When a major challenge hits, the organizations that are prepared will be the ones that succeed. One example that stands out recently is Harvard’s response to demands from the Trump administration.
In a short 72 hours, Harvard immediately stepped up to highlight, in very clear and practical terms, the impact of losing Federal funding — laying out specific numbers around innovation, patents, costs, and economic impact. They have a centralized website where they collect all the news articles, supporting statements, and conversations. Anyone looking to report on the issue, or anyone looking to amplify Harvard’s side, could find everything they needed, fast.
While I hope what happens to Harvard doesn’t happen to you, I highlight their excellent response with the encouragement that every government affairs organization needs to be prepared for a situation like the one Harvard is facing right now.
Here are some steps you can take to prepare:
1. Have the Messaging Ready
When you’re under pressure, creativity is limited. That’s why it’s critical to think through:
- What is the value your organization provides?
- What is the economic impact if something changes?
- What is the impact on Americans, consumers, and communities?
You want messaging that pulls at the heartstrings — something that makes it clear why the action you’re opposing would be a bad idea. Write it now, before you’re in a crisis.
2. Know Who You’re Going to Hire and Work With
Even if you don’t have a full crisis communications team ready to go, you should:
- Know which law firm, PR firm, or consultants you would call
- Have master service agreements (MSAs) in place ahead of time
- Identify who internally signs off on decisions and who presses “go” when the moment comes
3. Set Up Internal Processes
When a rapid response is needed, you can’t waste time figuring out logistics. Plan ahead by:
- Identifying who convenes the meetings
- Assigning who runs point on coordination
- Setting up a rapid-response email list
- Mapping out clear internal sign-off processes
- Defining who presses “go” when a decision needs to be made
Figuring out these communication pathways in advance is critical to responding quickly and effectively.
4. Coalition Building
Start thinking now about:
- Who else would be willing to make public statements on your behalf?
- Who would be part of a coalition that could support you?
Being able to quickly call on a group of allies is a huge advantage.
5. Grassroots and Grasstops Advocacy
In a moment of crisis, you’ll want to:
- Know who your 100 key influencers are
- Be ready with a website where supporters can take action
- Decide in advance: Are you asking people to send letters to Congress? Tweet at the President? Share a video?
Have a clear plan for both grassroots and grasstops engagement. Use a tool like Quorum Grassroots to organize, manage, and report on campaign effectiveness.
The Hardest Part: Making Time for It
When it’s not urgent and there’s a million other things going on, it’s easy to push this work off. I encourage you to carve out a Friday afternoon, or set up a retreat dedicated to preparing their Harvard response strategy.
Even if you never have to use it (and hopefully you don’t), the exercise itself will help you better communicate your value and impact on all kinds of issues.
I certainly hope no one finds themselves in a situation where they’re fighting with a Presidential administration, but as Harvard showed, you’re better off being ready than scrambling to catch up.