How small charities can do public affairs
Public affairs is about building relationships and influencing decision-makers to advance your cause or address an issue. For small charities, time and resource constraints often make public affairs seem out of reach. However, with a strategic approach, the right champions, and a focus on impactful actions, even the smallest charities can create meaningful change and amplify their voice effectively.
Picking the right battles is essential for small charities with limited resources. Be strategic. Focus on areas where your charity has unique insights or expertise, where the potential impact aligns closely with your mission, and where you have a realistic chance of making a difference. Avoid the temptation to tackle every issue and instead prioritise those that matter most to your beneficiaries. What issues are strategically material to your organisation?
High-profile champions can make all the difference in public affairs. These might be local influencers, policymakers, or even celebrities who have a personal connection to your cause. Engaging these individuals can help amplify your message and lend credibility to your work. To do this, start by identifying those who align with your mission, approach them with a clear ask, and provide the tools they need to advocate effectively on your behalf.
And you might not need to go too far to find the right advocates - your Board members are often an underutilised resource in public affairs. Many board members bring a wealth of experience, professional networks, and credibility that can significantly boost your efforts. They can serve as advocates by leveraging their connections to reach key decision-makers, hosting events to raise awareness, or even sharing their expertise in navigating complex policy environments. By actively involving your board members, you not only expand your reach but also enhance your charity’s ability to engage effectively in public affairs.
Success in public affairs doesn’t require a large team or specialised expertise. What you do need are strong communication skills to craft compelling messages, research skills to gather evidence and build persuasive arguments, and strategic thinking to identify and prioritize opportunities as well as focus on impactful actions. Many small charities excel in public affairs by focusing their efforts on a few key areas and bringing in external expertise as needed.
One example of a small UK charity successfully driving public affairs is Breaking Barriers. Breaking Barriers focuses on supporting refugees to find meaningful employment in the UK. Despite being a relatively small organisation, they have made a significant impact by engaging with policymakers, businesses, and the public to advocate for more inclusive employment practices. Through their public affairs efforts, they have successfully influenced businesses to adopt refugee employment initiatives and contributed to broader policy discussions around refugee integration. Their approach—leveraging research, building partnerships, and amplifying the voices of refugees—demonstrates how even small charities can create meaningful change and shift public narratives.
And one more thing. Measuring the impact of your public affairs efforts is also crucial. Consider whether there are tangible changes in legislation or regulations, increased awareness and engagement among stakeholders, or enhanced resource allocation in terms of funding or partnerships. Setting clear goals and regularly assessing progress ensures that your investment in public affairs delivers meaningful results.
For small charities, public affairs offer an opportunity to amplify your mission and ensure that your voice is heard in shaping policies that affect your beneficiaries. If your charity faces systemic challenges, needs to address policies affecting your beneficiaries, or has the capacity—or the ability to access support—then public affairs can be a transformative investment.
Marie is a seasoned international campaigner with twenty-five years leading climate and sustainability initiatives in top global organisations. Now, as a clinical sexologist, Marie also advises organisations on gender equality and women’s health issues in the workplace.
Contact Marie to discuss how she could help you.