Back in Session: How to Maximize the Last Quarter of the Year

The leaves are turning, days are getting shorter and your public affairs strategy should be entering a new phase. The fall is frequently one of the most consequential periods for public affairs work as the deadlines for must-pass bills approach and elected officials start to shift into campaign mode. 

In order to finish the year strong and prepare for the year ahead, communications and public affairs leaders should take the next few weeks to assess where their current goals stand and how to create and sustain momentum into next year. 

Status Check: Where Have We Been So Far?

September is a great time for a status check. 

Hopefully, your organization started the year with a clear set of goals and a strategy to achieve them. As you head into the final quarter it’s time to evaluate which have been achieved, which have a chance to happen in the next few months and which might need to wait until next year. 

While marking the milestones, it’s vital to take a holistic view. Were there particular messages, voices or tactics that were more effective than others? There could be an opportunity to reuse those for another initiative. Was the campaign buoyed or constrained by external factors beyond your control? If you were constrained by cyclical events, consider readjusting your 2026 strategy to take that into account. 

Once you’ve gone through your entire list, pick one or two to focus on for the final legislative sprint. Trying to achieve too many goals during this time of year can spread your resources too thin, causing you to end up with an empty budget and nothing to show for it. And when you’re trying to figure out your top priorities, be sure to take into account what will be happening at the Capitol.  

End of Year Rush: What Are the Must-Pass Measures? 

The decrease in daylight hours is a good reminder that there are only so many legislative vehicles that have any chance of passing between now and the end of the year. 

Financial measures, such as tax extenders, debt ceiling increases and continuing resolutions are becoming perennial events. Can you fit your priorities into one of those bills, even if it takes a messaging adjustment? Doing so will increase your chances of getting included in the debate.  

If your priorities don’t fit into one of these must-pass bills, it may be time to start thinking about the next political milestone: campaign season.  

Could It Be a Ballot Box Issue?

Now is the time to start planting the seeds of an election year message. Communications is the business of repetition. The sooner you can start sharing your message, and in turn getting people to amplify your message, the more likely it is to enter the discourse. 

If you don’t have them already, consider setting up a dedicated website and social media channels for your issue. Then start identifying the key federal legislators that will need to be aware of your preferred policy solution and the key local media markets in their state or district. Reaching out to reporters there to educate them could lead to a question at an event or even an earned media story. Those can be a huge momentum bump and allow you to increase your outreach to candidates or staffers. 

Another key resource for organizations looking to pass or defeat legislation is an advocacy tool. This software can help identify supporters and get them to take action via phone calls, emails, in person events or other public displays of support. 

Fortunately, on most issues the total number of engagements does not need to be extremely high. For every constituent that takes action, it’s likely that there are dozens more that feel the same way. According to research from the OpenGov Foundation, legislative staff generally believe that engagements that take more effort are more effective.A call is more likely to get noticed than a social media post and an in-person call to action will have more impact than one delivered by phone. 

With enough persistence, this work could lead to a campaign pronouncement, which can become a legislative priority in the future. 

Start Preparing for Next Year Now

Fall signals the beginning of the end of the year. It’s the time when campaigns make a last push to gain a few last second wins. However, it’s also a time to start planting the seeds of future advocacy success. ROKK’s full-service team builds 360 degree communications programs for some of the most influential companies, associations and nonprofits in the world and maximizes their impact on Capitol Hill and Pennsylvania Avenue. Contact our team to get started.