MASSACHUSETTS BIOTECHNOLOGY EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Enhancing Visibility & Building Strategic Relationships Around Funding

The Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation, or MassBioEd, was looking to implement a strategic communications plan for the first time to raise the foundation’s visibility with key stakeholders in academia, industry, and government. MassBioEd is a nonprofit charitable organization committed to supporting science and biotechnology education in Massachusetts through school and workforce development programs. It is the charitable arm of the Massachusetts Biotech Council.

SM& began its engagement with MassBioEd in January 2008 and in close collaboration with the Board and leadership, devised a strategy to position MassBioEd and its executive director, Lance Hartford, as leaders on issues relevant to the biotechnology industry, such as science education and workforce development. Our approach focused on employing joint tactics of government relations, media relations, an e-newsletter, and thought leadership.

We began our work by outlining key messages to be utilized across all communications efforts. We garnered media coverage in the Boston Globe and dailies across the state for events that engaged legislators with MassBioEd and partners such as Genzyme, including a State House event that drew influential House and Senate leaders. That same effort to convene MassBioEd’s core audiences is reinforced in the quarterly e-newsletter, for which SM& researches and drafts articles about MassBioEd and its lat illustrating how the foundation is working jointly with leaders in academia, industry, and government to further efforts in biotechnology education and workforce development.

The carefully devised and implemented communications plan has increased media coverage and enhanced the visibility and reputation of the MassBioEd Foundation overall. Our thought-leadership initiatives on behalf of executive director Lance Harford have resulted in an op/ed that we placed in the Boston Globe, as well as a nurturing his relationships with key beat reporters. SM&’s efforts have helped MassBioEd secure and retain funding from both the public and private sector, as well as position the foundation as a convener of key stakeholders from academia, industry, and government.