Crisis Communications at the Local and National Level
At 10F Communications, we specialize in helping mission-driven organizations maintain transparency, trust, and strategic messaging during crises. Below are real-world examples where effective crisis communications played a critical role in protecting reputations, ensuring accurate narratives, and mitigating negative impacts. Please note these are broad overviews of the situations and tactics.ADDRESSING INACCURATE REPORTING
Misinformation can quickly spread, putting an organization’s credibility at risk. When inaccurate reporting surfaced, we swiftly implemented a strategic response plan:Internal Coordination: Alerted key stakeholders, including the board of directors and funders, ensuring they were informed before external narratives took hold. As always, a timeline, overviews, escalation potentials, and more were outlined.Media Engagement: Reached out to the journalist and editor, providing verified information and requesting corrections. We also monitored social media and for other potential shares, coverage or discussions.Prepared Statements: Developed standby messages tailored for media, donors, partners, and other stakeholders – including staff - to ensure transparency, credibility, and continuity.Public Communication: Continued sharing impact, success stories, and personal reflections by clients, partners, and staff on social media and blogs, in newsletters and through other channels. Spoke candidly with partners, stakeholders, and others with concerns about the situation.
MANAGING A HOUSING CRISIS
Housing inaccessibility can create complex challenges for communities, as well as nonprofits as external factors can impact service delivery. In one case, we addressed a ongoing housing crisis, ensuring clear communication with all stakeholders:Relationship Building: Having established connections with local, state, and Congressional representatives, we facilitated collaborative discussions to identify solutions.Strategic Media Outreach: We were already pitching stories on the broader national housing crisis to raise awareness, ensuring local and national coverage spoke to the larger systemic challenge.Internal and External Messaging: Crafted and shared, as appropriate, clear statements differentiating services, provisions, and responsibilities, ensuring accountability as well as processes and roles were clear.Stakeholder Engagement: Held town halls and meetings with funders, policymakers, and community members to explain services and advocate for solutions.Media and Political Advocacy: Continued working behind the scenes to secure media coverage and policy attention to drive change, utilizing firsthand stories whenever possible.
MITIGATING FUNDING REDUCTIONS
Program closures and funding cuts can significantly affect services and workforce stability. When one client faced an unexpected funding reduction, we developed a nimble communications approach to navigate the transition:Transparent Internal Communications: Ensured staff, the board of directors, and stakeholders were informed early, with clear messaging on the reasons for the changes and next steps. Continued to provide real-time updates as they became available.Public Messaging and Donor Engagement: Crafted empathetic yet strategic messaging to reassure funders and the community about the organization’s ongoing impact while explaining the need for donations in order to continue service provision.Community Building and Engagement: Met with local community leaders, partner organizations, and those directly impacted to foster collaboration, share resources, and strengthen support networks. Hosted community forums and listening sessions to ensure transparency, gather feedback, and identify collective solutions.
(Pro)active Crisis Communications
Through these crisis communication strategies, we successfully mitigated reputational risks while advocating for long-term systemic changes. Our expertise in messaging, stakeholder engagement, and media strategy continues to support mission-driven organizations in navigating complex challenges with confidence.
At 10F Communications, we believe crisis communications is as much about preparation as response. By building strong relationships, proactively shaping plans and guides, and maintaining transparency, we help mission-driven organizations navigate challenges while communicating clearly with their community and staying true to their values.
