Trade Associations & Coalitions

For nearly two decades, Van Ness Feldman has pioneered the use of coalitions to effectively advocate policy positions and influence federal legislative and administrative policy outcomes.  The firm’s reputation for developing and managing successful coalitions is well-earned.  We have served as the principal architect for more than a dozen coalitions, bringing together diverse groups of trade associations, corporations, individuals, and other entities to work collectively to achieve common policy goals.

Professional Resources for Policy Coalitions

Supported by the firm’s team of seasoned public policy professionals and lobbyists, Van Ness Feldman assists clients with the full range of services required for the effective development and management of policy coalitions:

Coalition Development — the strategic identification and recruitment of participants, the establishment of an organizational, budgetary and governance infrastructure, and the effective management of all aspects of a coalition’s activities, from inception to success.

Strategic Planning — the analysis and interpretation of interests and influences that will shape policy debates, including the identification of legislative, administrative, or judicial opportunities that are crucial to policy outcomes.

Positioning — the creation of well-conceived positions for achieving policy objectives and the documentation to support the coalition’s interests, including draft legislation, amendments, proposed regulations, comments on proposed federal rules and regulations, legislative histories and testimony for congressional hearings.

Lobbying and Advocacy — the development of a focused lobbying strategy built on an understanding of key congressional positions and concerns, and direct representation of coalition interests before Members of Congress supported by hardhitting advocacy documentation.

Public Education — the coordination of communications with public constituencies, including the development of educational documents, representation of coalition interests in public forums, and the creation and implementation of public relations, media relations, and grassroots campaigns.

Administration and Management Services — the proactive, cost-effective administration of coalition activities, including such member services as newsletters, issues updates, and action alerts; organization and coordination of meetings; management of financial resources and consulting contracts; and compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations. 

Representative Coalition and Trade Association Projects

• The firm assists the Large Public Power Council (LPPC), a CEO-driven coalition, to reach consensus on issues of importance to the Council and set the Council’s priorities.

• The firm provides complete coalition support for the Coal Utilization Research Council (CURC), an industry advocacy group that promotes the efficient and environmentally-sound use of coal.

• The firm provides complete coalition support for the Consumers United for Rail Equity (C.U.R.E.), an umbrella organization of large trade associations that represent more than 3,500 electric, utility, chemical, manufacturing and forest and paper companies and their customers.

• The fir provides complete coalition support to the National Endangered Species Act Reform Coalition (NESARC), a broad-based coalition of roughly 150 member organizations, including rural irrigators, municipalities, farmers, electric utilities, and others, dedicated to improving and updating the Endangered Species Act.