Larry DowellPresident - Dowell ManagementExecutive Director - Mid-America Chamber Executives

Survey Introduction• Goal to gain knowledge on chamber best practices throughout

the country in regards to public policy and political action

• Survey sent to 5,659 Chambers of Commerce Nationwide

• 477 surveys completed (8.4% response rate)

• Percentages throughout presentation based on total number of respondents who do, or do not, have a public policy or government affairs program (i.e. 361 do have a program, 116 do not).

Demographics of ParticipantsDoes your chamber have a public policy or government affairs program?

Percentages by chamber income level

Top 5 states with the most responses

Demographics of Participants

Public Policy & Government Affairs

Chambers of Commerce With a Program

Check all of the following that your chamber utilizes on key policy issues

Litigation or legal advocacy

Polling as an advocacy tool

Site or plant tours

Policy research and development

Grassroots system to contact members

Mobilize board members on issues

Ask members to weigh in on issues with elected officials

Take official positions on issues

Meet with elected officials

14%

49%

51%

64%

67%

80%

84%

86%

98%

Check all of the following that your chamber utilizes on key policy issues

Check all the following that describes your chamber’s advocacy/lobbying efforts

Advocate through the courts

Advocate for/against constitutional amendment

Advocate for/against initiative or referendum

Advocate at the federal level

Advocate at the local level

Advocate at the state level

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

11%

34%

57%

68%

87%

91%

Check all of the following issues that your chamber has advocated on in the past year

Trade expansion

Budget

Healthcare

Local project funding

Energy/environment/permitting

Regulatory reform/permitting

Tax

Education/workforce development

Transportation funding/projects

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%

43%

50%

50%

57%

60%

62%

72%

81%

83%

Check all of the following digital tools your chamber uses for policy, advocacy or related efforts

Exclusive/noneOnline advertising

YoutubeLinkedin

TwitterWebsite

FacebookEmail

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

1%

15%

20%

25%

60%

78%

80%

93%

Do you publish your chamber legislative or public policy issues agenda?

Yes, quarterly

Yes, monthly

No

Yes, when an issue emerges

Yes, annualy

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

1%

4%

19%

31%

52%

*The total # of responses exceeds 100% due to some respondents answering affirmative to more than one response option

Who receives your chamber’s legislative or public policy issues agenda? Check all that apply.

Other

Media

Elected Officials

All members

Government affairs committee members

Board members

0%10%

20%30%

40%50%

60%70%

80%90%

100%

8%

38%

65%

67%

77%

81%

Who helps the chamber determine a legislative or public policy issues agenda? check all that apply.

Other

Focus groups

Grassroots network

Forums

Task forces

Member surveys

Executive committee/board

Government affairs/public policy committee

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%

7%

12%

15%

18%

31%

45%

84%

89%

How often does your chamber send calls to action on local initiatives or legislative priorities?

Over 10 times a year

7-9 times a year

4-6 times a year

1-3 times a year

Less than once a year

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

16%

8%

29%

34%

11%

*Total responses does not equal 100% because not all respondents chose to answer

About what percentage of your membership is part of your grassroots network?

What percentage of your membership do you believe values advocacy work?

What, if anything, currently prevents your chamber from growing its advocacy program? check all that apply.

Not our missionBylaws prohibit

Fear of failureBoard has city/county officials serving

Board does not understand valueMembers are too divided

Fear of losing membersNothing currently

Lack of resources and time

0%10%

20%30%

40%50%

60%70%

80%90%

100%

3%

3%

5%

6%

8%

9%

20%

30%

56%

What resources/tools would be helpful to improve your chamber’s public policy? Check all that apply.

Other

Scholarship support

Web development

Peer to peer support

Training

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

12%

41%

41%

54%

63%

Political Action

Check all of the following your chamber does involving candidates or other campaigns

Chambers with public policy programs

Candidate recruitment

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Get Out the Vote Programs (GOTV)

Monitor/publish voting records

Candidate questionnaire

Host candidate event/meet and greet

Take position on ballot proposals

Candidate debates/forums

0%10%

20%30%

40%50%

60%70%

80%90%

100%

28%

30%

31%

38%

48%

65%

67%

68%

Check all of the following your chamber does involving candidates or other campaigns

Chambers with public policy programs

Candidate fundraising

Release an annual voter's guide

Candidate endorsement by chamber

Independent expenditures

Candidate school

Candidate endorsement by PAC

0%10%

20%30%

40%50%

60%70%

80%90%

100%

12%

15%

16%

17%

18%

20%

What levels of government is your chamber PAC involved? check all that apply.

Chambers with public policy programs only

Federal

State

Local

0%10%

20%30%

40%50%

60%70%

80%90%

100%

8%

33%

29%

*Total responses does not equal 100% because not all respondents chose to answer

Does your chamber have a contract for services with your city and/or county government?

Chambers with public policy programs only

Chambers without public policy programs only

No

Yes

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

67%

29%

No

Yes

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

54%

43%

*Total responses does not equal 100% because not all respondents chose to answer

Do you have elected or appointed government officials on your board or policy committees?

Chambers with public policy programs only

Chambers without public policy programs only

No

Yes

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

67%

29%

No

Yes

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

56%

40%

*Total responses does not equal 100% because not all respondents chose to answer

Thank you!