• 8 Steps to Effective Government Relations Planning

    Government relations (GR) planning isn’t a like-to-do, it’s a need-to-do! Whether it’s a one-person show, or the mandate of a structured GR function, a scalable GR plan can save money, time and membership aggravation.

    When an important public policy issue is on the boil, or a lurking trend is waiting to explode as an issue, you want a workable plan to prepare your organization to respond effectively. You need to organize information, identify and understand key decision points, manage your internal and external capabilities, and know where to go, when you need to act.

    The popular understanding (come on up media pundits and academic researchers!) of GR is all about lobbying on a particular issue at a particular time. But while all lobbying is GR, not all GR is lobbying.

    Much of the important GR work is focused on relationship building, information sharing and positioning your organization to respond and take advantage of GR opportunities when they arise. And it isn’t theoretical physics.

    There is more than one way to build a GR program or campaign, but how? Do you buy or build? How do you make the most effective use of limited resources? And how do you put in place a scalable GR function that meets your needs now and in the future?

    Based on material from the GR graduate certificate program at Seneca College, Eight Steps to Effective Government Relations Planning is a step-by-step guide to identifying and integrating the essential components of GR with your existing GR.

    Learn to:

    1. Identify key linkages and decision points
    2. Evaluate your association’s GR capacity
    3. Recognize essential targets
    4. Select the right tactics for your GR strategy
    5. Assess campaign or program performance based on clear, measurable and relevant criteria

    Over time, well planned and well executed GR adds to member value, aids in partnership and coalition building, and overall organization maintenance.

    Learn all about effective GR planning from Joe Macdonald at his session on Thursday, November 5th as part of Unprecedented, CSAE’s 2020 virtual conference.

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