Public Policy: How to Choose a Lobbying Partner

There may come a time when you will need to consider partnering with a lobbying firm to advance your professional agenda. While a great deal of progress can be made with an active and vocal membership, it is often most effective to employ an expert in the field of Government Affairs to help navigate and target your efforts. They can act as a force multiplier, leveraging an already active membership base to achieve policy goals. These professionals often possess a great deal of behind the scenes experience on both sides of public policy, both advocating for and helping to enact it. Their experience in tracking a developing legislative issue can be invaluable in determining where to focus the efforts of an association’s grassroots activism.

When it comes time to do the research and make your decision, an AMC can be invaluable in helping narrow down the pool of eligible lobbying firms as well as crafting an RFP that distinctly outlines the expectations for both parties. Many AMCs, such as Agentis Management, have their own Government Affairs staff that have experience with lobbyists at both the state and federal level, and can help in the selection process. Having specialized staff working directly for your AMC allows for a more efficient distribution of the workload and allows the association's Board of Directors to focus on strategic objectives. Meanwhile, the lobbying team can perform at the tactical level.