STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT

Tanck will help you NAVIGATE.

Working across complex stakeholders.

With extensive experience working in complex environments, Tanck helps for-purpose leaders navigate their stakeholder networks and relationships.

Effective stakeholder management is critical to building coalitions, growing sector leadership and achieving outcomes. Genuine consultation and meaningful collaboration is the first step in multiple organisations uniting behind a shared vision to drive positive change for their communities.

How does not-for-profit stakeholder management interact with government engagement, advocacy and government relations?

There are a number of ways that stakeholder management interacts with advocacy and government engagement. Firstly, if government stakeholders see that you’re supported by members of the general public and other partners, that can have a positive influence on how government views you. After all, politics in many ways is a numbers game (including when it comes to elections), so having a sizable stakeholder network (and therefore connections with numerous voters) can be valuable. To effectively communicate this information to government, we work with our clients to literally count their stakeholders – including employees, volunteers, customers/clients, partners and suppliers – on an electorate-by-electorate basis.

Another way stakeholder management can benefit government engagement outcomes is when it comes to your detractors. Effective stakeholder management can minimise the number and intensity of your opponents, which can help to reduce any political fallout or backlash.

A couple of additional points relate to collaboration and coalitions. Increasingly, government looks favourably on organisations known for partnership and cooperation. Stakeholder management can help identify new collaboration opportunities and bolster existing ones. When done well, stakeholder management can also open up opportunities to build coalitions. These alliances of many organisations can amplify your message, which can have ripple effects when it comes to policy, legislation, funding and ultimately impact. Coalitions can be especially important when you’re dealing with complex or large issues. Keep in mind that it’s essential that any coalition or alliance has a clear shared vision with people singing from the same hymn sheet, figuratively at least!

You can read more about government engagement here, government relations and advocacy here, and access our free whitepaper on government engagement best practice here.

Book an appointment.

Meet with Angus Crowther, our Co-Founding Director, to discuss stakeholder management options for your organisation.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for further information, scroll down for an overview, including how we approach stakeholder management at Tanck and a handful of relevant articles from our blog.

Stakeholder management articles from our blog

What is the risk to my DGR or charitable status from advocacy work?

There is no barrier to charities participating in political activity where it is consistent with their charitable purpose. In fact, advocacy can be a very successful strategy. “Advancing public debate” is a charitable purpose set out under the Australian Charities Act, meaning charities can promote, or oppose a change to any matter of law, policy or practice. There are, however, a few boundaries and limitations put in place by the ACNC.

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What can the social purpose sector learn from industry associations?

Our Co-Founding Director, Neil Pharaoh, shares his thoughts about what makes industry associations highly effective in their campaigning and advocacy. If you want to play on an equal field to industry associations, remember you are only as strong as your weakest link. A single point of contact can also be a single point of failure.

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Your biggest asset in a meeting may not be who you think

Planning a high stakes meeting with a Minister, MP or senior official or advisor may seem simple enough. But putting your best foot forward in a government or political meeting may be more complicated than you think. We take a look at who is best to bring along, and perhaps who to exclude from meetings with political stakeholders and government.

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Government Engagement

Make talking to government easy and impactful.

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Advocacy

Secure funding, policy change, legislative change, and support grant and tender applications.

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Election Readiness

Leverage policy, funding, or infrastructure commitments.

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Election Checklist

Best practice political tactics for an election.

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Communications Services

Strategies for greater messaging and impact.

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Stakeholder Management

Navigate complex stakeholder areas.

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