.

You and your team have access to all member benefits, including comprehensive executive education, customized advice from public affairs experts, free legal guidance on campaign finance and lobbying, an extensive virtual resource library and exclusive networking opportunities.

Start taking advantage of your membership by taking these steps:

Log into your account to customize your profile, sign up for members-only networking groups and download publications and webinar recordings. Each individual at your organization has a unique username and password, which can be retrieved (or, for new users, created) by visiting “My Account”.
Connect with the Council on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn
Be sure that you don’t miss any important updates from the Council by asking your IT department to add the following addresses to your email’s “safe senders” list: [email protected], informz.net, connectedcommunity.org, members.pac.org.

1: Executive Education

One of our most popular offerings as a Council member is access to Executive Education.

The Council is the leader in professional development in all areas of public affairs, including advocacy, digital communication, PACs, social responsibility, global public affairs and more. Programs range from one-hour webinars focused on narrow topics to multi-day conferences with tracks to customize your learning. Council members have access to free programs, plus discounts on events that have a registration fee. Here are three ways to tap into Executive Education to advance your career:

Here are three ways to tap into Executive Education to advance your career:

Browse the calendar of upcoming executive education events, which can be sorted by subject and/or format. You can also download the calendar for the entire year, which includes programs which aren’t yet open for registration.
Listen to FREE webinars (either live or recordings).
Enroll in our Membership Plus+ This inclusive training opportunity is your all-access pass to professional development. Enrolling allows your entire organization registration to all of the Council’s workshops – that’s more than 45 annually – for a flat price of $3,000 on top of your normal membership dues. Learn more at pac.org/plus.

2: Customized Advice from Staff Experts

As a Public Affairs Council member, you have access to public affairs experts who understand public policy, and how it relates to every management function. They can provide you with strategic intelligence, share best practices, review documents, and connect you with peers who have overcome similar challenges.

Here’s a sample of the types of questions they can answer:

• How can we use visual storytelling for advocacy?
• What are best practices for integrating social responsibility and public affairs programs?
• What’s the benchmark for average PAC participation and giving rates?
• How can I create and implement a global public affairs plan?
• Can you recommend speakers for our Washington fly in?
• How can I optimize and effectively report on our digital advocacy efforts?

Here’s how to get started:

Our experts are ready to help you start maximizing your Council membership today. Here’s how to get started:

1. Learn about the Council’s areas of expertise, which include:

o Communications and digital advocacy
o Corporate responsibility
o Global public affairs
o Grassroots
o Government relations—local, state and federal
o Public affairs management
o Political action committees (PACs) and campaign finance

2. Get to know our staff experts and reach out to them with your public affairs challenges.

3. Invite a Council expert to be a speaker at your next team meeting, senior management presentation or association event.

Feel free to contact our staff experts directly or let us know who you would like to connect with, and we will gladly make a virtual introduction!

3: Engage with Your Community

Now that you’re a member of the Public Affairs Council, you are a part of a community that includes more than 750 organizations and 13,000 public affairs professionals worldwide. You have access to members-only communities that connect you with peers. One of the best ways to maximize your membership is to get connected to fellow Council members!

Here’s how:

Connect with peers who have similar interests and goals, engage in informative discussions, and help your professional growth by joining one or more of the Council’s free, members-only Professional Communities!

- Political Involvement
- International
- Government Relations

Not sure which network is right for you? Please reach out and we’ll be happy to provide guidance.

4: Research, News and Trends Just for You

The Council’s extensive thought leadership library includes the profession’s leading benchmarking data on PACs, corporate public affairs and salaries. Other research focuses on social impact and corporate engagement on social issues, crisis communication, trends in European public affairs and more. The Public Affairs Pulse Survey, an annual public opinion poll, explores public attitudes and expectations for major companies and elected officials. Your membership grants you access to research on emerging issues and trends that affect the practice of public affairs. You can use this information to perform your function using current best practices in the field!

Here’s how you can start maximizing your access today:

Download our research publications, including comprehensive benchmarking reports and studies on emerging public policy issues and trends. Some of our most popular publications are:
- Building and Managing a Global Public Affairs Function
- Managing Stakeholder Engagement on a Global Scale
- Measuring and Communicating the Value of Public Affairs
- Taking It To The Top: Engaging Corporate Leadership in public policy
Check out our Public Affairs Pulse Survey on what Americans think about big business and government.
Read in-depth analysis on public affairs trends and issues in our award-winning Impact.

Want to take a deeper dive on a topic you read about? Contact our staff experts to assist.

5: Council Connect

The Public Affairs Council’s members-only online community lets you connect with peers, share ideas and solutions, get resources, ask questions and network!

Here’s how to “connect” with the Council:

1. Join Thousands of members on Council Connect today – your one-stop spot to download topical public affairs materials and resources, connect with peers worldwide and crowdsource solutions!

2. Learn how to use Council Connect by watching this webinar!

3. Don’t miss an update! Be sure to add connectedcommunity.org to your safe senders list.

If you are having difficulties accessing the resources, aren’t sure of your username or password, or have any other questions please contact us at [email protected].

6: Exclusive Analysis from Nathan Gonzales

Want to know what Council members really love about our community? Everything really, but the exclusive Political Insights from Nathan Gonzales are a fan favorite!

