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Advising Work

School of Government faculty and staff work with local government boards and managers, statewide organizations, intergovernmental groups, nonprofit partners, and others to help set priorities, plan and manage work toward those priorities, and evaluate results.

We work with clients based on their unique goals, resources, and capacity, so our work is always tailored to meet their specific needs. Here are some examples of the varying levels of involvement we can have with clients:

  1. Create your own process using our resources highlighted on this website.
  2. Invite a School of Government faculty member to give a presentation to your organization or group about the importance of strategic leadership and how to get started on a strategic planning process.
  3. Partner with us to develop a planning framework and then do the work on your own.
  4. Co-create a planning process and share in the responsibilities of getting the work done.

Where To Start

If you are unsure of your specific needs or where you would like to start, we recommend that you contact us so that we can learn more about your specific needs and match you with the faculty or staff with the relevant expertise. An exploratory meeting or conversation would likely follow. This meeting is often free-of-charge, but regular consulting rates will apply for more intensive work. During this first exploratory meeting, your community representatives—together with the appropriate group of School of Government experts—will discuss possible ways to proceed with your work and address questions such as the following:

  • Where do you want to start: setting priorities, planning/managing work, or evaluating results?
  • What do you already have to build on?
  • What level of community involvement do you desire?
  • How can you best supplement the talent of your staff with outside help?

We Know How Local Government Works

All of our work with clients is informed by our deep understanding of how government works and our experience conducting research specific to the public sector. We are familiar with the complex issues at play as communities plan for the future—issues like:

  • Interdependency of government operations and funding
  • Variety of partnerships required to get your work done
  • Constituent interests and engagement
  • Trends in government
  • Governing in the midst of public scrutiny