As a Council member, you have exclusive access to detailed, nuanced insights from leading political analyst and editor and publisher of Inside Elections, Nathan Gonzales. Nathan shares quarterly slide decks that analyze changes and trends in the political environment to help you develop strategy and navigate your organization’s political involvement.

How you can you take advantage of this resource:

1. Access Nathan’s most recent slide deck! As a member, you can incorporate the slides and insights into your presentations and projects!

2. Read more from Nathan Gonzales in the Council’s award-winning monthly newsletter Impact.

3. Connect with Nathan if you would like him to analyze the data even further or present his findings to your team? Contact Senior Manager, Government Relations Anna Platt for an introduction.

7: Answers to Your toughest Compliance Questions

We will help you find answers to your toughest questions related to campaign finance, lobbying compliance and ethics laws. Prominent election law attorney Ken Gross, who is a partner in the firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP, is available to answer questions from Council members about:

• Federal and state campaign finance rules
• Political action committees
• Lobbying registration information (including grassroots)
• Ethics laws and other compliance issues

Here’s how you can take advantage of this resource:

Sign up for an upcoming compliance workshop.
Connect with Ken via Tori Ellington.

8: A News Source That Makes an “Impact!”

As a member, you’re automatically subscribed to our award-winning newsletter Impact to help you stay current on public affairs trends and research and get in-depth analysis on the issues affecting the profession. Each month, we produce Impact, specifically for the profession. Our writers and editors tap into the expertise of top executives and practitioners. We cover topics like diversity, equity and inclusion; how digital advocacy is evolving; risk management; and much more. Each issue also features columns spotlighting members, offering writing advice and unpacking election trends. You can incorporate this information and analysis into your presentations and projects!

Members receive Impact straight to their inbox, and you can also check it out at pac.org/impact and on our social feeds. Start maximizing your Council membership today by reading timely insights on political and business news that you can only find in Impact!

9: Customized Training, Benchmarking Consulting and More!

You have access to our speaker bureau, top-tier legal advice, strategic counsel and both public affairs and political data. In addition, our benchmarking and consulting practice can help you measure your function, train your staff, and plan for the future.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Learn about the Council’s unique Benchmarking and Comparative Analysis services to improve the way you manage public affairs.

2. Schedule a Management Consulting session to help you reorganize your function for greater impact.

3. Explore the Council’s Customized Trainings which bring our workshops and executive education straight to you and your team!

Not certain which service will be most impactful for you? Feel free to reach out to our staff experts for further advice.

10: Our Corporate Responsibility and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Priorities

Thoughtful corporate responsibility programs and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives can benefit your employees and stakeholders in many ways – from improving reputation to boosting brand loyalty to attracting talent. The Council along with the Foundation for Public Affairs is leading these important efforts for the profession by increasing the pipeline for people of color both as they enter the field and as they move into senior-level positions, engaging more diverse industry experts and reducing racial inequities. We published our first DEI survey of member companies and soon we’ll be launching more programming based on those results to help your team strengthen its own DEI programs.

How to Get Started:

Take part in our Social Impact programs on everything from building diverse pipelines, to the return on investment of corporate social responsibility initiatives, to how to build an equitable public affairs function
Check out our social impact reports.
Want to step up your organization’s impact in this area? Connect with our Social Impact staff expert.

Lead through the social impact practice area and the Foundation for Public Affairs’, the Hogans Fellowship is a year-long cohort program designed to provide skills training, mentoring and networking opportunities for a diverse set of public affairs professionals.

Inspired by Mack Hogans, legacy corporate executive and the Council’s first Black board chair, the Hogans Fellowship focuses on propelling progress by supporting emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds develop the skills needed to stay and excel in the profession.

11: Access Global Public Affairs Experts and Resources

Everyone in your organization has access to our Washington, D.C. and European Office. Our public affairs experts in Brussels can help your team identify, assess, communicate and manage global risks. They can also offer practical insights and best practices on how public affairs leaders can build and manage global teams, while following culturally sensitive and inclusive practices.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Learn more about the Brussels office by watching this webinar!

2. Access useful resources for global public affairs professionals!

3. Explore our European Office’s resources.

If you have further questions for our Brussels team, contact the Managing Director, European Office, Joao Sousa.

12: Certificate Programs

Give your career the attention it deserves and enroll in one of our three certificate programs! The Council certificates are designed to help you develop your proficiency in public affairs, strengthen your expertise and prepare you for the next level in your career. Each program follows rigorous curricula focused on building core knowledge, developing strategic skills and engaging in community involvement.

Each Certificate has a unique focus:

Government Relations and Lobbying “The program is designed for federal, state, or regulatory lobbyists or government relations professionals seeking to deepen their expertise in the best practices and strategies needed to influence policy and to be leaders in the field.”
PAC and Grassroots “This certificate is designed to strengthen understanding of and expertise in two critical components of any political program: political action committees and grassroots advocacy.”
Public Affairs Management “The program is designed to strengthen knowledge of best practices in public affairs management while also enhancing expertise in leading an integrated, collaborative and strategic public affairs function.”

Not sure which program is right for you or your team? Please reach out to Program Coordinator, Price Fisher, at [email protected]

Thank you for being a member of the Public Affairs Council!

Please let us know how you would like to get involved by filling out this form!

We look forward to working with you and your team!

Questions

Caryn Seligman
Senior Director
202.787.5966 | [email protected]